Williams is 'going for it' as Coe senior

     A more aggressive style, along with more minutes, have led to bigger numbers for Coe College men’s basketball senior Spencer Williams.

     He said he has been trusting himself more this season.

     “I’ve been a bit more aggressive, more ‘going for it,’ ” he said. “I’ve been working on my moves around the post, and it’s been working. Seeing the ball go in really helps.”

     Williams, the 2014 Monticello High School graduate, is averaging 12 points per game through 11 games, up from 3.4 a year ago. He has secured 5.5 rebounds per game (up from 1.9), and is averaging 17.2 minutes a contest (up from 10.1).

     “I think it’s been going a lot better,” Williams said. “It’s been much more fun this season. I’ve been having some good games.”

     One of the best ones came when Williams scored a career-high 25 points in a Dec. 6 win over Luther College.

     “We were taking advantage of what was working,” Williams said. “A lot of it was our guards being able to get to the basket and get the ball to me.”

     His college career began in an unusual way. He wasn’t planning to play basketball for Coe, but one day he was playing in a pickup basketball game. The Coe coach happened to be watching, and emailed Williams the next day inviting him to try out for the team.

     Since then, Williams said he has enjoyed playing for the Kohawks, who are off to a 4-7 start this season.

     “In the games we’ve lost, we’ve been right there, for the most part,” Williams said. “We’re right on the edge of making some good things happen.”

     Williams said he doesn’t have any specific individual goals.

     “I just want to keep up what I have going, and keep helping the team out,” he said.

     Williams, the son of Greg and Jill Williams of Monticello, is majoring in business at Coe, with a minor in communications.