Wake Tech Community College’s defense caused several Lenoir Community College turnovers Wednesday night, as the Eagles forced seven in the last few minutes of the first half.
LCC’s Gabe Strathern was responsible for four turnovers that put his team down 10 in their trying second half. He realized the mistakes and tried to make up for them with three steals and perfect second-half shooting. But the Lancers came up short and lost their first game of the season to visiting WTCC, 89-83.
Wake Tech entered the contest on a three-game losing streak and improved to a 6-3 record with the win.
In an attempt for LCC (5-1) to make a comeback and stay undefeated, Strathern scored 10 points in the latter part of Wednesday’s game.
“I was just trying to work hard and get my team going,” he said. “I had four turnovers in the late second half … so I was trying to make up for that, work hard and try to get a win.”
LCC only trailed by three points coming back from the break at 43-40. While size and defense wore on the Lancers in the first half, their opponent’s speed early in the second proved hard-hitting; Wake quickly scored nine unanswered points to open the period.
Poorball-handling and unfinished drives inside during the first half made LCC’s deficit hard to overcome. When the team began executing better, Wake Tech already had a solid advantage on the score board.
LCC’s last time being close in score was when Jeremy Smith nailed a floater to tie at 28 with 4:53 left in the first half. He led the game with 25 points, adding seven rebounds and a pair of assists.
Smith finished a Strathern pass mid-second half after Strathern reciprocated a WTCC steal to dribble down the open lane. The pair linked twice for buckets down the stretch, while Wake had 17 turnovers to LCC’s 24.
When the Lancers tried to close the gap, Wake Tech only intensified.
“We just teach our guys to keep our foot on the pedal,” WT coach Frank Fields said. “We’ve got to keep pressing. … We can’t expect no one to hit shots against us, but we’ve got to keep up the same efficiency and now get riled up when they start scoring.”
The Lancers came within five when Strathern’s efforts surfaced toward the end of the game. He drove through three Eagles defenders to score, as the board read 78-73. He broke 80 with a fast-break dunk with less than two minutes left.
“Gabe did a good job, and he was focused,” LCC coach Bobby Dawson said. “I thought the effort was out there. I can accept the effort, but there are some other things we have to tweak. … Overall, the adjustments are going to have to come from our guards. We’re short inside.”
The Lancers travel to Tidewater Dec. 15.
Wake Tech 43 46 —89
LCC 40 43 — 83
Scoring: Jeremy Smith 25, Gabe Strathern 15, Josh Hill 11, Antuawn Smith 9, Larry George 8, Jeremiah Lanier 7, James Owens 7, Shaquille Wilson 1
Rebounds: J. Smith 7, Hill 4, Strathern 4, A. Smith 3, George 2, Lanier 2, Wilson 2, Eric Dudley 1
Assists: A. Smith 3, Strathern 2, J. Smith 2, Hill 1, Lanier 1
Blocks: Hill 1, Owens 1