CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV. 22, 2008 (Part Two)
Basketball Teams Win Tip-Off Tourneys;
Hockey Team Captures Cob Cup at Clash in the Corn
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Calvin 71, Spring Arbor 61
By Chaz Amidon
GRAND RAPIDS – Caleb Veldhouse weaved his way through the Calvin record
books in Saturday’s 71-61 win over Spring Arbor, scoring a game-high 24
points to surpass Duane Rosendahl as the Knights’ 10th all-time leading
scorer with 1,343 points.
Danny Rodts registered 13 points, John Mantel added eight and Matt Veltema
chipped in seven as Calvin captured its seventh Tip-Off Tournament championship
after staving off a late second-half comeback by the 8-2 Cougars.
“You get to be a well-oiled machine than any team that’s played in its
first or second game,” said Calvin coach Kevin Vande Streek of Spring Arbor.
“If I were going to play against our defensive system, I would play how
Spring Arbors plays. But I was impressed…with our nice defensive
performance.”
Veldhouse, a former Mr. Basketball from South Dakota, poured in 17 first-half
points to catalyze a Knights’ offense that totaled 82 points the night before
in their season-opening win over Grace Bible College.
A three-time All-MIAA first team selection, Veldhouse was named the Tip-Off
Tournament MVP for averaging 19.0 points-per-game in Calvin’s first two games
of the 2008-09 season.
He shattered Rosendahl’s 10th-place record with 3:40 remaining before the
break, connecting on a 15-foot turnaround jumper that gave the Knights a 30-27
lead.
“I owe a lot to my coaches and a lot to my teammates,” said Veldhouse.
“God has blessed me with the ability to play. It’s just a huge blessing
to be that successful and to have the career I’ve had at Calvin.”
Veldhouse drained three of his four 3-pointers in the first half, where he
shot 5 of 10 from the field and where the Knights compiled a 36-27 lead heading
into halftime.
But Spring Arbor engineered a devastating 11-0 run midway through the second
half, building a 48-44 advantage with less than 12 minutes remaining.
Veldhouse sunk two consecutive fade-a-ways to bring the score to 52-52, then
drilled a deep 3-pointer – which was preceded by a Rodts long ball from the
left corner – to induce a Cougar timeout with 9:21 left.
“If you don’t give a team the respect they deserve, they can hurt you,”
said Veldhouse of Calvin’s second-half lapse. “Their offense attacks our
defense very well. They can punish you because they have good shooters.”
The Knights broke open a 68-56 lead – their largest of the game – on
back-to-back lay-ins from Mantel and Tim Katt.
With under one minute remaining, and after Spring Arbor climbed to within
eight points, Trent Salo notched a pair of free throws to solidify a ten-point
victory for the Knights (2-0).
“I would love to play them in about four or fives games because they have so
many back cuts and we have so many reads we have to make,” said Vande
Streek.
Kevin Ludwig duplicated a 16-point performance that he had against
Baldwin-Wallace on Friday, and Josh Brandt shot 4 of 10 from distance to tally
16 points for the Cougars.
Calvin shot a blistering 50 percent from the floor and outrebounded Spring
Arbor 41-23 – one day after controlling the boards against Grace Bible
College, 43-21.
“Spring Arbor’s not the most physical team we’re going to see but
regardless, they had one offensive rebound at halftime,” said Vande Streek.
“That’s certainly great to see and it’s been an emphasis for us in
practice. It’s something we’re always going to continue to work on.”
The Knights will have six days rest until they face off against Aquinas
College in the first round of the Grand Rapids Hall of Fame Tournament, which
will be held at DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.
NOTES: The Tip-Off Tournament team included Veldhouse, Mantel, Veltema, Ludwig
(Spring Arbor), Brandt (Spring Arbor), Allen Durham (Grace Bible) and Andre
Bene (Baldwin-Wallace)…The Knights, who shot 6 of 14 from long range, are now
108-33 (.766) when connecting on at least six 3-pointers…Vande Streek now
trails Ed Douma (1984-96) by seven games as Calvin’s all-time winningest
coach
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 79, Wisconsin-Lutheran 56
MILWAUKEE, WI -- Calvin rolled to its third win without a loss, defeating host
Wisconsin-Lutheran 79-56 in the championship game of the Wisconsin-Lutheran
Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Calvin (3-0) jumped out to a 47-31 halftime lead behind 56.3 percent field
goal shooting and then cruised the rest of the way. Senior center Marcia Harris
(Grand Rapids Christian HS) continued her strong start to the 2008-09 season
with a 22-point effort as she was 9-of-12 from the field. Junior Brook VanEck
(Lowell HS) was next with 14 points and seven rebounds while freshman Courtney
Kurncz (St. Johns HS) tossed in a career-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Freshman Jill Thomas (West Catholic HS) also had eight points off the bench
including a pair of three-point field goals.
Freshman Leah Mattson (Cadillac HS) also had four assists off the bench.
Senior Kristi Brummel (South Christian HS) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds
to go with five points and three assists.
On defense, Calvin limited Wisconsin-Lutheran guard Britany Lindert to four
points, one night after Lindert had poured in 32 points in a win over
Finlandia. Wisconsin-Lutheran shot 36.4 percent from the field. Calvin held a
38-31 rebounding advantage.
"I'm very pleased with our effort today and this weekend in general," said
Calvin women's basketball coach John Ross. "Lindert is such an explosive player
and to hold her under double-digits in scoring is a real credit to our team
defensive effort.
Calvin returns to action next Tuesday when it travels to Kalamazoo for its
conference opener. Tuesday's game at Kalamazoo is scheduled to begin at 7:30
p.m.
HOCKEY
SIOUX CENTER, IA – Calvin captured the Cob Cup at the Dordt College Clash in
the Corn Tournament. The Knights closed out the tournament with a 3-0 record,
defeating the University of Wyoming on Saturday afternoon 6-3. Calvin is now
10-4-1 overall.
Calvin received goals from Chuck Hofbauer, Matt Sowash, Lucas Huyser-Wierenga,
Adam VanOpstall, Justin Blaauwendraat and Reed Loney.
Ben Brandsen had two assists while Caleb Bosma, Blaauwendraat, Jared Balog and
Hofbauer had one assist apiece.
Calvin outshot Wyoming 58-21 with Chris Pasma picking up 18 saves in goal for
the Knights.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Nov 22 22:54:30 2008
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