MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

I'll assume that that was edited for board appropriateness...I'm not sure Al has ever spoken three consecutive sentences that in no way violated any number of the items in the Terms of Service.   

[kiltedbryan]

A tragedy has struck the Wooster basketball family.

Former Scot Blake Mealer lost his father and has a younger brother in critical condition with serious back injuries following a car accident on Christmas Eve. The girlfriend of another of Blake's brothers was also killed in the accident.

I recommend reading Zach Bolinger's article in the Jan. 9th The Daily Record here. I think for now, at least, the article is available to anyone.

My thoughts are definitely with Blake and his family.

[ScotsFan]

Thoughts and prayers for sure to the Mealer family.

Just to add a little to that article, I don't believe that Blake's brother, Brock, is still in critilcal condition.  He was transported to UofM Hospital in Ann Arbor to begin rehab to help in the possibility of him walking again.  From what I've heard, the Doctors had put the odds of him not walking again at 70%.  And his response to that was that he was focused on the other number.  The 30% chance that he will walk again.

Here is another article that shows some of the great character that this young man has:

Brock Mealer article

He seems to be to be quite a young man and my prayers will for sure be with him as he makes the long hard road to regain the use of his legs.  But, if there is someone that can defy the odds and walk again, it sounds as if Brock would be one of those individuals!

[David Collinge]

Here's a quick mid-season update on four sophomores who were JV frosh at Wooster last season:

Nick Hershberger is playing well down at Muskingum, helping the Muskies to a 7-3 start (3-2 OAC).  Nick has played in all 10 games, starting 7 (including the last 6 straight), and is averaging 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game. 

Jake Johnson is in the rotation at 6-2 Bridgewater (Va.), but has yet to start a game.  He's averaging 13.1 minutes per game, 7th best on the team, and is chipping in 3.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.  He's made nearly half (.481) of his field goal attempts, and has even drained 4 three-pointers.

Jason Ronyak was on the roster at Case Western Reserve as of the end of December, but had yet to see any action.  He's no longer listed on the Spartans' roster.

Word has it that Dex Battista is at Grand Valley State, but is not playing hoops there (this season, at least.)

[David Collinge]

Oh, and belated wishes for a happy birthday to our good friend Li'l Giant! 

[Li'l Giant]

Oh, and belated wishes for a happy birthday to our good friend Li'l Giant! 

Muchas gracias. Any nice tidings are great right now as for my birthday I got The Flu. 

[sac]

Oh, and belated wishes for a happy birthday to our good friend Li'l Giant! 

Muchas gracias. Any nice tidings are great right now as for my birthday I got The Flu. 

I got the same thing for Christmas........and no one will take it back.

[David Collinge]

In addition to being named the NCAC Player of the Week (mentioned earlier), Andrew Zimmer has been named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week for the week ending Jan. 6.  Congratulations, Andrew!

[woolax]

Is Wooster the only NCAC team that broadcasts video of thier home basketball games?

[kiltedbryan]

I think that OWU has broadcast games.  They had a video setup at the OWU-Wooster game from earlier this year.  Other schools may, too.

[jscwittfan]

Witt did a few random games on video last year, but I don't see any games on the schedule for this year.  Either they haven't posted them yet, or they've been lost as part of the same cost-cutting tactics that refused to send a willing broadcast team to cover the then-undefeated volleyball team in the national quarterfinals.  I'm guessing the latter.

[wally_wabash]

I'm on the scene here in C'ville...teams are going through warmups....we've got about 13 minutes before lineup intros.  I'm ready to get this one underway.  I think we're in for a really good one this afternoon at Chadwick. 

And here we go....

18:46 - Cooper opens the scoring with a three pointer [/shocked].  On that possession Wes got called for a nickel-dimer....let 'em play guys. 

17:00 - The LGs are tight.  We're at 6-0 here early, but Wabash is all out of sorts.   Wooster is forced to call a timeout trying to inbound.  Maybe Mac can use this to get the kids to loosen up a bit. 

16:13 - Wabash finally gets on the board with an Aaron Brock free throw.  8-1 Scots. 

13:20 - Wooster is denying the post extremely well right now.  The LGs are having a tough time getting the ball to the painted area.  But, Gary Simkus found himself open for a triple adn Wabash is within two at 8-6.  Wes Smith drew a foul here driving to the basket and has free throws.  Missed 'em.  Offensive rebound for Zimmer kicked out to Simkus for another triple.  9-8 Wabash. 

11:03 - 14-10 Scots here.  This is a good time to mention that I'm pretty impressed with Wickliffe.  He's gonna be a beast. Evan Arnold hits a three for Wabash.  14-13 Scots. 

9:43 - Cooper is back on the floor for Wooster after an extended break.  Wabash did a good job with him early in the game as he's 1-4 so far.  Not surprisingly, Mac quickly brings Wes Smith back in the game.  Ah...the chess match. 

8:19 - It took some time, but the students are packing it in here.  Good to see.  Wabash leads here 17-16.  Sorry, Brock just hit a 3.  20-16 Little Giants.  Wabash has really responded well after the slow start. 

6:19 - It's been physical here so far.  Both teams are now in the bonus as Aaron Brock makes one of his two charity shots.  We're knotted at 21-21. 

5:49 - Zimmer worked his tail off to get a couple of offensive rebounds and finally stick it back.  And he got fouled.  The shot is good and Wabash goes back ahead 24-21. 

3:36 - This game is as good as hoped.  Total slugfest here.  The Scots are starting to accumulate some fouls defending the post.  Brian Maloney just forced Evan Will into his second foul and will be going to the line for two shots.  Good and not good.  29-26 Wabash.

2:32 - Simkus blocks a three point shot on the defensive end, then drains one at the other end of the floor.  Gary is playing very well this afternoon.  32-26 Wabash. 

