The Southwestern Spartans Men's Basketball team hit the road for the Johnson County Classic this past weekend, facing off against two formidable opponents from the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. Though they left with two losses, Coach Darryl Fletcher and his young squad gained experience and pinpointed areas to improve as they progress through the season.

Game 1 Recap: Highland CC 87, Spartans 54

The Spartans opened against Highland Community College, starting strong defensively and keeping the game close at halftime with a 33-37 scoreline. However, a challenging second half saw Highland pull away, finishing with a 50-point second-half surge to take an 87-54 victory.
Key Performance:

• James Braddy led the Spartans with 17 points, including an efficient 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Coach Fletcher's Comments:

"I was very disappointed in our effort in the second half. We have to get used to playing at a college pace and get tougher around the rim and on the boards. The positive is that we've got another opportunity to turn it around right away against Johnson County."

Game 2 Recap: Johnson County CC 73, Spartans 55

Day two saw the Spartans taking on host team Johnson County Community College. The Spartans started with a solid defensive showing but couldn't find their rhythm offensively, struggling to convert shots. Despite a tough first half, the Spartans demonstrated resilience, showing flashes of strong defense and finishing 55-73.
Key Performance:

• Rickey Loftin contributed 15 points, showing consistency in his play across both games.

Coach Fletcher's Perspective:

"In the first half, we guarded well but couldn't get shots to go in. This weekend has hopefully been a wake-up call for our young team. We've got a long way to go, but if we lock in and work, we'll be fine."

With a few days to regroup, the Spartans will return to the court with renewed focus and determination to build on their early-season experiences.