Stars take American Midwest Conference

By Mark Brockett- Sports Reporter

When it mattered the most, the UIS men’s basketball team rose to the occasion to punch their ticket to the NAIA national tournament by winning the American Midwest Conference tournament.
Playing like champions, the Prairie Stars showed why they had dominated the AMC for most of the season in handling the Spartans of Missouri Baptist in the semifinals and outlasting and outplaying their bitter rival McKendree in the finals all in front of jubilant fans in the UIS Gymnasium. Head coach Kevin Gamble cited how significant this tournament championship was in regards to his team and the trip to Kansas City for the national tournament.
“It was really important for us to not only win the whole thing and go to nationals but to bounce back after two straight losses to end the regular season,” said Gamble. “We’re excited to have beaten two very good teams in Missouri Baptist and McKendree.”
Against the Bearcats, more than 600 people were said to have been in attendance for the highly-anticipated rubber match from the regular season. The game was a battle from the opening tip-off as both teams came out firing in the early stages of the first half. McKendree sputtered a little bit by shooting only 46.4 percent for the half compared the Stars 50 percent, which translated into a 43-30 lead at the half.
This all seemed too familiar to both teams and their fans as the Stars blew a 17 point halftime lead the last time they faced each other and in the same gymnasium. The Bearcats even clawed back and gained the lead at one point much to the chagrin of the Stars. But, unlike last time, the Stars shot more efficiently and made better decisions with the basketball. Most of the changes came in their backcourt of Kelvin Johnson and Cory Farmer who protected the ball and were aggressive in attacking the basket.
In what was the most critical part of the game, Farmer knocked down a wide-open three pointer to give the Stars a 72-67 lead with 3:31 left in the game. The Stars didn’t give in after that and were ultimately victorious by the score of 83-76.
Gamble saw a much different team in the locker room this time around than the last time these two teams faced each other.
“We looked real loose and prepared,” said Gamble. “We watched the tape of the last game and saw how we just didn’t play hard enough to win and we felt like we would in this game and get the job done.”
Farmer led all scorers with 24 points and 7 assists. Curtis Collins had 18 points and 9 rebounds. Antonio Puckett added 13 points and Johnson included himself with 12 points.
In order to get to that point, the Stars first had to knock off Missouri Baptist for the third time this season. The Stars brought their offensive firepower early and often by scoring 49 points in the first half. The team placed six players in double digit scoring for the game and held off the one-man show of Isaiah Johnson, who tallied 31 points in the game.
The Stars broke the century mark and won the game 101-89. Leading the way was Johnson with 19 points. Michael Griffin had 18 points and 14 rebounds while Aaron Anderson added 10 points off the bench.
Gamble felt the atmosphere for both games helped the Prairie Stars cause as they provided support from a mental standpoint.
“We had lots of friends and family there so that helped us focus. Anyone that has ever played college or high school basketball knows how important a packed house is. All the fans did a great job for us.”
The team will know have a week and a half off from play until the tournament starts on March 15. It is unknown who the team will play but the accomplishments of the season have many people here at UIS feeling positive about their chances.

Prairie Stars lead Academic All-Conference

By Mark Brockett - Sports Reporter

Most coaches are happy when their team shoots 50% or better from the floor. Over the course of the 2005-2006 season, the Prairie Stars shot 45.4% overall and won their first conference championship.
This season, UIS performed better off the court than on as 56% of the Prairie Stars men’s basketball team was named to the American Midwest Conference Academic All-Conference Team. UIS led the conference with a total of nine student-athletes that were recognized for their academic accomplishments. Hannibal LaGrange came in second with five student-athletes, Missouri Baptist tallied four and Columbia and Williams Baptist Colleges had three each.
In order to receive the honor, a student-athlete must have a 3.0 grade point average or better (on a 4.0 scale). Members of the Prairie Stars men’s basketball team that received the honor are: Colin Beveridge (Springfield, IL); Curtis Collins (Chicago, IL); Colin Crull (Poplar Grove, IL); Michael Griffin (Litchfield, IL); Kyle Holmes (Peoria, IL); Aaron Leonard (Effingham, IL); Dane Litwiller (Stanford, IL);
Brian McMillen (Pana, IL); and Matt Reynolds (Peoria, IL).
Their on the court accomplishments are not overlooked as the Prairie Stars brought home several All Conference awards. On the first team AMC All Conference were Collins and Kelvin Johnson, who was also named the AMC Freshman of the Year. Honorable mention for All Conference went to Griffin and Antonio Puckett.
                In a surprise to nobody, Prairie Star’s head coach Kevin Gamble was named the AMC Coach of the year. We here at the Journal congratulate these young men for their efforts on and off the court.

Stars and UIS have finally made it

By Mark Brockett- Sports Reporter

It has been two days since the glorious victory that the men’s basketball team had over McKendree in the American Midwest Conference tournament finals and the feeling of pride still is present in the air here on campus.
Since the program began in the fall of 2002, this was the vision that many members of the campus community had when putting this all together. How fitting was it that the single biggest victory that UIS has ever had came on a day where we played our biggest rival, coincidentally the same day that the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels played in what is considered to be the best rivalry in sports.
Sitting in the front row with numerous Bearcat faithful behind me as a part of the capacity crowd in the “Assembly Closet,” I found myself amazed at what transpired throughout the course of the night. Never could you have come an hour before tip-off and barely be able to find a seat. Few would have anticipated that the rivalry translated over to the fans as several disputes took place in the crowd as the game progressed. And little did both teams truly know how much this game meant to this rising university and the victory celebration immediately following the game helped exemplify that.
Such things as feuding chants when the game started and, as the score remained close, changed the demeanor of every player and coach in the gym. We often think of sports as the ultimate equalizer that balances social acceptance and physical prowess. Many fans indulge themselves in the aura that each sport has around it. On that night, it was all present in that cozy gymnasium with no exceptions. The only thing that made us different was whether we bled blue or purple.
This win serves notice to not only the rest of the conference, but to all of the schools in the state. Yes, a rising star has finally found its place in the sky and it doesn’t plan to burn out anytime soon. While this season will continue on to Kansas City for the NAIA National Tournament, the outcome there, good or bad, will not be able to take away from the significance of this game.

Stars take American Midwest Conference

Regular season comes to a close, preparation for AMC tournament

Brock Solid