Senior Day

Kevin Butts
Staff Writer

Saturday, February 24 was Senior Day, which means that it was the last chance for the Titans and Lady Titan Seniors to play at home in a regular season game against the St. Xavier University Cougars.
 
Before both games, ceremonies took place to commemorate the seniors who graduate this year. For the Lady Titans, Stacy Spurgeon was honored with her parents by her side. Spurgeon has played in 129 games for the Lady Titans and will finish 5th All-Time in Assists at IUSB. In addition to that, she was named to the 2nd team All-Conference for the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
 
“We couldn’t have survived without her,” said Head Coach Steve Bruce. “She is our most valuable presence. She brings so many things to our team. She has all the characteristics you would want her to have. She’s absolutely selfless.”
 
The women’s game was a close battle throughout the first half and ended in a 24-24 halftime tie. Though, the second half could have proved a better story. The Lady Titans eventually fell to the Cougars by a score of 68-54. 
 
“We played a really outstanding first half, but in the second we didn’t get stops when we need to and we didn’t make shots when we needed to,” said Bruce.
 
On Monday, another Lady Titan was honored. Jennifer VanderZanden was honored with a 1st team All-Conference selection.
 
For the men’s team, three seniors were honored before the game: Jeremy Herring, Hubert Gentry, and Travis Carrington. Herring and Gentry were both named 1st team All-Conference for the CCAC this year. 
 
Herring wrapped up his last home game with 19 points and six rebounds to add to his All-Time rebound record at IUSB, bringing his total to 729. Gentry, however, didn’t fare so well and didn’t get much playing time due to three early fouls. “Hubert got in trouble early with fouls, and that was unfortunate for his last game,” said Micah Shrewsberry, Men’s Head Basketball Coach.
 
“Jeremy and Hubert have both been here the entire time.  I have nothing but respect for both of them in the way they approached things this year. They never complained; they just went out and did their jobs,” said Shrewsberry.
 
In the men’s game, the Titans jumped out to an early 29-15 lead, but the Cougars battled back to bring the score to 35-31 at halftime. However, unlike the women’s game, the men took charge in the second half led by Dewey Brown with 28 points, to take the game 73-58. 

“It was the first time those seniors have beaten St. Xavier, and they were really excited about that,” said Shrewsberry. “We played with a lot of energy. I’d say it was the best all season. We played strong and as a team.  Everyone who came in played well, like George Tzanetatos who hit some key threes.”