WINONA LAKE – For the second time this season, Grace men’s basketball team upset rival Bethel while reaching 100 points.
Saturday’s game resulted in a 102-92 victory over No. 9 Bethel, completing a season sweep of the Pilots (19-7, 7-7 Crossroads League).
After the win, Grace sits in sole possession of third place in the league standings with four games remaining in the regular season.
The Lancers (17-11, 9-5 CL) had five players break into double-digit scoring as Haden Deaton led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds.
The Lancers got off to a fast start. Sons scored eight points in the opening four minutes to help Grace to an early 15-7 lead.
Bethel battled back and by the midway point of the half were back within one of the Lancers.
Matt Jennings played crucial minutes off the bench for the Lancers to help reestablish the lead at 38-28. Braxton Linville stole the ball from a driving Bethel guard and found Jennings racing down the court for the easy lay-in.
The Pilots fought back within two, but again Grace had an answer. The Lancers ended the half on a 12-0 run, and Deaton converted an old fashioned 3-point play to send Grace into the half leading 52-38.
Grace was relentless on defense, forcing Bethel into 10 turnovers and capitalizing with 22 points. Jennings led the way with three steals.
The Lancers shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, and Grace had five players score nine or more points.
Freshman Myles Johnson was a force in the paint, scoring 10 points in close and grabbing six rebounds.
Bethel had a methodical start to the second half and chipped the Lancer lead down to six. Johnson came up huge for Grace and scored on back-to-back possessions to push the lead to double figures at 61-51.
Both teams went cold from the floor for a three-minute stretch until the Pilots were able to find their way to the charity stripe. Near the midway point of the second half, Bethel had been to the line 15 times compared to just three for the Lancers.
The teams were playing at a near-even pace midway through the half until Hank Smith found his touch from deep. Smith hit a pair of 3-point baskets to put the Pilots in a 13-point hole, 71-58.
The Lancers continued their dominance on the offensive glass. Sons capped off a possession that featured multiple offensive rebounds with a tough basket in the paint.
As the clock creeped under five minutes remaining, Deaton produced another and-1 to give Grace a comfortable 86-74 lead.
It appeared the game was headed Grace’s direction late on an unusual play. Sons attempted a lopped pass into the post. The pass swished into the net, giving Sons an unintentional 3-pointer since he was standing behind the arc.
A few possessions later, Deaton hit his second triple of the game to give Grace a 94-78 lead.
A pair of free throws put the Lancers over the century mark as Grace cruised to a 102-92 victory.
Johnson had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Sons neared a triple-double with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
Jennings had 18 points and four steals, and Warner added 14 points.
The Lancers as team finished shooting 55 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three. Grace grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and forced Bethel into 14 turnovers.
The Lancers will next be in action in Michigan on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as they face Spring Arbor.
­–Grant Cook

Drake breaks record, Stull scores 1,000th in win
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s women’s basketball team had plenty to celebrate on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers downed rival Bethel 84-75, headlined by two individual highlights.
Vironnica Drake had a night to remember. The senior wrote her name in the record book, pouring in 46 points to set the program record.
Drake’s 46 points broke the previous record of 45 points, set by Kris Doron 24 years ago in 1995.
Additionally, Kyannah Stull registered her 1,000th point during the first quarter. She became the 20th player in team history to reach 1,000 points.
The Lady Lancers (17-9, 8-6 Crossroads League) won despite shooting 37 percent as a team and 29 percent from the 3-point line. But Grace’s defensive effort resulted in 24 turnovers by the Pilots (7-19, 1-13 CL).
Neither side could be separated in the first quarter. Bethel struggled to handle Grace’s defensive pressure, committing eight turnovers in the period.
But the Pilots (7-19, 1-13 Crossroads League) drilled four 3-pointers to make up for their miscues.
Stull buried a pair of triples in the first quarter, putting her over 1,000 points in her career.
Drake scored 11 points in the first quarter in a sign of things to come, but the Lady Lancers remained tied 21-21 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Micaela Box gave Grace a boost early with six quick points, helping Grace to a seven-point cushion.
The rest of the quarter belonged to Drake. The senior scored the final 14 points of the half for Grace to power the Lady Lancers to a 47-36 lead at halftime.
Drake poured in 29 points in the first half, three off her career high for a game. She shot 10-of-13 overall and 7-of-7 from the foul line.
Grace struggled with its outside shot, hitting 5-of-17 (29 percent). But Grace forced Bethel into 16 first-half turnovers, resulting in 18 points off those mistakes.
Drake’s scoring continued to start the second half. She buried back-to-back triples, putting the Lady Lancers on top 58-40 after four minutes had expired in the third quarter.
Entering the fourth quarter, Grace held a 14-point edge.
The Lady Lancers maintained a comfortable margin before the Pilots made a late charge to make the end interesting.
Bethel went on a 14-4 surge; the Pilots hit two straight triples, cutting Grace’s margin to 80-73 with less than a minute to play.
Kamryn Hostetler sank two free throws on the next possession, and Bethel came up empty and had to foul.
Drake received the foul and stepped up to the line with 44 points, two shots away from history. She calmly swished both foul shots to tie and surpass the school record. Drake was subbed off at the stoppage, leaving to the sound of the full crowd’s applause.
Drake’s 46 points came on 14-of-22 shooting, 4-of-8 on 3-pointers and 14-of-18 from the foul line. She added seven boards and two steals.
Stull tallied 13 points with two steals, and Hostetler had 10 points and three assists. Maddie Ryman and Box each scored six, and Kaylie Warble grabbed seven rebounds.
“Any win in this league is big. I was nervous after a big win on Wednesday, but I was pleased we didn’t have an emotional letdown. The ladies came out and did what was needed to win,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “It was a cool night to have two milestones as well. This was a special performance from Vironnica. I’m excited for her, particularly with her growth on and off the court. Who she is and what she means to this program is really great.”
The Lady Lancers are on the road Wednesday, playing at Spring Arbor at 7 p.m.
­– Josh Neuhart