0:32 - Zimmer picks up his second foul here late in the first half.  Both teams have 10+ fouls here in the first 20 minutes.  Foul trouble could be a big story here in the second half.  Wabash turns the ball over with 5 seconds to go.  The Scots will have a chance to score here to close the half.  And Johnson drives the length of the floor to score.  Wabash employed the "traffic cone" defense there.  Le sigh.  34-33 in favor of Wabash at the half. 

Following up my note regarding fouls...for Wooster Wickliffe, Will, Mealick, Fulk, and Elam all have two fouls.  For Wabash, Brock, Zimmer, Rooks, and Maloney all have two.  Keeping the sheet clean early in the first half is going to be pretty key or else one of these teams is going to get a pretty serious advantage on the inside. 

One other telling stat here....Wooster turned 13 Wabash turnovers into 18 points.  Wabash converted six Wooster turnovers into just four points.  Gotta take better care of the ball in the second half.  Not to say tha Wabash has been particularly sloppy...Wooster is a just an outstanding on-ball defending team. 

[woosterbooster]

Dang, Wally, you're about 20 seconds ahead of the Wooster online radio feed!

[wally_wabash]

Fresh post for the second half.     Let's hope the second half is as good as the first. 

And before we get into the second half I just want to note that last year when Wabash took Wooster to the wire here at Chadwick, I don't think Wooster played very hard.  They kinda went through the motions, IMO.  Not the case here today.  Both teams are working really hard here. 

19:15 - The second half starts the way the first half did...with a Cooper triple.  Zimmer answers with one of his own.  And Wabash scores off of steal.  39-35 Wabash here early in the second half. 

18:12 - Another Wabash steal leads to a Gary Simkus layup.  41-35 Wabash.  Steve Moore couldn't call that timeout fast enough. 

17:09 - Wes alters a Cooper three point attempt and it draws atmosphere.  Coop is hearing about it.  Zimmer scores on a nice little hook for Wabash.  45-37...largest lead of the game for the LGs. 

13:19 - Zimmer scores following a Wooster turnover.  Wabash is doing a better job of converting those extra possessions here.  49-45 Wabash.  The fouls have been scarce here in the second half, so that may not be as big of an issue as I thought.  Zimmer just picked up his third.  Johnson has 3 for Wooster. 

Wickliffe just missed his fourth free throw in the last two trips for Wooster.  Ouch. 

12:00 - Simkus with another triple.  He's in the zone.  52-45 Wabash.  On the other end, Smith picks up his 3rd for Wabash.  Fouls may be an issue after all. 

11:00 Three for Wes Smith and Wabash opens up a ten point lead!   55-45. 

10:10 - Brock beats the buzzer for three more!  58-47 Wabash.  It's getting noisy in here. 

9:42 It's 58-49 for Wabash coming out of a timeout.  Mac is stretching his minutes with Wes and Brock...both are on the floor with three fouls and will need to be careful over the next handful of minutes. 

7:11 - Brock and the crowd don't like it, but Aaron picked up a silly foul and will take his 10 points and 8 rebounds to the bench with four fouls.  The foul shots are good and Wooster is closing...60-53. 

We're in a timeout....the foul situation is Wabash 7, Wooster 3.  Not ideal for Wabash here. 

5:37 - Maloney picks up his fourth foul on Wickliffe.  Cooper takes what I'm guessing will be his final breather of the day.  The foul shots are good for Wickliffe and Wabash leads 62-58.  Wooster quickly converts after a steal.  62-60 now with 4:53 to go.  Timeout Wabash.  In a word....nailbiter. 

3:23 - Rooks just took a pair of bad shots for Wabash.  Cooper is checking back in.  Wooster ball...we're still at 62-60.

2:59 - Bidwell scores in the lane to tie the game.  Timeout Wabash.  Wooster still has a foul to give here. 

2:35 - Fulk gets a pair of free throws and Wooster has their first lead in a long time.  64-62 Scots.  Time for the seniors to step up.  Zimmer and Simkus have had great games...they'll need to finish it here. 

1:28 - Wabash ends up with the ball after a mad scramble at midcourt.  Zimmer draws a foul and will shoot one and one.  They're good. 66-65 Scots.

0:58 - Fulk buries a triple from the corner.  69-65.  Wasn't it Fulk that buried the killer three-pointer here last year?  69-65 Scots.

:45 - Zimmer answers with a driving basket.  69-67 Scots.

0:11 - Alright, Johnson drove the lane, missed his layup but the collapsing D left nobody on Wickliffe who had an easy rebound and putback.  71-67 Scots.  Haltom went up the floor in a hurry, fed the ball to Simkus who nailed a triple.  71-70.  Immediate timeout for Wabash.  Obviously Wabash will be fouling here out of the timeout.

0:09 - Quick foul on Fulk.  The first shot is no good.  Chadwick is going crazy.  Second shot is good.  72-70. Wabash calls timeout after getting the ball to half court.  They'll have 6.9 seconds to tie this beast up.  What a game. 

0:00 - That was anticlimactic....Wabash inbounds to Haltom who pump fakes a three and dishes to Zimmer.  Zimmer has the ball knocked away, recovers and drives about two steps before being stripped again and Wabash doesn't get a shot off.  What a disappointing way to end such a great game.  72-70 Scots win.   

[kiltedbryan]

That was a great game.  Wow.  72-70 Wooster wins.

+K for you with the running updates, Wally.  That was an incredible effort by both teams- what a shooting performance by Wabash.  Too many turnovers, though.

The Scots survive, somehow.  Fulk's missed FT right at the end was his first miss since his sophomore season at Wooster, broke a streak of 41 straight, I believe.