Spring break is over and along with it the Midwestern men and women’s basketball season. The men’s team finished the season with a Lone Star Conference record of 12-2 with an overall record of 24-8. In the South Central Regional Tournament in Denver over the break, the men made it into the 16th round before being defeated by Metro State University 56-78.
Tres Segler, assistant men’s basketball coach, said, “When we got to that moment that’s the realization of a big goal. Getting into the sweet sixteen which was one of our goals at the beginning of the season. Moving past that game was obviously one of those goals. It was a learning experience and it keeps you hungry.
Although the season did not end the way they wanted it to, the team had important lessons to take away with them.
Segler said, “This year was special for a lot of reasons. We gelled as a family. I really think that our guys love each other and that made it easier to get through the hard moments.”
One of those hard moments happened to Kevin Wagner, junior in marketing. At the most crucial part of the season after they played Tarleton the first time Wagner received news that made him want to give up.
Wagner said, “My grandpa was really sick and we thought he had passed away. He didn’t and the first person I called was Eddie D’Haiti. He talked me through it. He called me and text me everyday to make sure that I was okay. Him and Patrick Smith, I can lean on those two for anything.”
Wagner wanted to only be there for his grandfather who was fighting through his illness but his teammates let him know that he could do both. Support his grandfather and play basketball.
“They let me know that they had my back.” Wagner said, “It made me want to fight for my teammates more when I saw that they were there for me I just had to be there for them through any situation not matter how I was feeling.”
Although they lost, Wagner said that he felt like a senior playing as hard as he could since for some it could have been their last game. Five seniors who helped the team win its third consecutive league played their last college game.
Nelson Haggerty, head men’s basketball coach, said, “To be able to do that with different teams consecutively is pretty amazing with how tough our league is. The 11-game win streak that we went on was one of the longest that’s ever been done here and with it happening at the end of the year also makes it even more special.”
Women
The women played their regional tournament in Canyon, Texas and lost to Colorado Mesa 49-60 in the quarterfinals. The team finished with a Lone Star Conference record of 9-7 and 18-12 overall. It was a step back from previous years, but they were playing under different circumstances.
Noel Johnson, women’s basketball head coach, said, “I felt like it was a season of ups and downs. We were playing with a target on our back and we’d never had to experience that before.”
The team is no longer a mystery and weakness that the team has were exposed. The officiating changed this year which also affected the teams play.
Johnson said, “They were calling more fouls. The game was chopper. We’re a fast-paced team and having to execute the half-court is something we really had to learn to do.”
The change in how the team had to play affected the chemistry of the team, Johnson said. Players had their roles changed and they needed to learn how to play together in the half-court.
Kirsti Degelia, senior in math, said, “It ended how we didn’t want it to but I’m proud of how our team fought all season.”
The team didn’t always put together a full game, but they had moments were they looked like the team they were in previous years.
Andrea Carter, junior in math, said, “Looking back on it the little accomplishments we had make us look forward to the next season.”
The accomplishments that Carter looks back on are the games where they swept Angelo State University. They also broke 100 in the game against Texas A&M-Commerce.
Carter said, “Looking back on the season, it adds fuel to the fire to take with us into next season.”
Johnson said, “You always want to continue to find something as you reflect on those games. How can you apply this to the next step.”