MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Tight one in Holland tonight.

Grace wins it 92-90. Looks like this one was close the whole way through.

Alma wins big over Oberlin 77-63.

Two good results

crazy but its not over

[KnightSlappy]

Tight one in Holland tonight.

Grace wins it 92-90. Looks like this one was close the whole way through.

Alma wins big over Oberlin 77-63.

Two good results

crazy but its not over

Whoops. Live Stats went to final for a bit.

[wiz]

SeeSaw game at DeVos.  In the end, Grace makes it 11 consecutive victories.  93-90

[sac]

Grace Bible 93 Hope 90

Close game throughout, biggest lead by Hope 6, GBC by 5.  Hope only made 1 FG in the final 4 1/2 minutes.   Kurtz was big at the end for Grace.  Will Bowser's desperate 3 after a wild final few seconds came up short at the buzzer.  Five in a row for the Tigers over D3's.


Allen Durham had 26 for GBC, Ryan Krombeen 17, Matt Kurtz 17, Ryan Dame 15, Cory Jamieson 12

Will Bowser 21, David Krombeen 15, Logan Neil 13, Nate Snuggerud 11, Ty Tanis 11


Rochester 88 Purdue-North Central 73.   Hope plays Purdue North Central on Saturday, at 3pm.

[sac]

Alma 77 Oberlin 63

By the 13 minute mark of the first half Alma's lead hit double-digits and the Scots never looked back.  They lead by as many as 25 in the second half.  Alma goes to 3-3, 2-0 in-region.

Greg Silverthorn 19, Brett Lackie 14, Kevin Ginther 12

[sac]

TD with a nice rant about the defense in the post-game.  

Kind of awesome actually.

[AlwaysHope]

Durham gets 4 points in the first half, then 22 in the second half.

Grace shoots 62% from the floor for the game.

Who would have guessed that Grace Bible would defeat both Calvin or Hope the same year!  Got to give them credit.

[KnightSlappy]

Alma 77 Oberlin 63

By the 13 minute mark of the first half Alma's lead hit double-digits and the Scots never looked back.  They lead by as many as 25 in the second half.  Alma goes to 3-3, 2-0 in-region.

Greg Silverthorn 19, Brett Lackie 14, Kevin Ginther 12

Alma gets a taste of their own medicine. The win over Oberlin destroys their SOS, moving them from #4 in the region (by RPI) to #18.

[David Collinge]

I only scarcely understand SOS, but I will say that Oberlin's record should improve as the season progresses.  They're going through a (very) rough stretch that belies their actual talent level, and while they look to be locked and loaded for last place in the NCAC, there's always a few wins available in our circuit, especially if the Yeo get their heads on straight.

[jspiii]

From the Hope game:
 Don't fail to mention that Hope had in their student section for the 1st half only, a new student trainee putting up the Montain Dew bottle placards for made 3-pointers by the name of former coach Glenn VanWieren. Striped socks, orange shorts, orange shirt and face paint. He was kept busy with 6 1st half 3-pointers.

[pointlem]

From the Hope game:
 Don't fail to mention that Hope had in their student section for the 1st half only, a new student trainee putting up the Montain Dew bottle placards for made 3-pointers by the name of former coach Glenn VanWieren. Striped socks, orange shorts, orange shirt and face paint. He was kept busy with 6 1st half 3-pointers.

That was such a neat gesture of thanks and appreciation to the Dew Crew, which was out in full force and adding electricity to the atmosphere.  He was with them all the way--except I noticed he was appropriately subdued when they chanted "air ball."

If you would have told me that Hope's perimeter game would dominate with 13 of 25 three's, 17 of 19 free throws, and only five turnovers, I would have predicted a blow-out.  But then if you'd told me that Grace would shoot 69% in the second half, mostly on unstoppable shots within five feet of the basket, I would also have expected a blowout.  Durham lived up to his advance billing.  He reminded me of Steve Honderd with a bit more elevation.  All in all a very exciting game that had a remarkable number of lead changes.

If Bowser, Krombeen, Tanis, and Neil can continue shooting the ball as well as they have so far, and if Andy Vennema can resume his center position, and if the other players in street clothes can get healthy and back in playing shape, I'll be pretty optimistic about the second half of Hope's season.

