CSR (Men's Basketball Nipped By Hope in 163rd Meeting of the Rivalry)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JANUARY 13, 2007 (PART ONE)

Hope Nips Calvin In 163rd Meeting of The Rivalry
(Written by Bruce VanBaren ’09)

MEN’S BASKETBAL
Hope 65, Calvin 62

If Caleb Veldhouse (Sioux Falls/ Sioux Falls Christian) went to bed dreaming of a chance to repeat last year's heroic shot against the Dutchmen, his dream came true, at least partially.

With 19.4 seconds left in the game and Calvin trailing by three, Coach Kevin Vande Streek opted not to take a time out. "I thought we had them scrambling a little bit. If we could have made a pass out of the scramble, we'd get a good look," Vande Streek said.

The Knights did get an open shot, but statistically it wasn't who Vande Streek had hoped. Hope's defense rotated perfectly, assuring that Veldhouse wouldn't get a chance to repeat last year's dramatic game winner. Veldhouse dribbled baseline and found Meckes near the top of the arc. Meckes' shot, an open look, fell short and so did Calvin's chance of beating nationally ranked Hope College.

"We switched every screen and did a great job stepping out on Caleb to the point where he couldn't get a shot. [Meckes] was who we wanted to take that shot at that point in time," Hope guard Stephen Cramer said. "We were absolutely not going to let Caleb Veldhouse take the last shot to beat us again," Hope coach Glen VanWieren said.

The final 20 seconds, wasn't the only opportunity Calvin failed to capitalize on. With under three minutes left in the game, the Knights continually closed the gap to two, but Derek Van Solkema and Hope seemed to always have the answer.

Calvin turned the ball over twice when they had an opportunity to tie in the final minute. Cramer picked up a steal and drove the length of the court. After he missed the lay up, Meckes grabbed a huge rebound and immediately called timeout. Calvin then turned the ball over after a bad pass with 24 seconds left. VanSolkema then split a pair of free throws to give the Flying Dutchmen a 65-62 lead, setting up the frantic final finish.

The excitement in another Hope-Calvin classic was not only at the end of the game, Calvin immediately looked for fireworks when they went for an alley-oop to Meckes off the tip-off.

Calvin started out cold, going 0 for 5 with the exception of an Eric DeVries lay up, but Van Solkema, Cramer, and Marcus Vanderheide certainly did not. In Calvin's last meeting with Hope earlier this year, they combined for 61 points and appeared to be on their way again scoring Hope's first12 points.

Calvin, fueled by a high energy and packed field house, stayed in the game never trailing by more than eight. But the Dutchmen stayed one step ahead of the Knights, both offensively and defensively. The Dutchmen defense seemingly read every screen Calvin tried to set, switching to the Calvin guards. Twice Veldhouse ran the screen as the shot clock wound down and twice Hope stuffed him.

Veldhouse realized it and with 2:25 left in the half, instead of running a screen he stepped up and drained a three to pull the Knights within two points. Veldhouse then fed John Mantel (Chelsea/Chelsea) for a lay up to tie the game at 24-24. After Mantel gave Calvin its first lead of the game, Van Solkema came right back, driving the lane. Veldhouse answered and Calvin despite trailing most all of the game took a 28-26 lead into the half.

Hope shot only 2 for 7 from behind the arc in the first half and only shot 42.3% from the field, well below their season average, in the first half. Calvin didn't exactly have the offensive half it desired either. The Knights shot only 40.7% and 33.3% from the three point line in the first half.

Calvin came out strong out of the locker room with Veldhouse feeding the posts: DeVries and Meckes. Griffin converted on a four point play after he drained a three and was fouled, giving the Knights a five point, their biggest lead, of the night.

Mantel led the Knights with 16 points and six rebounds, while Veltema added 13 points. "Our two freshman stepped up and scored. They really kept us in the game," Vande Streek said.

Calvin shot 42% overall and 35% from behind the arc. The Knights turned the ball over 15 times and the Dutchmen put up 17 points off turnovers.

Van Solkema put up 22 points to lead Hope, while Cramer and Vanderheide added 16 and 12 respectively. Hope, fourth in the nation in three point shooting percentage, finished an uncharacteristic 4 of 17 from the three point line.

Calvin falls to 7-7 (2-2) while Hope 12-2 (4-0).

"This team is at its best in February and we just have to keep working to get there," said Vande Streek.

Saturday's game was the 163rd meeting between Calvin and Hope in men's basketball. Hope now leads the all-time series 82-81.

OTHER MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL SCORES Saturday

Adrian 69, Olivet 66 (OT)
Tri-State 69, Kalamazoo 68
Albion 81, Alma 69

MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-13-07 GAMES

Adrian 4-0
Hope 4-0
Tri-State 3-1
Calvin 2-2
Albion 1-3
Alma 1-3
Olivet 1-3
Kalamazoo 0-4

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Jan 13 18:14:05 2007