MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Vanilla24COW]

An easy fix would be to check out the alumni game at 3, visit the Coccia House for a pie after and still make it back for what should be a great game between the Bishops and the Scots...will be interesting to see if the inclement weather poses any threats to the charter flights that some of the alumni have arranged

[bigkrapper]

With the JV vs Alumni game tip officially confirmed for 3:00pm.  What an excellent opportunity to visit some of Wooster's finest restaurants.  Coccia House is always a fan favorite (as previously mentioned) but one can always be tempted by the classy french restaurant in town, Che LeRoys, or the Olde Jaol is always an option.  The most exciting rumor floating around is that after the game New President Grant Cornwell has graciously provided the Wooster Inn Guest House (The old rubbermaid house) for all those returning for this thrilling event! 

[woosterbooster]

Well, while I'm always interested in seeing the old (heh heh) Scots take the floor, I'm not so sure I'd define this game as a thrilling event.  I don't know if it'll happen, but if the Alums show up in force, the Wooster JV, no offense, is in serious trouble.  It could be a mismatch of mammoth proportions.

Last preseason, the Alumni had Nelson, Gorman, Schlingman, Mitchell, Witucky and (I think) Thompson, among others.  Antwyan Reynolds was a no-show, but had been listed on the roster.  When they had their starters on the court, they played a very good Wooster varsity to a standstill.  If those guys are in town, and last year's graduates Port, Vandervaart, and Van Horn are added to the team, that's a ballclub that (if in shape) would walk away with the current NCAC title and might win the DIII championship.  Heck, DII!

I haven't seen the Wooster JV this year, but with Melick and Elam now bonafide varsity players, the mini-Scots have to be that, guard heavy. Outside of Rob Tenanini and Eric Fertig, I don't think they have any size.  And the Alumni have that and then some.  Good luck to the Jayvees, they're going to need it.

[kiltedbryan]

Wooster has decided to make Saturday's game a "Blackout" the gym night.

Can't wait to be in Timken watching the Scots again.

[pennstghs]

i'll be up in timken in 2 weeks......keep the gym warm

[bufordscot]

With the JV vs Alumni game tip officially confirmed for 3:00pm.  What an excellent opportunity to visit some of Wooster's finest restaurants.  Coccia House is always a fan favorite (as previously mentioned) but one can always be tempted by the classy french restaurant in town, Che LeRoys, or the Olde Jaol is always an option.  The most exciting rumor floating around is that after the game New President Grant Cornwell has graciously provided the Wooster Inn Guest House (The old rubbermaid house) for all those returning for this thrilling event! 

So how much is a "shell" and / or a "frosty" at Che Leroys these days?  Haven't been there since 1980.

[MoneyBallSTL]

Word on the streetz at Dino's tonight is that the charter flights made it in without a hitch. Alumni players are rumored to be resting up before a early morning shootaround at "The Q". After getting word about the blackout  at the varsity game, there was some confusion as to why there couldnt be a blackout before, during, AND after the varsity contest...Anyway, I hope Coach Gaubatz can catch a few Z's tonight before tomorrow's title bout. One last inquiry, I hope Hugh Howard is printing up programs for tomorrow, I bet Jenine is free to distribute them and I'm sure the youngsters in the Wooster community would love to get some autographs tomorrow.

[wally_wabash]

On the scene at Chadwick....

Can't say that I care for Kenyon's black road unis.  Gratuitous use of black.  Wesley has the white headband on, which seems to be the standard play for home games.  We're about two minutes from lineups. 

From the game program....Andrew Zimmer is creeping up on some lofty places in the Wabash record books.  Zim is 22 points from moving into 10th place in all time scoring and is 12 rebounds away from passing Chad Tabor '99 for 9th place in all time rebounds.  When  you start passing Tabor, you've had a helluva career. 

Back with the tip in a minute.

19:40 - One possession, one bucket for Simkus.  2-0 Wabash.  Wabash is going to miss Simkus big time next year. 

Uniform update for Earl Rooks...Earl is goign with the white T under the jersey today.  New look for Earl.  In the meantime, Yelvington scores a reverse layup for Kenyon and the Lords trail 6-5 with 17:03 to play in the first half. 

14:50 - Yelvington is doing some nice work in the paint for Kenyon.  He just converted a three point play and put Kenyon in front 10-8.

13:24 - Yelvington for three more.  Wabash is going to have to adjust to him.  Zimmer scores quickly for Wabash.  The score is 13-12 for Kenyon. 

10"36 - Bediako turns the ball over by traveling...Bediako and Zimmer are really banging down in the paint.  This is pretty fun to watch.  The score is 15-14 in favor of the Lords. 

