By Roy Valmores, The Chronicle Sports Editor

In the final stages of the season, the CLC men's basketball program managed to solidify their position in the race for the Skyway Conference title.

With a confident 71-62 victory over the Prairie State Pioneers, the Lancers were able to keeps their hopes alive.

Then, ranked second in the conference and only one game behind first place, the Lancers had much invested in the outcome of the match.

"We want to win this conference because it'll be the first time in 30 years for us to win it," Guard Jovan Jokic said. "We would love to have that banner, and we want to carry a lot of momentum into the playoffs."

In the previous contest between the Lancers and Pioneers were divided only by a one-point disparity, with the Lancers pulling it out through much struggle.

Moving into the match, the Lancers were looking to establish themselves early, and end the game more definitively then the last time the teams met.

Through the opening moments of the game, the Lancers looked focused and determined to bring the achievement of their goal to fruition as they were spear-headed by two early three-point shots by Jokic.

Despite, being launched to an early lead, the Pioneers were able to even the score with 12:21 remaining in the first half, a surge that they were able to manage despite being hit by a Lancers press.

"We wanted to catch them off balance and hopefully force a turnover or two," Head Coach Chuck Ramsey said. "We were using a 2-2-1, we were really trying to make them use clock in the backcourt."

After being relieved of their lead for a brief stint, CLC was able to regain ground and end the first half with a five point lead.

Offensively, the second half was the beginning of the Lancer scoring onslaught.

With four players in double-digit points, the Lancers were more than able to make certain that the contest would not be separated by one-point.

Jokic, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, tied Guard Jordan Taylor for CLC high-point man.

Defensively, the second half was also the story of the stout perimeter by Guard Arthell Rosquist.

The Lancers, facing a solid Prairie State three-point shooter in the form of Guard Joshua Watkins, were able to breathe a sigh of relief due to Rosquist's defensive performance.

"He was a guarding an excellent three-point shooter," Ramsey said. "They're always looking for number 11 (Watkins), and have a variety of ways to get him open looks. Art was textbook, exactly how your guard a three-point shooter."

In a game where every piece seemed to be falling into place, a measure of concern for the Lancers was that they weren't as solid from the free-throw line as is the norm.

However, even without the closing capabilities of the Lancers' free-throw shooting, they were able to end the game in dominant fashion with more momentum heading into the playoffs.

"I see a very experienced coach that's got his team moving in the right direction, rallying, and they're still in the hunt for the conference title." Athletic Director Nic Scandrett said.