CALVIN SPORTS REPORT (PART TWO) FOR FEBRUARY 26, 2005
EDITORS NOTE: In the first Calvin Sports Report today, the final score of the
Calvin-Albion women's game was not noted. The final score of the game was
Calvin 60, Albion 47.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
(Written by Abby Zylstra & Jeff Febus)
This time, a pulse-pounding finish went the way of the Calvin College
Knights.
The Calvin men basketball team captured the MIAA Tournament Championship crown
for the second year in a row, after it defeated #1 seeded and sixth-ranked
Albion, 63-59 in front of a sellout crowd of 1,541 fans at Albion's Kresge
Gymnasium Saturday night. The victory gives Calvin the MIAA's automatic bid to
the NCAA Division III Tournament which opens next week.
The MIAA Tournament title is Calvin's seventh overall with the other league
crowns coming in 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2004. In addition, Calvin
will be making its 15th trip to the NCAA III Tournament with the pairings set
to be announced Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. (EST).
Calvin's victory over Albion came after the Knights had suffered two narrow
regular season defeats to the Britons during the year as the Knights had fallen
68-65 in January at the Calvin Fieldhouse and 78-76 in overtime in February at
Albion.
In Saturday's MIAA Tournament final, 17th-ranked Calvin (22-6) took a quick
4-0 lead,but Albion came back to tie the game, 4-4. Albion held its only lead,
14-13, with 12 minutes left. Calvin regained a 15-14 lead off a basket from
sophomore Josh Meckes. Albion tied the game at 15 with 11 minutes left. A
pair of baskets from senior Brad Sall - one of which was a three-pointer --
ignited a 12-2 Calvin run that allowed the Knights to take a 34-22 lead at
halftime.
Calvin continued its run in the opening minutes of the second half by
outscoring eight unanswered points, giving the Knights their biggest lead of
the game, 42-22.
Albion (24-3) countered with a run of its own, scoring 9 straight points,
cutting the Knights's lead to nine, 46-37, with 13:40 left in the game. A
couple free throws from Meckes paused the Britons run, and they went on to
score another seven points, cutting the deficit to four points. Back-to-back
baskets from Calvin gave the Knights an eight point lead before a couple big
plays from Albion's Brandon Crawford cut the lead to three, 52-49 with just
1:49 remaining, setting up a frantic finish.
Calvin would bring the ball down the floor and misfire on two shot attempts
but would gain offensive rebounds off both misses. Junior Joel Hoekstra would
collect the first offensive board as he forced a jump ball on a scramble
underneath the basket with Calvin holding the possession arrow. Calvin would
miss another shot moments later but junior Andy Draayer (Denver, CO) would leap
high in the lane to snare a critical offensive board with just 43 seconds
remaining.
Calvin then attempted to run the bulk of the clock out but with 17 seconds
remaining, Albion forced a turnover and appeared to have a breakaway layup set
up. Aultman would thwart the layup attempt by knocking the ball out of bounds
from behind with just 10 seconds left. Albion would then take a timeout to set
up a game-tying three-point attempt. The Britons would get a clean look as
senior Michael Thomas lofted a three-pointer from the right wing that rimmed
out. Aultman then skied among a throng of players for the rebound and was
fouled with 5.4 seconds remaining.
Aultman would then make the first free throw to seal the win. Aultman would
miss his second free throw attempt but the miss would be Calvin's only miss
from the line the entire night as the Knights sank nine consecutive free throws
in the second half to hold off Albion's furious comeback bid. Albion
meanwhile would miss some timely free throws in the frantic second half and
would finish with a 68.4 percent (13 of 19) free throw shooting clip.
"The first half was Calvin basketball, up and down the floor, side to side.
The second half was Albion basketball, walking up and down the floor and
agressive," said Calvin's head coach Kevin Vande Streek. "We just kind
of hung in there and made enough plays to get the job done. The guys just
played really, really hard. And when you do that, you're
going to have a chance. It was a nice team win."
Senior Dan Aultman [Ludington/Mason County Central] led the Knights with 15
points and grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore Josh Meckes [Bay City/Saginaw
Valley Lutheran] scored 10 points and had three blocks.
Junior Joel Hoekstra [Hudsonville/Unity Christian] had nine points, seven
rebounds, six assists, and two steals for the Knights.
Senior Michael Thomas led the Britons with 14 points, junior Brandon Crawford
scored 13 points, and senior Travis DuPree scored 11 points. DePree and
Crawford each grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Calvin out-rebounded Albion, 37-27, something they didn't do the first two
games they played against Albion.
"That [rebounding] was the difference in the game," said Vande Streek.
"It's pretty amazing."
"Defensively, we were outstanding. I give the guys a lot of credit," said
Vande Streek. "A lot of guys played - it was fun. It'll be a fun bus ride
back."
Vande Streek also offered words of satisfaction for his team that includes
four seniors in Brad Sall, Dan Aultman, Josh Vriesman and Ricky Shilts.
"The most pleasing thing for me about this championship is that it was won
by such a great group of guys," said Vande Streek. "They are so humble and
unselfish that I wanted this group to be rewarded with a championship."
With this victory, the Knights are 22-6. The Britons finished their season,
24-3. The victory tonight secured Calvin a spot in the NCAA tournament. The
Knights will play either next Thursday or Saturday, a team and site yet to be
determined. The information will be released Sunday night, with the web site
www.d3hoops.com airing a live selection show special via Windows Media
Player beginning at 8:30 p.m. with the women's bracket scheduled to be
unveiled at 10:00 and the men's bracket at 10:30.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun Feb 27 00:59:02 2005
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