CSR (Calvin Basketball Players Receive All-MIAA Honors)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 2, 2009

Calvin Basketball Players Receive All-MIAA Honors

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Three members of the Calvin men's basketball team have received All-MIAA honors. Named to the All-MIAA first team from Calvin are senior guard Caleb Veldhouse and junior center John Mantel. In addition, junior forward Matt Veltema has been named to the All-MIAA second team.

A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Sioux Falls Christian High School), Veldhouse is receiving first team All-MIAA honors for the fourth consecutive year. Veldhouse is the seventh individual in MIAA men's basketball history including the fourth from Calvin to be named to the All-MIAA first team four straight years. Veldhouse joins Mark Veenstra (1974-1977), Steve Honderd (1990-1993) and Jeremy Veenstra (2000-2003) as four-time selections from Calvin. Alma's Willie Dawkins (1974-1977) and Hope's Don Mulder (1943-1948) and Duane Bosma (1993-1996) have also achieved the feat.

This season, Veldhouse finished 11th in the MIAA scoring race (12.0), tied for sixth in assists-per-game average (2.75) and seventh in free throw percentage (.717). He concluded his career seventh on the Calvin career scoring list (1,627 points) and second on the Calvin career three-point field goals list (214).

A native of Chelsea (Chelsea HS), Mantel is receiving All-MIAA players for the first time. A year ago he was named to the All-MIAA second team. During the 2008-09 season, Mantel was a three-time MIAA Player of the Week. In conference play, he finished eighth in the league scoring race (13.5), was fourth in rebounding (8.0) and third in blocked shots per game (1.29). Over the course of the conference season, Mantel recorded five double-double performances.

Veltema is from Grandville and is a graduate of Grandville Calvin Christian High School. During the conference season, Veltema led the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 28 of 54 attempts for a 51.9 percent three-point clip. He was also fourth in three-point field goals made-per-game (2.00) and 14th in the MIAA scoring race (11.7). During the recent MIAA Tournament, Veltema averaged 14.7 points a game.

Calvin concluded its season this past weekend with an overall record of 19-8. The Knights also picked up their 28th MIAA regular season title, winning the league with a 12-2 conference mark.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Two members of the Calvin women's basketball team have received All-MIAA accolades. Named to the All-MIAA first team from Calvin are senior center Marcia Harris and junior forward Brook Van Eck.

Harris is receiving first team All-MIAA honors for the fourth consecutive year. She is just the second individual in MIAA women's basketball history to be named to the All-MIAA first team four straight years. Harris joins Calvin graduate Lisa Winkle (2004-2007) as the only two players in MIAA history to achieve the feat.

A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Harris averaged 17.9 points and 4.5 rebounds a game despite missing nine games with a mid-season injury. In her first game back from injury in a February 7 game at Adrian, Harris scored a memorable 28 points in only 16 minutes of playing time. In conference games, Harris averaged 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game while connecting on 57.0 percent of her field goal attempts. Harris concluded her collegiate career second on the Calvin career scoring list with 1,551 points. She also surpassed the 500 rebound mark, finishing her collegiate career with 506 caroms. During the year, Harris was also named MIAA Player of the Week once.

Van Eck is from Lowell and is a graduate of Lowell High School. She is receiving All-MIAA honors for the first time. During the 2008-09 season, Van Eck averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. A two-time MIAA Player of the Week this year, Van Eck finished second in the MIAA scoring race, averaging 15.1 points a game in conference games. She also finished second in the MIAA in field goal percentage (.509), fourth in rebounding (7.3) and sixth in free throw percentage (.750).

Van Eck posted five double-doubles in conference play and had a 30-point performance in a 72-68 overtime loss to Alma on January 31.

Calvin concluded its season this past week with an overall record of 16-10. The Knights placed third in the final MIAA standings with a 9-7 conference mark.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Mon Mar 2 17:28:06 2009