Tri-C player Marquis Jackson shoots a three-pointer against Lorain County Community College Jan. 21, 2015. Photo by Mitchell Guy

The story of Wednesday night’s 111-78 victory over the Lorain County Community College Commodores was defense. The Challengers men’s basketball team forced the issue by way of the full court trap, which they instituted early and often.

By double teaming the ball handler on nearly every play they were able to force an incredible 21 steals to go along with 5 blocks. When Challengers head coach Mike Duncan was asked about his team’s effort on the defensive end, he said, “We thought that we could come in tonight and pressure them a little bit to speed them up.”

That’s exactly what his team was able to accomplish. This was an up-tempo contest which lead to prolific scoring. The Challengers were in command for most of the game after pulling away mid-way through the first quarter and taking a 19-point lead into halftime. They were able to stay hot from 3-point range after their 47-percent performance from deep.

The Challengers are currently the best in the conference in this category. The boys were strong on the glass as well with contributions from starter Robert Fomby as well as Brett Thomas coming off the bench; both had double digits in rebounds and points. The game was sealed early after an alley-oop exclamation point, from Conor Mabry to Jalen Stewart, to eclipse the 100-point mark.

This was the first of three consecutive dunks which deflated any energy the Commodores may have had left.  The win is the teams second straight after they had struggled shortly largely due to the loss of starter Cairo Brown to suspension. Browns impact was evident in this game with him cashing in another big performance highlighted by 19 points and 9 assists. Teammate Robert Fomby was asked about Brown and the energy he brings, Fomby replied confidently “That’s our point guard.”

Sitting at 3-1 in conference play, the Challengers are looking to make a push for the playoffs. Wednesday’s performance made it clear to the rest of their competition that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Robert Fenbers contributed to this report. All stats courtesy of OCCAC.ORG.

By Robert Fenbers
Sports Editor

It would seem that the Tri-C men’s and women’s basketball teams are going in opposite directions. While the men’s team seems to be finding their groove, The Lady Challengers have started conference play with two straight losse, and a have a 3-8 overall record, including a winless record at home.

The Ladies have struggled much of this season but showed promise in their last game before conference play against Lansing Community College. Having lost in a close overtime game earlier this season to Lansing, the Challengers used that motivation to easily defeat them in a 61-36 victory.

“We have a tremendous amount of talent. When are we going to play that way all the time instead of every two games or every three games,” Head Coach Derrick Williams said.

The Challengers inconsistent play has prevented them from stringing together consecutive victories so far this season. The Challengers have been led by their Freshman Center Keri Hill, who is averaging 13.1 pts/game, 1.8 stl/game and 8.1 rebs/game. “She is a very strong inside player, she has some very good dynamic moves,” said Williams, who personally recruited Hill and thinks she could contribute well to a Division 2 school.

The Lady Challengers opened up their conference play schedule with a valiant effort against Columbus State. Hill had 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Challengers were defeated 60-50. Perhaps a blown opportunity for a win, as they went on to be overwhelmed 82-35 against the best team in the division and winners of 17 in a row, Owens Community College.

Before the season even began Coach Williams knew he had a very talented team, it’s getting them to play up to their potential that will be the toughest task as the Challengers enter the second half of the season.

All stats courtesy of OCCAC.ORG.

Tri-C’s women’s basketball team suffered a 66-52 home loss Tuesday night to the 17th ranked Thunder wolves of Niagara Community College.
The Lady Challengers were playing their third game in four nights and fatigue showed. They got off to a slow start, allowing Niagara easy fast-break points off of careless turnovers. Due to the lack of energy the Challengers were forced to play a zone defense to stop the fast break, however, that left them susceptible to a barrage of three pointers and offensive rebounds.

Niagara built a 13 point halftime lead and the Challengers were never able to recover and even trim the margin under ten in the second half. The lack of fluidity on offense made it tough for Tri-C to ever get into a real rhythm, which is the major cause for the low field goal percentage and the litany of turnovers, especially in the second half.

Coach Derrick Williams was disappointed in the outcome but understands the circumstances surrounding the loss. “We played three games in four nights and our girls just aren’t used to playing those types of minutes,” Williams said following the loss. “We were coming off a 22 point win on the road, and we just came out flat. We weren’t ready to play,” Williams went on to say.