Wabash has gone small here.  Freshman Dominique Thomas is getting some rare minutes here.  I wonder if there isn't something wrong with Evan Arnold who would normally be coming in in this spot.  9:14 to go...score is still 15-14.

8:04 - And now Andrew Gilman is checking for Wabash.  This is a bizarre substiution pattern for Coach Petty.  There must have been some regulars that are getting sent a message after the wretched offensive game vs. Witt on Wednesday.  Brian Maloney gets a steal and a layup and Wabash goes ahead 16-15.  Yelvington has the quick answer with his own layup.  17-16 Lords.  6:38 to play.

5:42 - We're in a timeout here.  The score is still 17-16 for Kenyon.  Wabash is not playing that well.  I'm not sure the Lords are either.  What I am sure of is that the Lords lead the league in knee braces.  There are NFL offensive lines that don't have as much knee gear as this team does. 

4:11 - We've been scoreless here for about three full minutes.  Zimmer breaks the drought with a steal and a layup.  He was fouled but missed the free throw.  Wabash leads 18-17. 

3:03 - Korey Haddox gets a triple for the Lords and a 20-18 lead.  Brian Maloney answer for Wabash with a jumper in the lane.  20-20. 

0:47 - Yelvington for three more.  23-20 Lords. 

0:00 - Knapke gets a putback bucket at the buzzer and the Lords go to the half up 25-20.  Mercifully, this half ends. 

Yelvington has 16 points for Wabash.  The LGs are going to want to put a body on him in the second half.  Zimmer leads Wabash with 8 points and 3 rebounds.  Frankly, that half of basketball stunk like a foot.  Kenyon closed pretty strong, hence the lead.  Wabash is going to have to play with a lot more intensity because what happened in the first half won't cut it. 

Evidence of the quality of play we saw here in the first half....Turnovers: Kenyon 16, Wabash 12.  Uh-gly. 

[wally_wabash]

Second half....here we go...

19:30 - Zimmer opens the scoring in the second half.  Knapke answers quickly.  27-22 Kenyon early in the second period.

18:45 - As Aaron Brock makes one of two free throws it dawns on me that Brock sat a heavy, heavy portion of the first half with two fouls.  His being able to stay on the floor and help on Yelvington will be huge here in the second half.  Simkus is now shooting free throws Wabash and he gets one out of two.  Yikes...Wabash is leaving some points at the line today.  27-23 is the score.

16:15 - Chase Haltom gets a big three pointer for the LGs.  29-26 for the Lords.  Knapke gets fouled on a drive to the basket and will go to the line.  He misses both shots.  Rebound to Wabash.

15:29 - Wesley Smith snakes his way to the tin for two points and Wabash has crawled back to within one at 29-28.  Coach Croci will get a timeout here. 

14:07 - Steal and a big dunk from Wes Smith.  Wabash leads 30-29 and the crowd is juiced. 

13:15 - Huge putback dunk by Smith!!  Wow that was impressive.  Wabash leads 32-30. 

11:50 - More good stuff from the Zimmer-Bediako battles.  Zimmer uses some great post work to get up and under Bediako for a bucket and a foul.  The bonus shot is good and Wabash leads 35-32.

10:33 - Bediako picks up hish second foul and with over 10 minutes to go, both teams will be in the bonus from here on out.  This could make for a long second half. 

9:33 - Oh my...things are getting chippy.  Mad scramble for a loose ball, bodies everywhere, Kenyon gets called for a travel.  The energy is ramping up a notch or two here.  Aaron Brock nails a three for Wabash after the turnover, then Haddox comes back and gets a three point play of his own.  My oh my.  40-39 in favor of Wabash as it stands now. 

8:16 - This game is getting very physical. Knapke just cleared Brock out with a forearm, Brock was of course called for the foul.  That makes four for Brock and he sits down.  Knapke gets one of two foul shots and the score is tied 40-40. 

5:56 - AJ Clair gets a triple for Kenyon and the Lords regain the lead 43-42.  On the other end, Zimmer gets fouled in the post and will shoota one and one I think.  the shots are good and Wabash goes back on top 44-43.

5:03 - Excellent transition offfense for Wabash right here.  Earl leading break, dishes right to Simkus who gets a layup and a foul.  The shot is no good but Zimmer battles for the rebound and draws a foul for himself.  Zim will shoot a pair of free throws (both teams are in the double bonus now).  Wiat...Zimmer has been taken out of the game.  Blood somewhere I'm guessing.  Haltom will take his place at the line.  Chase converts the free throws.  48-43 Wabash.

