Pilots Steer Past Lancers In Tourney Opener
February 23, 2017 at 4:58 p.m.
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lancers (14-17) faded in the final five minutes in a 102-92 loss at No. 3 Bethel.
Grace’s Logan Godfrey scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and Erik Bowen added 20 points on a 7-of-11 from the floor.
Grace was unable to overcome the sharp shooting by the Pilots (27-4). Bethel shot 61 percent from the floor, 60 percent from the three-point line and a sizzling 34 of 36 (94 percent) from the foul line.
The first half was a barnburner. The teams combined to score 108 points before halftime with 11 three-pointers made. The teams were tied 54-54 at the intermission.
Midway into the first half, Bethel had established an eight-point lead, but Grace showed plenty of fight. Tre Olive and Chad Hoffer hit triples to nearly erase the Pilots’ lead.
Later in the half, Godfrey converted an and-1 to cut Bethel’s lead to one, and Hoffer swished a stepback trey to put Grace on top with 3:52 remaining in the half.
In the second half, Grace quickly pulled out to a 60-56 lead after three minutes of play, but Bethel rallied back in front.
The Pilots held a slight lead for much of the middle portions of the half. Grace stayed close thanks to timely three-pointers from Hoffer and Sons.
Hoffer forced a turnover with four minutes to play, and Godfrey threw down a contested fastbreak dunk to jolt the Lancers and cut the deficit to 87-83.
Bethel answered with a 9-3 run over the next 2:20 to effectively seal the win. Grace missed three free throws and three field goals during that spurt. The Pilots, on the other hand, made their final 11 free throws of the game to pull away.
Hoffer was pivotal off the bench, scoring 15 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Braxton Linville turned in 11 points, eight assists, four steals and four boards, Stephen Halstead added six points and five assists, and Charlie Warner scored seven points off the bench.
Wednesday’s game was also the final head-to-head matchup between Grace coach Jim Kessler and Bethel coach Mike Lightfoot as Lightfoot announced he will retire at season’s end.
With Wednesday’s win, Bethel owns a 67-63 advantage in the all-time series with Grace.
Gage Ott scored a game-high 25 points for Bethel, while Triton product Clay Yeo scored 21, and Caleb Oetjen chipped in with 19.
Former Warsaw standout Jordyn Coon scored 17 points in the win, while Tippecanoe Valley product Nick Kindig finished with five points.
Bethel will host Spring Arbor University Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Lancers will turn their attention to the NCCAA National Championships. Grace will compete in regional play before playing in the national tournament, hosted by the Lancers at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center from March 15-18.
The Lancers (14-17) faded in the final five minutes in a 102-92 loss at No. 3 Bethel.
Grace’s Logan Godfrey scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and Erik Bowen added 20 points on a 7-of-11 from the floor.
Grace was unable to overcome the sharp shooting by the Pilots (27-4). Bethel shot 61 percent from the floor, 60 percent from the three-point line and a sizzling 34 of 36 (94 percent) from the foul line.
The first half was a barnburner. The teams combined to score 108 points before halftime with 11 three-pointers made. The teams were tied 54-54 at the intermission.
Midway into the first half, Bethel had established an eight-point lead, but Grace showed plenty of fight. Tre Olive and Chad Hoffer hit triples to nearly erase the Pilots’ lead.
Later in the half, Godfrey converted an and-1 to cut Bethel’s lead to one, and Hoffer swished a stepback trey to put Grace on top with 3:52 remaining in the half.
In the second half, Grace quickly pulled out to a 60-56 lead after three minutes of play, but Bethel rallied back in front.
The Pilots held a slight lead for much of the middle portions of the half. Grace stayed close thanks to timely three-pointers from Hoffer and Sons.
Hoffer forced a turnover with four minutes to play, and Godfrey threw down a contested fastbreak dunk to jolt the Lancers and cut the deficit to 87-83.
Bethel answered with a 9-3 run over the next 2:20 to effectively seal the win. Grace missed three free throws and three field goals during that spurt. The Pilots, on the other hand, made their final 11 free throws of the game to pull away.
Hoffer was pivotal off the bench, scoring 15 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Braxton Linville turned in 11 points, eight assists, four steals and four boards, Stephen Halstead added six points and five assists, and Charlie Warner scored seven points off the bench.
Wednesday’s game was also the final head-to-head matchup between Grace coach Jim Kessler and Bethel coach Mike Lightfoot as Lightfoot announced he will retire at season’s end.
With Wednesday’s win, Bethel owns a 67-63 advantage in the all-time series with Grace.
Gage Ott scored a game-high 25 points for Bethel, while Triton product Clay Yeo scored 21, and Caleb Oetjen chipped in with 19.
Former Warsaw standout Jordyn Coon scored 17 points in the win, while Tippecanoe Valley product Nick Kindig finished with five points.
Bethel will host Spring Arbor University Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Lancers will turn their attention to the NCCAA National Championships. Grace will compete in regional play before playing in the national tournament, hosted by the Lancers at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center from March 15-18.
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