MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jeloesel]

The always vivacious Mrs. Loesel leaned over mid-way in the first half of the Roanoke vs. Lynchburg game and asked, "Who is number 42 for Lynchburg?  He's pretty good."  I explained that was Andy Albright, and yes, he was pretty good.  (She had been out shopping during the pre-game ceremony during which Andy and the other seniors had been honored.)  Andy scored 14 points and played another fine game directing from the point, but he didn't have enough support from his teammates to upset the favored Maroons.

The Roanoke players had waited patiently during the Senior Day ceremonies, but when they took the court they played the most intense defense that I have seen from them all season.  Lynchburg had problems running their offense and couldn't get off any decent shots for most of the half.  With five minutes to go in the half, I though Roanoke might hold them to under 10 points, but Lynchburg managed to hit a few before intermission.

On the offensive end, Roanoke was getting good shots but they were off.  They were only 2-7 from the FT line, 2-11 from beyond the arc, and 31% from the field overall.  In the second half, however, they found the range somewhat better.  They went inside more, got several bunnies when they out-passed the scrambling Lynchburg trap, and made their free throws down the stretch.  Swickwrath tried everything, but Moir was able to counter.  Butler scored 20, Shrader 15, and Jackson 11.  It wasn't always pretty, but it was enough to shut up the usually vocal <.   

I thought the defense was up to the challenge of running the table for the rest of the regular season and making a dent in the tournament, but Maroon offense still needs some tweaking to achieve those goals.  We'll see if they can keep it going on Monday against the Tigers in their lair.

The Senior Day ceremonies for Andy Albright, Reed Fairchild, Pat Prior, David Sheaffer, and Matt Sweeney (as well as the REAL LC manager, Charles Oliver) led me to the conclusion that next year will be very difficult for the Hornets.  I  know that bench players improve and there are always freshmen and maybe a transfer, but I think it will be hard to assemble a team that can even come close to matching the performance of this year's team.

[jeloesel]

Picture of Butler in action.

[jeloesel]

Just in case anyone wants to blame the inconsistent reffing at the Guilford-EMU on everyone's favorite whipping-boy, Jerry Stone, he was working the Lynchburg game!  I thought he called a pretty good game--especially for Jerry Stone.     In fact, he went over to the Lynchburg student section during a time out and lightened up the mood of the group that had been getting a little nasty.  He got them back into "bounds" with his joking around.   Maybe I'm getting too mellow...

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[Jacketlawyer]

VWC 68  RMC  52  Final

Adair leads all scorers with 21, Balenga with 15 and Hawley had 10 (all in first half).

VWC dominated from the start.  The guard pressure was just too much for the Jackets to handle and no one could guard Brandon Adair.

It was good to see Wansley back on the court, but he wasn't moving very well.  If Wansley gets back to 100% and RMC gets someone who can handle the ball, they will be ok.

Justafan02--I am assuming R-M's guards gotten eaten up.  What happened with the guard play?  Did we do stupid things (which I have seen), or were we just schooled?

[justafan02]

Jackthelawyer,

I wouldn't use the word "schooled".  The guards didn't play horrible, the just got out played.  Every pass was tipped or knocked away, every loose ball was a struggle and every man had a hand in his face.  The Wesleyan guards just seemed to be two steps quicker.  Tucker and Sumpter put a lot of pressure on the point guards. 

RMC didn't play poorly, I mean they shot 50% from the field.  They just couldn't get open to shoot the ball.  Again, it was a very physical game.  There were a lot of hand checks, wrist slaps and charges that went uncalled on both ends of the floor. 

Adair and Balenga were the only threats to score.  It could be scary if another Marlin steps up and gets hot.

[stillfamily]

emu down 28-26 at half to GC...anyone with BC /EH game?  or all we all superbowl bound on the tv?

[jeloesel]

At the start of the second half, E&H is up 49-45.

[and1wasp]

81-81 with 5 minutes to go in the EH/BC game...Emory with numerous 30+ footers

[hasanova]

Final - GC over EMU, 70-66.  Great road weekend for the Quaker men at BC & EMU.  Should be another big game on Wednesday at Hampden-Sydney.   Looks like 3rd place in the ODAC is up for grabs again.  Don't you love late season basketball? 

