BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services

Sophomore Anthony Shoemaker exploded for 38 points Saturday afternoon to lead the John A. Logan College men’s basketball team to a 97-83 win over visiting Southwestern Illinois College.

Shoemaker’s total left him only four points shy of the school record of 42 points set by James Mackey in 1971. The win, meanwhile, improved the Vols’ record to 3-4 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and to 10-7 overall. The Blue Storm falls to 3-4 in the league and is 13-7 overall.

Shoemaker, a 6-foot-6 wing player from Joliet, knocked down 13-of-17 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 shots from beyond the three-point arc. He was also 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, grabbed five rebounds and was credited with three steals.

“I’ve been around here a long time and I can’t throw another stat line out there over the course of 27 years that’s any better than that,” said Logan head coach Mark Imhoff. “I thought Anthony played an outstanding game. It’s the most aggressive he’s played all season.”

Shoemaker took the praise in stride.

“I credit my teammates,” Shoemaker said. “They found me in the right spots on the floor and kept urging me on. They kept getting me the ball.”

Three other Vols were in double figures in addition to Shoemaker. Sophomore guard DeShawn Clay, who hit the game-winning free throws against Rend Lake earlier in the week, finished with 16 points and had a team-high four assists. Sophomore guard transfer Xavier Jones followed with 10 points, all coming from the free-throw line. Freshman Robert Arnold collected 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Sophomore center Alex Brown (Herrin) contributed nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots.

“I thought our energy level might have been as good as we’ve had all season,” Imhoff said. “We got ourselves a lead and managed to hang onto that lead even though SWIC brought some pretty good pressure at us late in the second half.”

In the early game, SWIC had little trouble securing a first-half lead (32-21)with its superior size and ball movement. The Blue Storm was then able to build on that lead in the second half and won going away, 76-56. The visitors actually led by more than 30 points before the Vols cut into the deficit late.

Top scorer for Logan (2-5 in the GRAC and 6-10 overall) was freshman forward Kyra Navarette with 21 points. She was 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Tiki Johnson followed with 15 points. Jasmine Jordan added nine off the bench. Sophomore Austyn Ridings (Herrin) was held in check, tallying only eight points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. She did again lead the team in rebounding, however, with nine. Sophomore Brittany Wood added three points.

As a team, the Vols only made good on 22 field goals, while turning the ball over the same amount of times.

Vols head coach Marty Hawkins was impressed with the Blue Storm.

“I think their big kids are probably the best big kids in the league,” he said. “And Janelle Cannon (21 points) may be the best all-around player in the league.”

Both the JALC women’s and men’s teams return to action Wednesday at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg. The women’s game begins at 5:30 with the men’s game getting under way at 7:30.