Hot off a season-opening win over Lone Star College-Kingwood, the Lee College Rebels are preparing for a trip to Iowa where they will be taking on Iowa Western Community College tonight and Indian Hills Community College Friday.
They will stay put in Ottumma, Iowa, for Saturday’s game where they will take on Southwest Academy of Allen, Texas.
The team opened up the season Monday night with a 103-82 win over Lone Star College-Kingwood, but Coach Roy Champagne says his team has to improve in order to beat Iowa Western.
“We shouldn’t be giving up 82 points,” he said. “That’s a lot of points.
Their point guard (Anthony Salter) signed with Auburn, that’s the SEC. So we’ve got to contain him. We’ve got to do a better job all around.”
Champagne says the Rebels can’t afford to make the same mistakes in the upcoming games because their opponents will make them pay.
“When you play better teams, you’re not going to have a 21-point lead,” he said. “When we play Iowa Western, they’re going to take advantage of our turnovers. There’s going to be 3,000 people screaming when their team gets a steal, gets a dunk or hits a three.”
One thing Champagne says the team needs to do is play with more intensity, but he was pleased they came away with a win Monday.
“I thought the guys played better athletically tonight,” he said. “We didn’t play our best defender. Cedric (Martin) sat out tonight. He’s still hurt and we didn’t want to have to play him. Nick James is still out. He’s a big shooter for us.”
Champagne expects to have Martin and James back from injury in time for Wednesday’s game.
The Lee College coach said the production of his big men is a huge key.
“Early on, we got up and down the court quickly,” he said. “Alex (Scotland-Williamson) attacked the rim, (Josh) Eleby attacked the rim.
“We’re going to be the biggest team almost every time we step out onto the floor. We need our bigs to play like they’re big. That’s the type of style we need to play where our big guys can all run
Milwaukee freshman Antone Byrd led the way in points with 30, 24 of which came in the second half. Eleby, the freshman from Westfield, was right behind him with 20.
The Rebels won’t be at home until Saturday, Nov. 21, when they host Navarro College.