WBB: American Southwest Conference

[Rob Don]

WOW!  68-54, and as the announcer said, "HPU was never tested this season." 

My hat is off to Coach K and to the Lady Jackets!  Congratulations and thanks for showing the nation that they need to keep an eye on the ASC!

Keep stinging, Jackets!  

Apparently the announcer missed last week's sectional final.

Congratulations to HPU on a spectacular season.

He did mention that game as their greatest challenge of the year but that with home court advantage it was never really in question.  Not his words, but what I gleaned from his comments. 

When you're trailing by 4 with less than 4 minutes left, there's some question--even if you're playing at home.

there is only one test that matters...and we just passed it with flying colors!!!

[golfniz1]

This isn't golfniz1, this is his son. I wasn't able to attend the game in Holland, MI. I was able to go to a local Buffalo Wild Wings and watch the game on TV. Awesome game!!! The whole team played great. That was a total team win tonight. Meia handled the ball great and showed why she was Player of the Year. Stacy was dominate down low scoring a double-double. Kim Hoffman, the CSTV Sirus Player of the Game stepped up big tonight with 21 points and 8 rebs. . She definitely left everything on the court for her last game for HPU. Hope played solid on both sides of the court. The bench came in and played great when called upon. Coach K called a great game and that zone defense he runs was terrific tonight.
CONGRATS HPU FOR A GREAT SEASON!!!!!
2008 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

[Mr. Ypsi]

Using HPU as a measuring stick, HPU is #1, Hope #2 and McMurry must be in the Top 5.

So, Ralph, does this get a one-year exemption from HPU being called "Horrid Pain" - or is that just too deeply engrained in the McMurry DNA?

Hey, McMurry plays Horrid Pain in baseball in 3 weeks!

I will take that as a 'no'.  Actually, as a 'no way in hell', but not sure if you can say that!

Good.  Rivalries should not be too easily dismissed.  I popped a bottle of Champagne when Millikin won it all, but went back to hating them the next day!

[bcal]

Congratulations to the Lady Jackets of HPU.  Undefeated National Champs of NCAA Division III!

It is a great boost to ASC Women's sports overall and to basketball in particular.

As a McM grad, it never feels good to lose, It just not as bad to lose to the best in the USA!!!

WAY TO GO LADY JACKETS !!!!!!!

[Ralph Turner]

Using HPU as a measuring stick, HPU is #1, Hope #2 and McMurry must be in the Top 5.

So, Ralph, does this get a one-year exemption from HPU being called "Horrid Pain" - or is that just too deeply engrained in the McMurry DNA?

Hey, McMurry plays Horrid Pain in baseball in 3 weeks!

I will take that as a 'no'.  Actually, as a 'no way in hell', but not sure if you can say that!
Good.  Rivalries should not be too easily dismissed.  I popped a bottle of Champagne when Millikin won it all, but went back to hating them the next day!

Yes!  Pop open one of those Mexican Coca-Colas for me in celebration of HPU's win!  I am very happy for HPU and the ASC tonight!

Does a 10-point win over UWW and a 14-point win over #4 Messiah count as a monkey-stomp?   

[inthepaint]

The thing that keeps going through my mind is that nobody will every be able to one-up HPU!  An undefeated season and national champs!  Others can make it to the dance and may even go in undefeated fashion, but nobody will ever be able to do more than HPU did! 

It reminds me of a 99 yard touchdown run.  Someone may one day match it but nobody will ever surpass it! 

I have not always posted kudos to HPU - heck, I don't think I've ever posted them - but tonight I say it with the loudest, most-affirming voice I can muster up;

You are the best, HPU, and you are the most deserving coach-of-the-year that I can remember, Coach K! 

[Ron Boerger]

Congrats to Howard Payne and the ASC on an undefeated national championship!

[Ralph Turner]

Great photo by Josh Bowerman of Stacey Blalock hoisting the Walnut and Bronze.

[Ralph Turner]

After watching HPU at the Final Four, I am even more confident of the following  assessment that I posted on the MIAA board for the Hope fans on March 9th.

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=4515.1367

This HPU looks that strongest of any team that we have seen in the ASC this decade.

It has more depth than the Kendra Anderson 2003 team that lost in the Sectional to National Champ Trinity or the early 2000 teams coached by Julie Goodenough, formerly of Okie State and now of Charleston Southern in the Big South.

Maybe a bit stronger post play than the 2006 McMurry team that lost to Cinderella HSU team that went to the Final Four.

Finally has the tournament maturity (to wit, the first round loss to Trinity in 2005, the loss to HSU in the first round in 2006, the Sweet 16 loss in Decorah IA in 2007)  that it takes to get this far.

Nice addition in Katy Sarem at Guard.  She worked her way into the starting lineup by Christmas. 

The front court has five solid players...Blalock, Hoffman, Hobbs, Hohertz and Jockers.  I think that Jockers has made the biggest improvement this year.  They can play a very physical style of ball that you usually don't see in the South.  They do not lose anything when Coach Kielsmeier goes to his bench in the standard rotation.

HPU has shot the free throws very well.  Blalock, Daniels and Hoffman all hit > 80%.

The All-American (point) guard is Meia Daniels from Ft Worth.  She is as quick as anyone you have seen this year.  ASC POTY (in a conference that has Tarra Richardson).  When McMurry closed to 6 with 4:30 left (in the ASC Tourney finals), Daniels drained 3 consecutive 3FG's to put the game out of reach.  Daniels can drive the basket hard, too.

This team has the right combination of speed and physical size to advance far in the tourney.

ASC-West basketball is very good quality.  #5 Concordia-Austin, coached by former WNBA head coach Linda Sharp could win 10 D-III conferences. #4 UMHB could win 15 conferences.  #3 HSU could win 20 conferences; McM at least 25 to 30.  HPU is a well-coached battle-hardened team and the Brownwood Coliseum will be loud.

I now believe that those schools would win those other conferences championships.

[nash]

Congrats to HPU.  Will the fact that HPU is the national champion and 3 of the teams that came closest to HPU are in the ASC make a difference next year?  Also will this change the ASC having to play itself in the first couple of rounds in the tournament?

[Ralph Turner]

Nash, no, but having another conference in the ASC-East might get another Sectional game guaranteed.

[Josh Bowerman]

Great photo by Josh Bowerman of Stacey Blalock hoisting the Walnut and Bronze.

Thanks, Ralph.  This was a great weekend, made even better by our ASC own bringing home the big prize.  Congrats to Howard Payne from this HSU Cowboy!

The Jackets were clearly the class of the Final Four--they were never really seriously challenged in either game.  Certainly deserving of the title.

Hope everybody enjoyed the broadcasts and photos.

[Ralph Turner]

Jostens photo gallery (Tarra Richardson)

HPU-Messiah Photo Gallery

[mcmfan]

It reminds me of a 99 yard touchdown run.  Someone may one day match it but nobody will ever surpass it! 

Can't you surpass that if you catch a kick in the endzone, and then run it clear down the field? 

[Ralph Turner]

It reminds me of a 99 yard touchdown run.  Someone may one day match it but nobody will ever surpass it! 

Can't you surpass that if you catch a kick in the endzone, and then run it clear down the field? 

Or go 34-0 to win the national championship.