JWCC men head into new year with good vibes, right demeanor after back-to-back victories

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball players packed a six-game losing streak in their belongings and carried it home for the holidays.

That’s where they left it.

The Trail Blazers ended the 2023 portion of their schedule with back-to-back wins, beating Kishwaukee College 62-51 on Sunday in the JWCC New Year’s Classic at the Student Activity Center to cap a perfect weekend that changed the team’s vibe and the demeanor.

“Finding ways to win games is so important,” freshman guard Nolan Deitrich said. “Moving the needle and finding ways to win while improving as a team was on our minds. We had to quit making the same mistakes we had made the last couple of months and get better as a team.

“Mentality-wise, making strides together was huge. That’s what we needed to do.”

The biggest stride came in the second half Sunday when the Trail Blazers limited the Kougars to 24 points and less than 35-percent shooting from the field. 

“When you get back in here, you want it that much more,” freshman forward Jake Wallingford said. “You could tell we wanted it.”

That was the case the entire weekend. Following Saturday night’s 76-73 victory over McHenry County, highlighted by Joshua Talton’s game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation, the Trail Blazers (7-6) capitalized on the momentum it created.

Wallingford’s dunk on the game’s opening possession generated energy and key 3-pointers from Connor Watson and Cachao Gianquinto Jr. sustained it as JWCC led 28-27 at halftime. The advantage swelled to double digits midway through the second half as the Trail Blazers had eight different players score over the final 20 minutes.

“To figure out one and pull one out like we did (Saturday night), you felt good going through walkthrough today,” Dietrich said. “Coming off the break, you’re starting off 1-0, now 2-0 and that makes you feel good. We have a couple more before conference play begins, so hopefully we can continue growing as a group.”

The group was ready to go.

“Everyone was eager to get back in the gym,” Wallingford said. “That was the main thing. We were eager to get back in the gym, get to work and get back to doing the things we know we can do.”

Wallingford led the Trail Blazers with 13 points, while Deitrich and freshman guard Jordan Shelton finished with nine points apiece. 

“This weekend, we found a way, and that’s what you have to do,” JWCC coach Brad Hoyt said. “I told the guys it was a tooth pull. It was like a not-so-fun visit to the dentist. But sometimes you have to do those and you have to have success in those, and I’m proud we were able to do that.”

The Trail Blazers open the new year with three games, including next Sunday’s trip to Carl Sandburg College, before diving into the Mid-West Athletic Conference schedule.

“You want to play on your toes,” Hoyt said. “Sometimes the moment gets you on your heels or you’re fighting it because you want to do so well. I thought this weekend got us on our toes. We did enough to go into the next calendar year with a little bit of momentum.”