CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV. 24, 2007
Men's Basketball Falls in Double OT Thriller to Aquinas in Hall of Fame
Tournament Championship Final
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Aquinas 90, Calvin 88 (2 OT)
(written by Bruce VanBaren '09)
On a night when Calvin seemed to have an answer to any deficit, it was
Aquinas’ Pedja Lazic who had the final say. Lazic’s put-back with 3.6
seconds left in the second overtime gave Aquinas a 90-88 win and its first
Grand Rapids Hall of Fame Tournament championship.
“It was going to come down to the last shot,” said Aquinas Coach Dave
Hammer. “It was just a great effort by both teams. Just when we thought they
were knocked out, they came back and just when they thought we were knocked
out, we came back.”
“We came here to win [the Hall of Fame Classic], not to finish second, so
it’s disappointing,” said Calvin Coach Kevin Vande Streek. “But I was
pleased with our energy and effort.”
Calvin, ranked 17th in the D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, battled back from an
eleven point and ten point deficit in regulation. Caleb Veldhouse (Sioux Falls
Christian) hit a three pointer off the backboard as time expired to erase the
second deficit and force overtime. Veldhouse, named to the all-tournament team,
matched his career high as he scored 32 points for the second consecutive
night.
“He really did a great job getting us to overtime,” said Vande Streek.
“[Battling back from those deficits] showed a lot of character.”
But on a night when Calvin shot under fifty percent from the foul line and was
outrebounded 56- 38, character wasn’t enough.
“We really had trouble getting the ball inside to the hoop and with our free
throws,” said Calvin Coach Kevin Vande Streek.
Veldhouse and Derek Griffin (Muskegon CC), who was also named to the
all-tournament team, were Calvin’s offense. Griffin added 23 points to
Veldhouse’s 32. Calvin combined for 18 points among its four post players and
those players had only 12 free throw attempts. Calvin missed 16 free throws.
Calvin’s lack of an inside game was largely due to Lazic, who besides having
the game winning put-back was
outstanding defensively with a game-high 13 rebounds.
“[Lazic] certainly got big rebounds [in the overtimes],” said Hammer.
“For our young post players to play [Lazic], they’re only going to get
better,” said Vande Streek. “They battled and learned.”
In the first overtime, neither team could score from the field. Dustin Smith
(Hamilton HS) hit three of four free throws as did Aquinas’ John Lierman.
With the score tied 79-79, Lierman turned the ball over with 2.9 seconds left.
But Calvin turned over its full court pass, forcing a second overtime.
Aquinas jumped to an early lead, and Lierman’s jump shot with less than two
minutes to play, gave the Saints a five point lead, 86-81. Matt Veltema (Calvin
Christian) hit a pair of free throws and then connected on a three pointer with
45 seconds remaining to tie the game 86-86. A Tim Katt (Brookfield East) put
back with 20 seconds remaining answered a Lierman score to tie the game 88-88.
After Lazic’s put-back put the Saints up 90-88 with 3.6 seconds left,
Smith’s desperation three banked in and out at the buzzer.
“You want to get a shot up and have a chance,” said Vande Streek. “I
thought Dustin’s was the same Veldhouse’s [that tied it at the end of
regulation], and that’s all you can ask for.”
As for the Saints, four players scored in double figures and three had double
digit rebounds. Lierman, who was named tournament MVP, led Aquinas with 26
points and had 12 rebounds. Lazic had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Jeff
Wierzbicki was the third Saint with a double-double, scoring 12 points and
grabbing ten rebounds. James Telman was the fourth Saint in double digits with
14 points on six of 21 shooting from the field.
Aquinas out shot Calvin 47.3% to 41.0% and missed only three free throws.
Calvin was helped by a 47.8 three-point field goal percentage. Veldhouse was
five of seven from three point range and Griffin was four of nine from beyond
the arc. Katt and Griffin led the Knights with seven rebounds apiece.
Tonight’s game was the 83rd meeting between Calvin and Aquinas and the
Knights now hold to a 61-22 series lead dating back to the 1946-1947 season.
Calvin is now 10-8 in nine appearances in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame
Tournament and is 2-7 in championship games. The Knights fell to Hope College
in last year’s title game. Calvin is now 5-2 against Aquinas in the
tournament.
Calvin beat Cornerstone 82-77 last night to advance to the title game. Aquinas
knocked off Hope College, who beat host Cornerstone in the consolation game
tonight.
“Can’t say enough about how these guys hung in there,” Hammer said.
“They found a way to make the play. To beat Calvin and Hope in back to
back nights, I’m extra proud and happy for our program
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun Nov 25 00:27:51 2007
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