Mens hoops lose championship

The men's basketball team began and ended its run in the North Atlantic Conference at Husson University this season, but the team isn't about to let the loss slow it down.

            The Hornets fell to Husson University in the North Atlantic Conference championship game by a final score of 84-73.  The loss came one day after the team's first-ever NAC playoff win, defeating the Thomas College Terriers by a final score of 111-108 in a semi-final matchup. 

            With the win over Thomas, LSC secured the title of runner up in the conference.  After getting a taste of victory this season, the Hornets are already getting fired up for their 2011/2012 run.  

            "It doesn't affect me that much," freshman Phil Warrick said of not winning a championship this year. "Next year we'll definitely be able to do it, as upperclassman.  We already have team chemistry, so it'll work out."

            Warrick and Antonio Mena were both named to the NAC all-tournament team in the awards ceremony following the finals.  Warrick scored 32 points in the team's win over Thomas College and added 26 in the loss to Husson.  Warrick, who has also been named NAC rookie of the year, left the first half of the Husson game with an eye injury. He returned in the second half after getting medical clearance. 

            "I got a rebound and I turned around and got full contact in the eye," said Warrick.  "They gave me eye drops in my left eye. Coach told me to try to play through it because they needed me. But yeah, my vision was a little blurry." 

            Head coach Joe Krupinski was named co-coach of the year for his role in engineering a monstrous one-year turnaround for the Hornets. Krupinski is quick to give credit to his players for the team's success.

            "It's really a team award," said Krupinski when asked about receiving the accolade.  "I don't know how any of the individual awards are possible without the success of the team. It's a great honor, and I think it's a great honor for our guys. It shows how hard they worked and that they outperformed our expectations."

            Krupinski also had high praise for Warrick and Jason Gray. Warrick received NAC rookie of the year honors along with a spot on the first all-conference team.  Gray earned a spot on the all conference second team.

             "Phil was kind of…a unique situation where a freshman could come in and play a major role right away," he said.  "Jason, since day one he's been here, he's the kind of guy we build around.  He works hard out there and is such a great presence on both sides of the court."  Krupinski went on to say that all of his players had "terrific years and were a big reason why we were playing in the final."

            While the Hornets may have come up short this year, the other NAC co-coach of the year, Husson University's Warren Caruso, summed up Lyndon's potential. 

            "I thought Lyndon did a terrific job," said Caruso following their championship victory. "They kept up with Thomas who played a similar system and obviously they were able to beat them. They've got a good young nucleus of talent and they're going to be very formidable in the years to come. For them to get a number two seed was impressive."

            With their surprise success, the Hornets are going to be one of the teams to beat in the NAC next year.  Krupinski knows his team still needs to improve, however, if they hope to capture a championship. 

"We have to go from the mindset where we're the underdog to the mindset to being the favorite, so that's a challenge," said Krupinski.  "Guys have to realize that we can't just show up and expect to win next year.  We have to get better, the rest of the league is going to get better. The two new teams coming in will make the league better overall.  Nothing's guaranteed; I think if we do what we're supposed to do in the offseason I like our chances next season."

            Next season's schedule has been set, and Krupinski says it will feature several exciting matchups, including another NCAA division I Ivy League powerhouse.  The Hornets will also face two new NAC additions, New England College and Colby-Sawyer College.

            "I think next year's schedule is actually going to be harder," said Krupinski. "We‘ve eliminated St. Joes and Vermont tech, which are two teams that beat us this year but are NAIA schools.  We're going to a really good tournament in Utah next year, and we're going to play Yale."

            Husson senior Josh Jones was named this year's NAC all tournament MVP, Jones says that at the end of the day, Husson's defense is what allowed them to prevail over Lyndon to take home the trophy.

            "They shot the lights out in the first half, number four, the point guard, he was lighting everyone up," said Jones.  "But our defense came through, we had faith in our defense and they came through."

            The Hornets certainly hope to light everyone up again next year, but until then, they'll be working hard in the offseason.  Following their loss to Husson, several Lyndon players posted on social networking that they're getting back to work in the gym tomorrow.  With that type of determination, who knows how high the Hornets can fly in their 2011/2012 campaign.