CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JAN. 10, 2009
Men's Basketball Tops Alma - Win Streak at Four;
Trent Salo Feature;
WBBL On the Bench Audio Interviews Now On-Line
MEN'S BASKETBALL
By Bruce Van Baren
Dustin Smith carried the scoring load in Mantel’s absence leading all
scorers with 20 points, one point shy of his career high. Since switching to
the off-guard against Geneva College, Smith has averaged 14.5 points per game
over the last four games.
“I look to shoot more now,” Smith said. “A lot of guys found me and I
knocked down shots (today). Our offense really flows with the switch. It’s
much more spread out and we get more open looks.”
Smith has now scored in double figures four out of the last five games, over
which Calvin is 4-1. The Knights (7-5, 2-0 MIAA) are riding a four game winning
streak and are tied for first place in the MIAA.
“Dustin is very active and is playing very confidently,” coach Kevin Vande
Streek said. “He played really well and really has (all season). We were
experimenting with different things, but he and Caleb play really well
together.”
Calvin has won the last 20 meetings with Alma and leads the all-time series
104-26. Alma falls to 2-10 and 0-2 in the MIAA. Jordan Reditt, who averages
15.5 points per game, was held to just 11 points as Alma shot only 32.1-percent
and was 2 of 15 from beyond the Arc.
The Knights shot 48.1-percent in the second half, including 4 of 11 from
three-point range. Tim Katt matched his career with 10 points off the bench and
nine rebounds, one shy off his career high. Five other players scored at least
seven points for the Knights.
“It’s great to have that depth,” Vande Streek said. “Sometimes we
don’t reverse the ball enough because we have confidence in so many
guys.”
The Knights opened the game on a 10-2 run thanks to an early 10-2 rebounding
edge. The Knights led 19-8 after Matt Veltema hit Calvin’s first
three-pointer of the game and led by as many as 13 points in the first half.
Calvin led 32-22 at halftime, but without Mantel the Knights were shooting just
31.3-percent from the field and 55.6-percent from the charity stripe.
“I thought what happened to us (after Mantel left with an injury) is that we
got a little individualistic,” Vande Streek said.
“At halftime we went around the room and I asked everyone, ‘Do you think
Veltema is a good player?’ The answer was yes. ‘Do you think Caleb is a
good player?’ And we did that with everybody, just to drive home the fact
that we have a lot of good players. People don’t have to do what they don’t
normally do (without Mantel in there).”
Calvin held a 30-15 rebounding edge in the first half, including 18 offensive
rebounds. The Knights out-rebounded Alma 50-30 and grabbed 22 offensive
rebounds. Smith grabbed five and Katt grabbed five. Calvin had 19 offensive
rebounds in Wednesday’s win against Trine.
“It’s really good to see,” Vande Streek said. “I think if you get
58-percent of rebounds you don’t lose no matter what else happens.”
A Terry Brown dunk brought the Scots within seven points with 12:25 remaining
in the second half, but Calvin’s 10-0 run capped by Matt Veltema’s second
three-pointer gave the Knights a 59-39 lead, their largest of the game with
7:12 remaining. Calvin closed the game on a 24-8 run.
“I thought we made good adjustments and did a nice job the second half,”
Vande Streek said.
Mantel, who leads the Knights with 14.9 points per game heading into Saturday,
is expected to play in Wednesday’s game at Adrian.
“You never want to play without someone,” VandeStreek said. “But it’s
probably something good to go through. It’s a good lesson to learn because we
really haven’t had to deal with that.”
Calvin travels to Adrian (5-7, 2-0 MIAA) on Wednesday for 8 p.m. tipoff. The
Bulldogs are tied for first place in the MIAA with the Knights and Hope.
NOTES: Coach Kevin Vande Streek needs just two wins to tie Ed Douma atop the
Calvin career coaching victories list…Vande Streek celebrated his 50th birthday
on Saturday… the next home game will be Wednesday, January 21 against
Olivet…over the last four years Calvin is 130-20 (.865) when leading at
halftime…Over the last four years, Calvin is 100-15 (.868) when it outrebounds
opponents… Calvin has out-rebounded the opposition in both MIAA wins this year
TRENT SALO FEATURE
For a feature story on Calvin sophomore point guard written by Calvin sports
information student assistant Chaz Amidon, please visit the Calvin website
here:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/news/comments/trent-salo-making-his-mark-in-first-year-in-a-calvin-uniform/
WBBL RADIO VISITS VAN NOORD ARENA
The Van Noord Arena hosted its first men’s and women’s varsity basketball
games on January 7 against Trine University. Earlier in the day before the
games, local Grand Rapids all-sports radio station WBBL 1340 AM was there as
WBBL sports director Bret Bakita hosted his morning “On the Bench” program
live from the Van Noord Arena. During the program, Bakita interviewed Calvin
men’s basketball coach Kevin Vande Streek, Calvin women’s basketball coach
John Ross, Calvin men’s athletics director Dr. Jim Timmer Jr. and Mike Zwier
and Sarah Partridge of the Calvin men’s and women’s basketball team
respectively.
Continue on to listen to the archived interviews, courtesy of WBBL.
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/news/comments/wbbls-on-the-bench-visits-van-noord-arena/
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun Jan 11 00:34:38 2009
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