JANUARY 24, 2001
MEN'S BASKETBALL
ALMA - At the midway point of the MIAA conference race, Calvin stands
alone in first place with a logjam of teams close behind.
Calvin moved into sole possession of first place in the league standings
with a 94-80 victory at Alma Wednesday night, improving to 14-3 overall
and to 5-1 in the MIAA. Albion, Hope and Olivet stand a game back at
4-2 in the league standings. The three-way tie for second place was
created Wednesday night as Albion edged Hope 58-56 and Olivet topped
Adrian 93-79.
Olivet will journey to Calvin Saturday for a 3:00 pm contest with first
place in the league standings on the line.
In its victory over Alma, Calvin appeared to be in cruise control and
then suddenly lost the wheel as the Scots came storming back to take a
74-72 lead with just 5:35 left in regulation. Calvin had taken a 48-36
halftime lead and built a 15-point lead five minutes into the second
half. Calvin still led by 13 at 71-58 on a three-pointer by senior Nate
Burgess with 8:32 to go. Alma would outscore Calvin 15-1 over the next
three minutes however, taking the lead on a bucket by Rob Taylor with
5:35 left.
Calvin senior Josh Tubergen (Holland Christian) knotted the score at
74-74 moments later and then put the Knights ahead to stay with a dunk
that gave Calvin a 76-74 advantage. With the lead, Calvin would convert
14-of-16 free throw attempts in the final 4:05 of regulation to pull
away for the win.
On the evening, Calvin converted 35-of-43 free throw attempts for a
sizzling 81.4 percent free throw clip, notching season-highs in free
throws made, attempts and free throw percentage. Calvin entered
Wednesday night's game shooting 65.2 percent from the line. Calvin has
stepped up its free throw shooting in league play however as Wednesday's
performance marked the fourth consecutive game that Calvin has shot
above 70 percent from the line.
Sophomore forward Jeremy Veenstra (Kalamazoo Christian) was again huge
for the Knights as he came up with 25 points, six rebounds, three
assists, two blocks and two steals. Tubergen also had a big evening as
he scored a career-high 17 points and snared seven rebounds along with a
pair of steals and one blocked shot. Sophomore Bryan Foltice (Tri-unity
Christian) added 14 points and a career-high seven rebounds while
Burgess and sophomore Rob Dykstra (Tri-unity Christian) added nine
points apiece. Dykstra added six rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes
of action as he notched new career scoring and rebounding highs.
Alma (7-11 overall, 2-4 MIAA) was led in scoring by Nick Duflo who
pumped in 21 points and dished out seven assists off the bench while
Cory Heitsch, Bill Johnson and Taylor added 12 points apiece.
Calvin shot an even 40.0 percent (28-of-70) from the field but held Alma
to 38.0 percent (27-of-71) field goal shooting. Calvin also held a huge
advantage at the free throw line as the Scots were 16-of-20 (.800) at
the stripe but connected on 19 less free throws than the Knights.
In addition, Calvin outrebounded Alma 55-37 including 22-10 on the
offensive glass.
MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-24 GAMES
Calvin 5-1
Albion 4-2
Hope 4-2
Olivet 4-2
Adrian 2-4
Alma 2-4
Kalamazoo 0-6
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin came into Wednesday night's game with Alma with a chance to move
into a tie for second place in the MIAA standings but finished the
evening lodged in a three-way tie for third place.
With a 52-45 loss to Alma at the Calvin Fieldhouse, Calvin dropped to
4-3 in the MIAA, two games behind Alma (6-1) which remains a game
behind-league leading Hope. At the midway point of the MIAA regular
season standings, Calvin is tied for third place with Kalamazoo and
Olivet. Calvin (9-8 overall) will travel to Olivet Saturday for a 3:00
pm contest.
Despite shooting only 21 percent from the field in the first half,
Calvin remained within striking distance of the regionally-ranked Scots
(11-5 overall) for most of the first half. Calvin trailed just 15-14 on
a three-point play by junior Kendra Toonstra (Calvin Christian) with
just 3:44 left in the half. Alma closed the half with seven unanswered
points to take a 22-14 halftime lead.
The Scots then built a 13-point lead at 34-21 with 12:56 left before the
Knights mounted a comeback bid. Calvin cut the deficit to six points at
35-29 with 8:27 left on another three-point play by Toonstra. The
Knights then clawed to within two point at 41-39 on a jumper by Toonstra
with 3:56 to go. Alma senior Joy Horton cut off the Calvin comeback bid
however with a clutch three pointer on the ensuing possession to put the
Scots up 44-39. The triple gave Alma enough breathing room to hold off
Calvin over the closing minutes as the Scots converted eight of nine
attempts from the free throw line.
Alma finished the evening with a 34.0 percent field goal shooting
performance (16-of-47) but connected on 16-of-20 (.800) attempts at the
line. Calvin shot just 30.4 percent overall (17-of-56) and was just
5-of-9 (.556) at the free throw line.
Alma also outrebounded Calvin 42-29.
Calvin was led in scoring by Toonstra who came up with 10 points and
seven rebounds while sophomores Jennifer Plakmeyer (Calvin Christian)
and Emily Mejeur (Kalamazoo Christian) added nine points apiece.
Alma was led by sophomore Shelly Ulfig who had 16 points and 12 rebounds
while Janell Twietmeyer and Joy Horton had 10 points each.
OTHER MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCORES WEDNESDAY
Hope 79, Albion 48
Kalamazoo 64, St. Mary's 48
Olivet 71, Adrian 64
MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-24 GAMES
Hope 7-0
Alma 6-1
Calvin 4-3
Kalamazoo 4-3
Olivet 4-3
Adrian 2-5
St. Mary's 1-6
Albion 0-7
-end-
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