[jeloesel]

In the end, it's Bridgewater, 104-92.  Oblitey made some key plays down the stretch, but it was Steelyglen that pulled them through.    Give us your report when you get back home, Steely.

[mybleedinghands]

LC loses in OT to W&L 78-71. LC is about as close to being mathematically eliminated as it can get.

[eagleslam]

Late season basketball, like hasanova said, is about as good as it gets.  Here are the standings, and the remaining schedules, after today's games.

VWC   14-1   All but locked up
RMC    12-3   Need too much help to move up

GC     9-6       @ H-SC, vs. RC, vs. W&L
H-SC  8-6       vs. RC, vs. GC, @ R-MC, @LC
E&H   7-8       vs. W&L, vs. LC, @ RC
RC     6-8        @ H-SC, vs. BC, @ GC, vs. E&H

EMU  6-9          vs. R-MC, @W&L, @ VWC
BC     6-9          @ RC, vs. VWC, @ R-MC


LC    3-12        still in, but @ VWC and E&H, and home against H-SC.  Not likely to win out.


The two games H-SC has next, RC and GC are big.  GC does have one game against W&L, which helps their cause.  E&H has two home games, W&L and LC, which really helps them.  RC has the toughest remaining schedule of the teams grouped in the middle.  Considering the schedules, I think either H-SC or GC will end up third, and the other fourth.  E&H will end up fifth, maybe fourth depending on how H-SC does Monday and Wednesday, but the 4/5 game does not matter in terms of match-ups.  RC, I think, will end up 6th.  Too much ground to make up and tough road games to boot.

I think 7 and 8 will stay the same.  The two most winnable games for the Eagles and Royals are against the Maroons and Generals respectively, and I know which one I'd rather have.

In the end, it will be an exciting Saturday afternoon on the 18th regardless of which teams finish where. 

[FISHTANKFAN]

 I was at the VWC/RMC game and I can honestly say that RMC never really was in the game.  The Marlins were simply too good, too fast, and Wansley was never a factor.  It was a very physical game, the refs were terrible but thankfully no one got hurt .  Elbows were flying everywhere.  The Marlins were up by 25 at one point and the closest RMC came back was 10 or 12. The Marlins played solid basketball, tenacious defense and on offense and they looked for the open man.   The Marlins would have beaten any team they played yesterday.  Their shots fell, they rebounded well and it was a team effort all the way.  Adair could have scored more but chose to go with whoever was open, as each VWC player did.  Wansley was not 100%  and the RMC players needed him to be.  Turnovers hurt RMC too..They had 20 to VWC's 8. the release of the game by the SID was accurate.  It simply wasn't  RMC's day.

[emufan]

EMU let a big weekend slip by, as two wins would have left them in fourth place.

[steelyglen]

hasanova...saw your Quakers over the weekend and came away very impresed with the job Tom Palombo has done over in Greensboro.
Guilford is very well coached and does the "liittle things" that make them sucessful.Let's see...where to begin...first I was VERY impressed with Guilford's guard play. They are physical and are aggressive on the defensive end of the floor. They out hustled BC players for loose balls, did a great job of stepping into passing lanes creating tournovers and shot the ball very well. There was no hesitancy in making the extra pass to find the open player. Ben Strong was very impressive. Soft hands for a big man and shoots the ball very well. Does a good job of letting the game come to him and plays very good position basktball. Bridgewater was lazy, particulary in the first half, settling for jumpers instead of attacking the basket, way to many times. The Eagles were not stepping to the ball on receiving passs and the help defense was just terrible. Guilford won every facet of the game Saturday. I was particularly impressed with Eric Belkoski. The young man gives great effort will do what every he can to contribute. His 7 points and 7 rebounds were just pure heart.

Today was different. The circus came town (which is always fun)and ring master Bob Johnson has his work cut out for him.  He played 16 players today and no one played over 16 minutes. I'm not quite sure why a quality player would want to play in that system...where a basically it seeems someone keeps a stopwatch and at a certain point you are out and someone else is in...no matter what has just happened. 75 three pointers hoisted today by E&H...75...The Wasps made 24 of them and STILL got beat by 12. At some point you've got to at least pretend to play defense. Strotman has 29, Michael 22, Fox and Cathlin 14 each and Oblitey 12. A much needed win for BC today.