When asked why the Challengers started playing the zone Williams acknowledged that normally he likes to trap and play full court man to man on defense, but since they already played Niagara he felt an adjustment was needed.

“We played them before and they adjusted so I tried to go to the zone, however, they moved the ball really well and stayed a step ahead of us all night,” he said.

Even though the loss was a tough one, Williams believes in the resolve of his team.

“When you lose a game like this it always makes us come back and work harder,” he said, while understanding this is a monumental week for his students with final exams being more important than anything.
Williams knows the challenges that his 2-5 team faces, especially having nine freshmen on the roster, however, he is confident that by January when conference play starts the team will be ready to compete for a league championship. The Lady Challengers are back in action Dec. 19 in Warren, Michigan as they take on Macomb Community College.

By Bronson Peshlakai

JERRY SUE THORNTON CENTER — Cuyahoga County voters decided to pay a little more on their property taxes and approved a levy renewal and an increase to fund Tri-C’s future operating budget.

Approving Issue 6 was 57 percent with 185,463 “For the levy” votes, which adds about $ 40 million a year to Tri-C’s funding.

Tri-C President Alex Johnson said they knew there was an uphill battle behind the Issue 6 campaign because it asked property owners countywide for a renewal but also a 0.9 mill increase.

“When you asked the voters to support something of that magnitude you want to do the best job you can convincing them that you deserve it, and we did that tonight,” Johnson said at an Issue 6 watch party at the Jerry Sue Thornton Center Nov. 4^th.

Just over 887,000 votes were cast in Cuyahoga County in 1,047 precincts.

“Issue 6 is a very important issue to me. Having the lowest tuition in northeast Ohio is very important to me. I go to Tri-C Metro and it affects me a lot,” said Mario Wright.

Mark Sorrells, a Cleveland resident, was coming out of Tower City and said he believes education is important in our community.

“The more education you have the more opportunities one has,” he said. “It’s a good thing for the community, and everyone, especially for the person getting a degree.”

“I voted yes on issue 6,” said Pat Tomazic, a Parma resident. “I went to Tri-C for a few semesters and as an adult returning to school I just thought it would be a good way to support education in our community.”

Rick Diagiola is a current Cleveland State University student, but started his high education at Tri-C.

“I feel pretty strong about Issue 6 and its impact on the community. I will be voting for Issue 6,” Diagiola said.

CREATIVE ARTS

By Jerrell Tyree

Minds of Creative Arts is a student club at the Metro Campus diversified with students from recording arts and technology, business, dance, and creative arts programs here at Tri-C — “Where Creative Minds Intertwine.”

The club meets on the first floor of the Recording Arts and Technology building in the Creative Arts Café. Meetings are held Wednesdays 5 to 9 p.m., and Monday through Friday 2:30 to 8 p.m. The After Hours Café offers food and refreshments that is sold at 50 percent off for students.

This group was designed to showcase the talents of students by giving them an opportunity to be creative by working together to bring educational and entertaining events and programs to the Metro Campus.

The group will be hosting biweekly open mic sessions where students will be able to present their talents at a podium to share with others. A professional panel led by RAT program manager David Kennedy and Creative Arts dean Paul Cox will offer monthly demo sessions where students can get hands on learning. The panel will critique the quality, songwriting abilities, concept and originality while giving students positive feedback.

This event will be held monthly in the café.

The hangout offers a great way for creative arts students to network with one another.

Students interested in the club can get more information by calling Lisa Cates at 330-590-0565.

Culinary Arts Students Building Career Skills Cooking for You

BISTRO 87

By Sara Cormany and Bronson Peshlakai

Metro Staff Reporter and Editor

After making “puppy chow” desserts from Chex cereal in 7^th grade, Mason Mackulin, 20, was inspired to pursue a career in culinary arts, which led him to Tri-C, and Bistro 87.

Bistro 87 is the Tri-C Metro Campus student restaurant where the public can get the feel of a five-star restaurant at a very reasonable cost.

Assistant professor and chef Karen Monath presides over the restaurant and manages the students under her wing, who are in the culinary arts program and hospitality management program. The business is run very efficiently and has a pleasant atmosphere where the students take pride in what they’re doing.

“This environment gives them the best realistic setting that we can manufacture,” Monath said. “When they get into the industry these are the same real life situations that they will have.”

