Cobras earn two convincing wins over Jaguars in basketball doubleheader

CHAMPAIGN When youve won 20 games and only lost two, it can be easy to get complacent and lose motivation to keep winning.

The Parkland College mens basketball team didnt fall into that trap Wednesday night.

One of the Cobras two losses came in early January at Danville Area Community College.

Thats all the motivation they needed to bounce back with an 81-58 win this time around.

They beat us there, and our guys were obviously looking forward to this one, Parkland coach John Bowler said.

A lot of times, the conference comes down to these two teams, and our guys are pretty ready to go.

While the Jaguars (13-8) didnt prove to be Parklands (21-2) kryptonite, they did prove to at least have an ingredient or two.

DACC bested the Cobras 82-71 last month and led for the entirety of the second half on Wednesday.

One solid half of basketball away from potentially sweeping a team that had only lost one other game all season.

We just play hard.

It doesnt matter who it is, DACC coach DaJuan Gouard said.

Every team we play, every time we step on the floor, we come to win and play hard.

DACC held a 29-26 lead at halftime.

It was a low-scoring, defensive, physical half of play, and it looked like another competitive finish was brewing between these two Mid-West Athletic Conference rivals.

The teams traded baskets for the first few minutes of the second half before Parklands offense exploded.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, the Cobras had built a 10-point lead.

Five minutes later, they had increased it to 15.

Not even 60 seconds after that, it was up to 20.

It was a possession-to-possession basis.

I know it felt like we blinked and we were up 20, but it was a slow grind, Bowler said.

On the defensive end, we made them settle for a few tougher shots.

The ones they hit in the first half, they didn't in the second, and all of a sudden, we started to open it up and hit some shots.

The buildup led to us taking the lead and getting to where we needed to be.

JaMonte Williams led the Cobras with 20 points, and Grant Chamberlain chipped in 16.

Chandler Jackson and Jaiden Martin each scored 13 points, and Jacksons 11 rebounds gave him a double-double.

Jackson Twombly paced DACC with 17 points, and Jeremiah Poniewaz added 11.

Wednesdays victory stretched Parklands latest win streak to seven.

The Cobras have six games left in the regular season, and theyve already beaten all of those opponents.

They have a good chance to head into the postseason still with only two losses.

The key to their success, as well as what will be key in having a memorable March, is their day-to-day mindset.

We try to approach it one game at a time.

When we have that singular approach each week, were doing a better job, Bowler said.

Two years ago, we tried to focus on three games at a time, but sometimes, you can get ahead of yourself.

For us, its just being in the moment, being present, being where our feet are and knowing who our next opponent is.

You celebrate it a little that night, but then, you turn the page and get to the next one.

Just trying to be within the moment and know that the only way we can have such a great year is if we do it one at a time.

And dont count out the Jaguars.

While this loss snapped their seven-game win streak, theyve still won 10 of their last 12 games and are also poised to end the regular season on a high note.

Get healthy and get our guys in the right space mentally, Gouard said will get his team back on track.

We just need to get everybody to understand that, at this point in the year, weve just got to go out and give everything weve got.

The lead was 10 points after the first quarter.

It had grown to 21 by halftime.

It was 31 after the third quarter.

The Parkland College womens basketball team finally put on cruise control in the fourth and walked away from Wednesday night with an 86-59 win over Danville Area Community College.

To be a championship-caliber team, youve got to have consistency, Parkland coach Jean Demosthenes said.

You look at the most successful teams around, and consistency is the name of the game.

We talk about that, and we talk about not letting up and continuing to fight, and we did that (Wednesday).

The thing I love the most is were consistent on defense.

Defense wins championships, and offense wins games.

If we can focus our game on defense, we have a chance to be very successful.

The Cobras (15-9) looked better in every aspect of the game.

They played tight defense, forcing 26 turnovers, and they moved the ball well offensively, seeing four players score in double figures.

I love it, Demosthenes said.

When I look at our stats over the years, were successful when we have four players in double figures, were averaging 15-20 assists and we take care of the ball.

Right now, were playing really good basketball.

In February, this is when we need to be playing good basketball.

I was able to schedule a really tough preseason schedule to allow us to be in this position, and its paying dividends.

While the Jaguars (16-8) were outmatched from the tipoff, they were playing short-handed.

DACC coach Kyle Bent said there was an altercation on Saturday that led to multiple suspensions, which included two of the teams top three scorers from the last time it played Parkland, a 75-60 win for the Cobras on Jan.

8.

So, the Jaguars made do with seven players.

What happened Saturday cant happen, but we make no excuses, Bent said.

Well pay the consequences, learn from it and move on.

Well get better, and well get them back next week, but it was a tough one (Wednesday).

Stacie Vonderheide led Parklands charge with 16 points, six rebounds and five steals.

Maliah Sparks tallied 15 points, and Crissiana Rose added 14.

Trinity Harden put up 13 points, pulled down nine rebounds and came away with four steals.

Danielle Ruffin recorded nine points, six steals and four assists.

Victoria Gonzalez scored a game-high 21 points for DACC.

Jaydah Arrowsmith joined her in double figures with 13 points, and Julissa Danglade had 12 rebounds and three blocks.

Despite the numbers advantage, the Cobras showed clear signs of improvement from last months matchup, playing with more purpose and as a unit.

And with a roster that has only one sophomore and the rest freshmen, its encouraging for Demosthenes.

Weve improved tremendously.

Im proud of this team, Demosthenes said.

This is a really young team with nothing but freshmen.

The things I like about this team is we love each other, were willing to go to bat for each other and we work hard in practice.

When you have a group thats determined and wants to win, it makes things a lot easier.

Parkland has now won seven of its last nine games.

Meanwhile, DACC is trying to right the ship.

The Jaguars started the season 10-2 but have gone 6-6 since.

Bent is confident they can build some momentum ahead of the postseason.

Now, its about getting his players to believe the same.

Our league is so good, and the margin for error against all the teams is so small, Bent said.

Weve got to defend a little bit better, and we dont rebound the ball as well as we need to.

None of that really matters early in the year when youre making shots.

Well, weve hit a bit of a skid where we havent been able to put the ball in the hole.

If you cant hang your hat on consistent defensive and rebounding effort, you kind of roll the dice every game.

Were a good team when were locked in and everybodys on the same page.

Weve just been zigging when others are zagging, and were kind of crossing each other.

If we can get some confidence, I think were going to be a dangerous team in the postseason..

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