[almcguirejr]

From the Hope game:
 Don't fail to mention that Hope had in their student section for the 1st half only, a new student trainee putting up the Montain Dew bottle placards for made 3-pointers by the name of former coach Glenn VanWieren. Striped socks, orange shorts, orange shirt and face paint. He was kept busy with 6 1st half 3-pointers.

I'll bet that was fun.  Did you happen to snap any pictures that you could share with us?

[Knight2Day]

From the Hope game:
 Don't fail to mention that Hope had in their student section for the 1st half only, a new student trainee putting up the Montain Dew bottle placards for made 3-pointers by the name of former coach Glenn VanWieren. Striped socks, orange shorts, orange shirt and face paint. He was kept busy with 6 1st half 3-pointers.

That was such a neat gesture of thanks and appreciation to the Dew Crew, which was out in full force and adding electricity to the atmosphere.  He was with them all the way--except I noticed he was appropriately subdued when they chanted "air ball."

If you would have told me that Hope's perimeter game would dominate with 13 of 25 three's, 17 of 19 free throws, and only five turnovers, I would have predicted a blow-out.  But then if you'd told me that Grace would shoot 69% in the second half, mostly on unstoppable shots within five feet of the basket, I would also have expected a blowout.  Durham lived up to his advance billing.  He reminded me of Steve Honderd with a bit more elevation.  All in all a very exciting game that had a remarkable number of lead changes.

If Bowser, Krombeen, Tanis, and Neil can continue shooting the ball as well as they have so far, and if Andy Vennema can resume his center position, and if the other players in street clothes can get healthy and back in playing shape, I'll be pretty optimistic about the second half of Hope's season.

That is a lot of "what if's"...thats like saying, "what if the Knights started playing like a veteran squad," "what if Trent Salo and David Rietema immediately made an impact," "what if Jordan Brink became the next Jeremy Veenstra" .....even if the injured Hope players come back in time for the whole conference schedule, it will take some time for them to get back to form. While Bunn is quite the player, if this injury is everything people are making it out to be, even when he comes back he might not be the same Peter Bunn as everyone knows and loves.  I know I'll catch a lot of flack for these comments but I think that it's a reality thing. I don't think Bunn will be the same player everyone remembers...speaking as a former player, serious injuries do funny things to players, even ones as dominant as Pete, I've seen it happen multiple times, and I'm sorry, but if Pete is not the same player he was last year (which he won't be) then Hope will not be the National Championship contender that the Sentinel was attempting to make them out to be. Once again, I know I will catch a lot of flack for these comments, but it's just the way it is.

[hoopdreams]

late night liquid courage?   They are not the same team without Bunn on the floor and in some ways I, GASP, think they may be better. Enter laughter.........

The reason hope is 2-4, has nothing to do with their guard play, which has been outstanding. They have been exposed in the paint and there is little to nothing that having Bunn on the floor would change. Opposing posts are scoring on basic post entry passes, having another talented 6'1 guard isn't going to change that a whole lot

Having said that, its discouraging to lose another close one but they'll be better for  it.  GB is an outstanding program and they were without one of their best guards last night- Oostema.

You a hugely right in one respect, one that no one has brought up-shocker....I too, believe he won't be the same, unfortunately. What he is enduring is horrific, scary, enter other adjectives and when he is finally able to play, how long before he even sniffs game speed play, how will it affect the chemistry,etc...  It's a sad situation.

[HopeConvert]

I have little to add to pointlem's excellent analysis. A few thoughts, however:

• I'd like to see a shot distribution chart from last night's game. I'm willing to wager that GBC scored close to 90% of their field goals from within 5 feet of the basket. Hope's interior defense is certainly suspect, but GBC is genuinely good in the paint. Sometimes you have to give the other team credit, even while you figure out what you need to do better. And Hope definitely needs to get better on the inside. Snuggeruud has beefed up significantly but needs to improve his footwork. Durham displayed quite an array of feints and shooting from different spots and angles in the second half. I hope he is able to go today. Didn't look promising last night.
• "You can NOT make that call at this point of the game!!!
• Good to see Bowser stroking free throws confidently.
• Hope's 3-point shooting was outstanding.
• I thought Hope made some nice in-game adjustments to GBC's zone. I wish Hope would have gone to a zone of its own earlier. GBC didn't look that dangerous from the outside, and were torching Hope inside.
• Great atmosphere. Dew Crew in full force, which always makes it fun.