ROCKY RIVER — As patiently as he could, Lutheran West coach Phil Argento was trying to explain the difference between outscoring one’s opponent and actually winning a game. What separates the two can be a blurry line sometimes — a concept the Longhorns are learning well.
If one were to ignore the scoreboard and watch the manner in which players from Lutheran West and Oberlin walked off the floor, there would be little doubt which team had won the game. The Phoenix, despite watching an upset bid fall short, bounced toward the locker. The Longhorns skulked.
A short-handed Oberlin team, playing without three of its key contributors, bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter and nearly toppled Lutheran West. But while the Longhorns held on for a 74-71 Patriot Athletic Conference victory on Friday, it certainly didn’t feel like one.
“All we did was enough to win,” said Argento. “There’s winning and getting better, and then there’s winning and still making the same mistakes. While winning is important, getting better is just as important.”
Now more than three-quarters through the regular season, Lutheran West’s (12-3, 9-1 PAC) flaws are still visible for all to see. The Longhorns have little trouble building leads against their opponents. Sustaining them has been the problem.
Oberlin (12-7, 8-4 PAC) trailed 67-51 with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, when the Phoenix began its assault – pressing the Longhorns every inch of the court and aggressively attacking the basket. Point guard Morgan Jones keyed the run, time and again driving into the paint and drawing fouls, eventually forcing Lutheran West into the penalty.
“They’re quick and aggressive,” said Longhorns guard Scott Voiers, who scored a game-high 27 points. “It’s tough when you catch the ball 80 feet from the hoop and you’ve got a guy right in your face every step of the way.”
The Phoenix went on a 17-1 run over a span of slightly more than four minutes. Steve Kilgore picked the ball out of Cal Thomay’s pocket and drove down court – and was hammered by Thomay on a layup attempt, earning an intentional foul. Kilgore’s free throws, plus one from David Gaines on the ensuing possession, tied the score at 68 with 1:03 remaining.
But Lutheran West’s poise down the stretch – the same poise which had been so glaringly missing – was suddenly apparent. Stephon Seton, a 6-foot-5 junior center, posted up Kristian Dodson and flicked a bank off the glass for a basket-and-foul on the next possession.
The Phoenix would have two tries at the basket in the final seconds – desperation 3-pointers from Jones and Kilgore wouldn’t go down – but ultimately fell short.
It was an impressive performance from a team missing Kris Robinson – Oberlin’s second-leading scorer – starter Dominique Stamper and sixth man Austin Pinkston, who were out for academic reasons. The loss snapped a six-game Phoenix winning streak.
“The kids played to the bitter end and we had a chance to win,” said Oberlin coach Kurt Russell. “What else can you ask for?”
Contact Pete Alpern at 329-7137 or at palpern@chroniclet.com.
Lutheran West 74, Oberlin 71
Oberlin (71): David Gaines 4-1-12, Morgan Jones 7-8-24, Steve Kilgore 4-9-18, Tehran Roundtree 4-1-9, Shwuan Stevenson 3-2-8. Totals 22-21-71.
Lutheran West (74): Scott Voiers 11-4-27, Cal Thomay 1-1-4, Louis Durban 0-1-1, Caleb O’Hara 0-2-2, Stephon Seton 7-5-19, Andrew Thomas 3-0-7, Ryan Feher 1-0-2, Ben Hartwell 2-0-4, Bryan Theriot 3-2-8. Totals 28-15-74.

Oberlin  16 16 16 23 — 71
Lutheran West   18 24 18 14 — 74
Three-point goals: Oberlin 5 (Gaines 3, Jones 2, Kilgore); Lutheran West 3 (Voiers, Thomay, Thomas). Field goals: Oberlin 22 of 62; Lutheran West 28 of 54. Free throws: Oberlin 21 of 31; Lutheran West 15 of 29. Turnovers: Oberlin 22; Lutheran West 19. Total fouls: Oberlin 16; Lutheran West 18. Technical fouls: Thomay; Gaines. Fouled out: none.

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