They've also sent Simkus off for having blood on his jersey.  I don't know where all of this blood is coming from.  It's been a physical game, but I don't see anybody busted open.  Kenyon just converted a pair of free throws.  48-45 Wabash.  4:37 to play.

3:03 - chase Haltom nails a three in right in the grill of a Kenyon defender.  That was a huge shot.  Wabash takes their largest lead of the game at 53-45.  Timeout Lords. 

1:58 - It's going to be a parade to the line for the rest of this game.  Wes Smith is taking his crack right now.  The first shot is no good.  The second shot is no good as well.  This is a good time to mention that Yelvington has been limited to  just 4 points in the second half.  Knapke gets a tough bucket underneath for Kenyon and draws a foul.  It's 53-48  with the foul shot pending.  Timeout Lords.  1:34 to play now. 

1:18 - Knapke's shot was good.  Haltom makes a lazy pass across the court and turns it over.  He makes up for it by preventing a layup.  Kenyon inbounds and squanders the chance by taking a long three pointer.  Rebound to Smith who is immediately fouled.  He misses the first shot.  Each of his last three shots have been off to the left.  He gets the next one to fall.  54-49 and Wabash takes a timeout.  1:07 to play.

0:50 - Yelvington drives with a lot of contact from Brock.  Nothing is called until Yelvington travels.  It's strange to say with both teams well past the double bonus, but you can't expect the refs to bail you out here.  It's a physical game today.  Earl Rooks is going to the line for Wabash and he makes two shots.  56-49 LGs. 

0:20 - Kenyon's three pointer is off the rim.  Rebound to Simkus.  Runout for Brock...his dunk gets stopped by a foul from behind.  He gets two shots down.  58-49 and this one is over.

58-49 is the final.  What a phsyical game.  Both teams will be sore after this one.  Good win for the LGs.  This Kenyon team is pretty good.  And most of them are coming back next year.  2008-2009...year of the Lord(s)?   

[gobash83]

Wally,

Thanks for the updates.  As always, they were well written and welcomed.

[jscwittfan]

In what turned out to be a much closer game than I'm sure many of us expected, Wittenberg defeats Hiram 91-85.

[ScotsFan]

Nice updates once again Wally.  Thanks.

In other news there was an upset in the GL Region up in the MIAA:

Albion 56
Hope 52

jsc,  was that a little too close for comfort?

[Witt4ever]

After leading  48-30 at the half, Witt once again goes soft.

They must remember to keep the "chip on their shoulder", nobody is going to rollover, witness the Wabash game.

After leading in the first half by as much as 21, the score was down by 2 pts with 1 minute to go in the game. If the Tigers did not make their FTs, this game  would have gone down in the loss column.

The Tigers were 20-20 from the FT line, with 6 made in the final seconds.
The technical foul by Barabino did not help as McDevitt made all 4 FTs.
Bino slammed the ball after a foul was called.

By the way, Hiram's McDevitt scores 43 pts, with 30 coming in the 2nd half.
with 10 rebounds.

Another observation about this game, Kevin Murray scores 18pts, with 16pts coming in the 1st half.

Key factor in this game was the play of Mark Snyder. The MVP of the game for Witt, with 16pts.


As Bill Brown said after the game, "McDevitt scored 43 pts!!! Wow!! We were 20/20 from the line?". 

If he really knew what was going on during the game Witt could be a dangerous team. If you have ever heard the Maryville(TN) coach in a post game interview, you would understand that statement completely.



http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/menssports/basketball/hirm0202.htm

[goscots]

For you Scot fans that didn't make the Alumni game - it was a bit sloppy but had a great finish. Kyle Witucky hits a 3 with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the old guys to a 79-78 win. Alumni who were present:

Steve Thompson ('01)
Bryan Nelson ('02)
Matt Smith ('02)
PJ McCloud ('04)
Issac Ward  ('05)
Matt Schlingman ('05)
Kyle Witucky ('06)
Joe Agler ('06)
Tim Vandervaart ('07)
Andy Van Horn ('07)
Jeff Stevens ('07)

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:   Wooster 36  Ohio Wesleyan 32

Wooster is being led by Evan Will with 15 points (3 three pointers), Brandon Johnson with 11 points and James Cooper with 5 points.

Ohio Wesleyan's top scorers are Jesse Jean with 6 points, Kyle Holliday with 6 points and Brian Cafarella with 5 points.

OWU is not shooting well but the Bishops are winning the rebound battle so far by a 19-15 count.  Wooster needs to hit the boards in the 2nd half.

GO SCOTS!