CSR (Trewhella Mr. Big Shot in Calvin Victory Over Trinity Christian College)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2005
(written by Annalise VenHuizen '08 and Calvin Sports Information Director Jeff Febus)

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 75, Trinity 74

GRAND RAPIDS * Heading into Wednesday's game at Calvin, Trinity Christian College had defeated the Knights only once in nine prior meetings and had never won at the Calvin Fieldhouse. That nearly changed Wednesday night as the Trolls led for 39 of a possible 40 minutes but when the dust had settled, Calvin (3-3) had pulled out a stunning 75-74 come-from-behind victory, snapping a three-game losing skid in the process.

Calvin's only lead of the game came with just a second to play as senior Kyle Trewhella of Rockford High School connected on a free throw to break a 74-74 tie. The free throw came on the heels of two three-pointers by Trewhella inside the final minute with the first coming with 42 seconds left, to bring the Knights within three at 74-71 and the second coming with 27 seconds left to tie the game at 74.

Trinity Christian (3-7) then attempted to win the game on a driving layup by junior point guard Chad Cox. The layup attempt with six seconds remaining was off and Calvin senior Andy Draayer (Denver, CO) was able to corral the rebound in a scrum of players underneath the basket. Draayer was then sent an outlet pass out to Trewhella breaking free near midcourt and with just one second left, Trewhella was fouled hard from behind while driving for a breakaway layup.

Trehwella made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, keeping Trinity Christian from getting a quality shot off at the basket.

"During those shots I was trying not to be nervous. I practice free-throws for situations like this," said Trewhella who scored a game-high 24 points including 20 in the second half. "Obviously that's a thing you dream of*to be able to win a game like that. I just needed to relax and make a shot."

"Kyle was Mr. Clutch. What else can you say," said Calvin men's basketball coach Kevin Vande Streek. "It took a team effort to get back in this game and it took a senior leader like Kyle to finish it off. This was a game that we needed badly and we're thrilled to get the win."

Calvin played Wednesday's game without junior forwards Josh Meckes (Bay City, MI) and Kyle Snoeyink (Calvin Christian HS) who both sat out with injuries.

"We had some players step up, particularly our freshmen," said Vande Streek. "I thought our young guys grew up a lot tonight and we needed them to with Josh and Kyle out."

Calvin trailed 43-27 at halftime as Trinity scorched the nets with a 61.5 percent field goal clip including 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from three-point range.

The tables began to turn in the second half as the Knights shot 56.7 percent in the final 20 minutes including 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range.

Still, the Knights trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half and did not get the deficit under single digits for good until there was 9:16 left on the clock.

Trinity's lead hovered between seven and nine points until freshman Caleb Veldhouse (Sioux Falls, SD) turned the tide with a jumper and a three-pointer, bringing the Knights with in three points with just under 2:00 to play, 71-68. Trinity was then given two free-throw shots off a controversial foul-call, distancing the Knights 74-68. Veldhouse then drew an offensive-foul from a Trinity player around the half-court line. An in-bound pass to freshman Dustin Smith (Hamilton HS) was handed off to Trewhella, who connected on his three from the right wing with only 42 seconds left to play, bringing the Knights within 74-71.

In addition to Trewhella's 24 point effort, Draayer added 18 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Veldhouse with 14 points (11 of which came in the second half). Freshman Tyler Zoerhof (Holland Christian HS) received his first collegiate start in place of the injured Snoeyink and Meckes and contributed four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in 26 minutes of action. Junior center Eric DeVries (Unity Christian HS) also collected eight points, five assists and five rebounds while Smith had five rebounds and four assists.

Trinity was led by senior Dean Nauta (Grand Haven HS) with 14 points, Cox with 13, freshman Ross Stuursma with 12, and junior Ty Dewitte (Unity Christian HS) with 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Calvin plays at Hope this Friday and Saturday in the MIAA/CCIW Challenge. The Knights will face Carthage (WI) Friday at 6:00 p.m. and then Wheaton on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Nov 30 23:06:26 2005