Albrecht, Archers start season.
Aaron McCall
-Staff Writer-
Spencer Gleason
-Sports Editor-
Although the 2011-2012 STLCC men’s basketball campaign is in its infancy, the Archers have begun their season on a winning note. After dropping their first game at home, in the newly-renovated STLCC-Forest Park gym, against the number 10 nationally ranked John Wood Trailblazers, 70-61, the Archers have won three consecutive games, outscoring their opponents 226-217 during that stretch.
With three-time Hall of Famer Randy Albrecht at the helm of the Archers, STLCC has the experience of a head coach with over three decades coaching and 726 career wins.
“I’ve coached for a long time,” Albrecht said. “I think basketball is a great game to play and a great game to watch.”
With a record of 3-1, the young Archer team has only five returning players from Albrecht’s Magic basketball squad from Meramec, last season. The roster of 14 will rely on the leadership of sophomore guard Toraino Hellems, who has scored 71 points in the first four games and sophomore center Ryun Davis, who has scored 71 points as well. Combined the two players have scored nearly 50 percent of the team’s total baskets.
“The team is like a puzzle,” Albrecht said. “If you get it all put together right it fits. The pieces don’t always fit and sometimes they fit together really well.”
Since the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) moved to three separate divisions in 1986 and Albrecht began coaching division II basketball, Albrecht has not had a losing season. With a record of 27 consecutive winning seasons, Albrecht has found himself reaching his goal of achieving a winning season through three United States presidents’ terms. The last time Albrecht had a losing season, Ronald Regan was in the White House.
“My goals are about the same every year,” Albrecht said. “My first goal is to have a winning season.”
Regardless of the outcome on the court, Albrecht hopes that his players become winners off the court as well.
“I like to see players improve, grow and become better people,” Albrecht said.
The next home game for the Archers is Nov. 16 against Southwestern Illinois College at 7 p.m.
