By Roy Valmores, The Chronicle Sports Editor

With the gauntlet of the playoffs in the foresight, the CLC Lancers found themselves in a situation Feb 18. where they won a tight season-closer in electrifying fashion.

Having lost to the Owls of Oakton Community College in their last meeting, in a similar closely-contented manner, the Lancers entered the game hoping to rectify their loss and continue their roll into the playoffs.

Fueled by the play of their sophomores, CLC was able to achieve their goals in a close 76-74 victory.

Facing a myriad of obstacles produced a first half shooting dilemma that the Lancers weren't able to shake off the entire game.

Though opening the game in a back-and-forth manner, the Lancers ended the first half merely shooting 36 percent from the field.

This gambit of poor shooting, coupled with the passive, yet present full-court defense of Oakton throughout the game drove the Lancers into questionable shots and lackluster execution on the offensive end.

Unfortunately, the Lancers' offensive woes were compounded in many ways when Guard Arthell Rosquist exited the game early for a brief stint due to injury.

To the Lancer's advantage, they still managed to shoot 46 percent from the behind the arch, and were 10 for 12 at the line.

The three-point shooting still producing was a paramount factor of the game as the Lancers were able to ride the collective shooting efforts of their guards to keep a slim four-point lead heading into halftime with adjustments left to make.

Rather, these shooting adjustments continued their absence into the second half with Oakton establishing their grip on the lead with 13:56 left in the game.

With Rosquist's second, brief exit from the game due to injury only two minutes prior, CLC appeared to be on the wrong side of basketball fortunes.

Yet, in a turn of events, the Lancers were able to produce a spurt of late scoring and tied the match with 58 seconds left of play with a key three-point shot from Guard Jovan Jokic.

"Right at the end we stuck together and we hit some big shots," Jokic said. "Art (Rosquist) had a really good game, he was really kind of our leader this game and he set me up for that last shot right at the end."

Rosquist, despite his two exits, still managed to be one of the reasons why CLC was able to attain the victory.

Despite missing nearly 10 minutes of the game, Rosquist was still the Lancers' leading scorer with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and a solid 8 for 10 shooting performance from the line.

"We've been dealing with injuries all season, we've grinded." Rosquist said. "It was just that fight in me that I had to do. I had to get out there."

CLC can also attribute this victory to the play of their Forward Kealin McLean, who before fouling out, had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.

"We've made some gutsy plays tonight in terms of forcing some turnovers and getting some rebounds at big times," Head Coach Chuck Ramsey said.