Warriors come up short in Winfield

WINFIELD, Kan. — Sterling College fell to Southwestern College with a final score of 86-59 on Saturday, Jan. 17. Southwestern's strong shooting performance, with a field goal percentage of 61.8%, proved decisive in the matchup.

Sterling opened the first half with a strong start, as Julian Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers, assisted by Damond Daniels and Joseph Oparaeke, pushing the early score to 6–2. Oparaeke continued to contribute with a layup at 12:15, maintaining a slight edge for Sterling at 17–14. Despite multiple lead changes, Camren Johnson's jumper at 8:30 briefly regained the lead for Sterling, 23–22.

As the half progressed, Sterling maintained offensive pressure with Smith's three-pointer at 7:33 and Jaivion Reed's layup at 4:23, keeping the score tight at 31–30. However, Southwestern responded with a series of successful free throws and a late scoring push, closing the half ahead 42–32, with Sterling trailing at the half.

The Warriors initiated a strong offensive push in the second half, with Chris Drake contributing a key layup early on. Despite the efforts, including a three-pointer by Smith at 9:02, Sterling faced a challenge in keeping pace with the Moundbuilders' scoring. Johnson added to Sterling's score with a three-pointer and several jumpers, but the team's shooting percentage struggled against their defense.

The Moundbuilders capitalized on Sterling's turnovers and extended their lead through efficient shooting, particularly in the paint where they scored 26 points. Sterling managed to reduce the deficit slightly with points off turnovers and fast breaks, but Southwestern's momentum continued, maintaining their lead throughout the half.

The game concluded with the Builders holding a significant lead, closing at 86-59, as Sterling's attempts to close the gap were met with resistance from a consistent Southwestern offense.

Smith led the charge with 24 points, including six 3-pointers. Johnson contributed 17 points, connecting on two shots from beyond the arc and adding two rebounds. Reed scored seven points and dished out three assists. Oparaeke added six points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked one shot.

Next up, the Warriors (4-8, 7-11) will take on McPherson College (9-3, 13-5) in the Gleason Center on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.