Cody Grossman
Staff Writer 

Lorain County Community College took on Notre Dame JV Nov. 17, in what was a surreal game.  It was a rare sight and much more than a game. It was the Homecoming of Marvin “Chico” Coleman. Coleman graduated from LCCC last year, along with playing for the men’s team, and becoming one of the very few in the 1000 point club. Not only that, but it was one of the very rare times, that a coach gets to play against a former player. Coach Marty Eggleston, coach of Coleman both years for LCCC, held a ceremony for Coleman, congratulating him on his success. Eggleston presented Coleman with his old jersey, framed and signed by each of the players Coleman played with in his two-year stint for LCCC.

The game started off with electric intensity. Both teams exchanging baskets and getting it on the defensive end. However Notre Dame made a run and went up double digits in the midway point of the first half. LCCC sparked a comeback, led by Ouddi Hamdan, T’Andre Perkins, and Brandon Rodriguez. Perkins and Rodriguez showed terrific hustle on the defensive end. The Commodores went into the half down by one, 37-36.

The Commodores came out of the second half fired up. They went on a small run, putting them up by five early. Notre Dame came back, and it was a back and forth game from there. Kevin Jenkins was a board cleaner in the second half, collecting rebound after rebound, soaring through the air. Jenkins also collected many offensive rebounds and capitalized on second chance points. Hamdan displayed his offensive skills and showed off his ball handling skills. Hamdan made a few three point shots and got to the basket at will.

It was closely contested going into the final minutes of the game. Matthew Perkins kept the Commodores in the game with his smart passing and defensive pressure. With 56.5 seconds left in the game, Hamdan drew a foul and got to the line for a chance to put the team up, however he missed both free throws. He made up for it with a defensive stop with 41.8 seconds to go. But once again LCCC couldn’t capitalize, they turned the ball over to Notre Dame with 8.9 seconds left in the game. Notre Dame missed their shot and the crowd thought overtime was assured. But Notre Dame got their rebound and made the shot as time expired.

After the game Coach Eggleston talked about playing against Coleman, “Makes me proud. I know how much work he’s put in, and because I know, I feel like a proud father. This is much bigger than basketball. So far he’s done everything right. On the court he’s a warrior, he leaves everything on the court. In the classroom he goes just as hard. He’s a good guy and does all the right things.”