By Max De Leeuw – Collegiate Staff
Despite getting off to an early lead, the Grand Rapids Community College men’s basketball team fell to visiting Lake Michigan College 70-61 on Friday.
The Raiders started off the night scoring 11 unanswered points, before LaBradford Sebree scored 11 straight for Lake Michigan College.
“LaBradford Sebree hit some big shots to bring us back in the game, and he is our leading scorer,” said Lake Michigan Head Coach Doug Schaffer. “And him, getting his offense going after we dug that hole helped us close the gap and then not have to be in a really bad situation.”
Sebree totaled 27 points on the night, shooting 10 for 16 from the field. Sebree added one assist and three rebounds.
“I was just finding my shots,” Sebree said. “My teammates were getting me open, using screens and just finding good looks.”
The Raiders went into halftime trailing 35-30. GRCC shot only 1 of 14 from three-point range in the first half.
“They wanted it more and they got the rebounds, got the loose balls, and we told the guys if we don’t get loose balls and we don’t rebound the ball, there’s no way we’re going to beat that team,” Head Coach David Selmon said. “That’s the reason they just won the conference championship.”
After sinking three 3-pointers in a row late in the game, the Raiders managed to come within two points of the Red Hawks, who responded with points of their own to seal it.
“Our shooters just took too long to get going,” Selmon said. ” We got so far behind. …. we got the game within two and then just couldn’t make baskets.”
Despite the loss, Raider sophomore Cameron Burhannon recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, a team-high in both categories.
GRCC moves to 15-10 on the season and is scheduled to finish off the regular season against host Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Feb. 23.