The restaurant is opened Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. from now thru Dec. 4. An amazing weekly special called the “Chef du Cuisine” offers “three unique tastes created by the student Chef du Cuisine: an appetizer, entrée and dessert” for $9.

Mackulin is in his last term in the culinary arts and hospitality management program and was designated as a baker the day The Voice visited the restaurant. He prepared an apple crisp with bourbon whipped cream for the Chef du Cuisine special.

“(Bistro 87) is a real restaurant. This is real life. You learn how to work under pressure; you learn how to make things immediately on the fly,” Mackulin said. “It gets you ready for the real world and it’s the most important. No book can teach you this.”

In November the restaurant will be working with the art department to raise money for Harvest For Hunger. The event is called “The Empty Bowl” where patrons are treated to soup and dessert served in a bowl made by art students; which visitors can keep when they leave the restaurant.

Monath graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and taught at Pennsylvania State University for 10 years before coming to Tri-C. She said her goal is to teach her students to be successful in the industry.

“If they can learn from my experience then they are more well prepared to be out there and to do well,” Monath said.

Antonio Mason Keeping Spirits Up in Hospital

By Bronson Peshlakai

Metro Editor

Life as he knew it changed, and he didn’t see it coming, or knew what hit him.

A few days earlier, Antonio Mason, 22, was a second-year guard on the Tri-C men’s basketball team, conditioning and practicing for their first day on the court with a conference opponent — a scrimmage at the Owens Community College Jamboree on Oct. 12^th, in Toledo.

But, because of his involvement in a fight amongst some team members, Mason had to sit the scrimmage out.

While his fellow teammates were likely heading to catch a chartered bus to a Toledo game, Mason was driving in his gray 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo on Kinsman Road, just east of E. 55^th Street — it was about 6 a.m., Oct. 12.

“This is all I remember,” Mason said, recalling the events in a hospital room wearing a neck brace. “There was an old lady holding my head on the ground. She told me ‘you were in a very bad car accident.’ I blanked out again.”

Mason is recovering at MetroHealth Hospital’s spinal injury rehabilitation unit with a cracked sacrum, spinal injuries and a broken manubrium (middle part of sternum). Mason said coughing produces knifelike stabbing pains to his chest.

He does therapy several hours a day to work on hand-arm coordination, but at this point he can’t move nor has feeling in his legs.

Speaking in a soft spoken voice in a dimly lit room; several Mylar balloons that said “Get Well Soon” floated next to several cards pasted to a wall … Mason may have been in pain sitting alone but his face lit up as he had visitors.

Mason’s spirit was positive as The Voice crew awaited permission to conduct an interview; Mason was little upset that he couldn’t watch the Cavs home opener because the channel was unavailable on the hospital’s cable system. Photographer Aswan Harris was at the game and showed Mason several minutes of play on Harris’s phone.

A Cleveland Police Department Traffic Crash Report details a horrific crash on Oct. 12; a senseless collision involving Mason’s wrong place at the wrong time.

Xavier D. Lindsey, 23, was driving a stolen 2014 Toyota Rav4 westbound on Kinsman Road, the same direction Mason was driving. The report indicates Lindsey was driving an estimated 100 mph when he slammed into the rear of Mason’s car, which was driving at 35 mph.

“The force of the impact caused (Mason’s car) to rotate out of control … striking the south curb … overturn onto its right side, and strike two wooden utility poles … the operator was ejected from the vehicle,” the report states.

Preliminary reports indicate Lindsey was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Court documents show Lindsey had multiple charges involving stealing cars, driving on a suspended license, assault, breaking and entering.

A spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas said all the investigatory documents are being considered for an indictment. A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said he was being considered a suspect in relation to the incident with possible charges of aggravated vehicular assault resulting in nonfatal injuries, and operating a stolen vehicle.

In another life changing twist that happened Oct. 30^th, Mason had the chance to watch the birth of his firstborn son via Facetime, an Apple app that broadcasts live images between two devices. Antonio Mason Jr. entered the world at 7 lbs., 6 oz.

“I’m just so upset that I didn’t get a chance to cut his umbilical cord,” Mason said.

Mason said his mom is really upset about the accident and will likely attend Lindsey’s court hearings, but Mason has a different attitude toward the man that did this to him.

“Personally, I don’t want to press charges. It won’t let me being my legs back,” he said.