Jon Harmon

WINONA LAKE – The 2014-15 season has been challenging at best for the Lakeland Christian Academy boys basketball team. The team has gone without a win through Valentine’s Day weekend, but that does not mean the Cougars have no love for the opportunity at playing in the sectional.

“I want to see us be more aggressive,” said LCA head coach Christopher Hohm. “We were passive against some of these teams that we could potentially play in the sectional earlier this year. Our biggest goal is just to show improvement in the postseason.”

LCA finished its season with an 0-5 mark against potential sectional opponents, including to losses to Bethany Christian. The Cougars also showed their biggest improvement defensively in a rematch against Bethany. After surrendering 96 points in the first meeting to the Bruins, LCA only allowed 67 in the next meeting.

As the sectional draw was unveiled Sunday, LCA drew host Hamilton in the opening game Tuesday, a 6 p.m. start. with the winner having to take on Fort Wayne Blackhawk in the semis Friday night. Elkhart Christian and Bethany Christian will play in Tuesday’s game two with Lakewood Park Christian waiting for that winner in Friday’s second game.

The Cougars offense has also shown improvement since the new year. Before the holiday break, LCA never scored more than 38 points in a game. Since January 1 the Cougars have broken the 40-point barrier six times, scoring a season-high 67 points twice in that stretch.

In order to find any success in the sectional against Hamilton, which beat the Cougars 69-33 in December, LCA will need its top two scorers to continue to improve. Conner Blum averages 10.9 points per game, respectively for Hohm’s squad. Jon Harmon has shown that he has the ability to have a big game at times as well. Harmon average 8.3 points per game and leads the team with 28 made three pointers on the year. Freshmen Noah Twombly and Josh McDaniel have flashed signs of productivity multiple times this year as well.

Elijah Raymond is also slated to come back from injury which will provide some much-needed inside presence alongside Kyle Shuler. Raymond is third on the team in total blocks and fifth in total steals.

Shuler has been one of the team’s biggest defensive assets all season as he is second in total rebounds to Blum. Harmon is the other motor on the defensive end of the court as he is third in rebounding and leads the team in steals, deflections and blocks.

The Cougars have made the right improvements throughout the season. The X’s and O’s down, the talent just needs to rise to the top for this team to take that next step. With the right draw, this team could surprise in the opening round of the tournament.

“All teams start the postseason with a win or go home situation,” Hohm stated. “So we know that records don’t matter at this point. We just have to come out and try to be successful two minutes at a time and see where that gets us.”

Fort Wayne Blackhawk and Elkhart Christian look to be the teams to beat in the sectional at Hamilton. Hohm mentioned that Blackhawk has played a very tough schedule for a 1A team which could help them have an edge in the sectional. The Braves have been among the top ranked teams in the state all season and sat as No. 7 in the polls as of Feb. 23.