Lancers Ride Strong Second Half For Season Sweep Of Bethel
January 19, 2023 at 11:00 p.m.
Lancers Ride Strong Second Half For Season Sweep Of Bethel
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lancers rattled off 53 points in the second half, rolling away to an 86-73 victory over the Pilots. Grace’s win comes just seven days after beating Bethel last week on Wednesday on the road by three points.
No. 6 Grace has now won 18 of its first 20 games (18-2, 8-2 Crossroads League) in a sensational start to the season.
The game began slowly with neither side scoring for nearly two minutes. Bethel got on the scoreboard first, but Grace soon caught fire.
A pair of triples from Jakob Gibbs and Elijah Malone sparked Grace’s attack, and the Lancers rattled off 10 straight points to charge ahead.
Bethel countered with nine unanswered points to regain the lead. The Pilots capitalized by scoring in transition and pulled on top 20-12.
The Lancers turned to their defense to generate offense. Two steals led to two baskets – the first on a contested dunk from Ian Scott and the second on a Jake Wadding layup.
A triple from Brett Sickafoose continued Grace’s momentum as the Lancers charged ahead by three.
The teams traded the lead over the final minutes of the half with Bethel holding the edge at halftime by the score of 34-33.
Grace was held to 40 percent shooting in the half while Bethel made 47 percent. Malone led Grace with eight points, canning a pair of 3s.
The sides remained deadlocked for the first nine minutes of the second half. The score was even at 52-52 with 11:00 remaining.
But the Lancers’ defense and transition game was about to take over the game.
Over a five-minute stretch, Grace held Bethel scoreless. The Lancers in turn raced off 12 consecutive points.
With 9:38 on the clock, Scott made a highlight reel play. The sophomore blocked a shot, grabbed the loose ball and quickly dished a pass ahead to Frankie Davidson who flushed home a breakaway jam. Bethel was forced to call timeout facing a six-point deficit.
Grace continued to roll, however. Davidson drilled a 3-pointer to extend Grace’s lead to 12. On the next play, Davidson finished an and-1 layup on the break as the Lancers led by 15.
Bethel had little left in reserve after Grace’s quick onslaught. The Pilots pulled within eight with just under five minutes to play.
But Davidson essentially wrapped up the game when he swished a 3-pointer on the wing with the shot clock winding down.
The Pilots were forced to foul down the stretch to extend the game, and Grace made Bethel pay at the free throw line.
Both teams shot at least 20 free throws. Bethel made 70 percent of its tries (14 of 20), but Grace sank 88 percent (21 of 24).
The Lancers shot 45 percent from the floor, and Bethel shot 41 percent.
Davidson led Grace with 20 points, adding five boards. Malone finished with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7 of 11 overall.
Jakob Gibbs was a perfect 10 of 10 from the free throw line for his 17 points.
Wadding was a force off the bench, tallying 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, and Scott had 8 points, 8 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block.
Brycen Graber notched 5 points, 4 assists and 2 boards, and Carter Stoltzfus produced 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 rebounds.
The Lancers remain at home on Saturday, hosting Huntington at 3 p.m. The women’s Grace/Huntington game is also at home, set to tip off at 1 p.m.
The Lancers rattled off 53 points in the second half, rolling away to an 86-73 victory over the Pilots. Grace’s win comes just seven days after beating Bethel last week on Wednesday on the road by three points.
No. 6 Grace has now won 18 of its first 20 games (18-2, 8-2 Crossroads League) in a sensational start to the season.
The game began slowly with neither side scoring for nearly two minutes. Bethel got on the scoreboard first, but Grace soon caught fire.
A pair of triples from Jakob Gibbs and Elijah Malone sparked Grace’s attack, and the Lancers rattled off 10 straight points to charge ahead.
Bethel countered with nine unanswered points to regain the lead. The Pilots capitalized by scoring in transition and pulled on top 20-12.
The Lancers turned to their defense to generate offense. Two steals led to two baskets – the first on a contested dunk from Ian Scott and the second on a Jake Wadding layup.
A triple from Brett Sickafoose continued Grace’s momentum as the Lancers charged ahead by three.
The teams traded the lead over the final minutes of the half with Bethel holding the edge at halftime by the score of 34-33.
Grace was held to 40 percent shooting in the half while Bethel made 47 percent. Malone led Grace with eight points, canning a pair of 3s.
The sides remained deadlocked for the first nine minutes of the second half. The score was even at 52-52 with 11:00 remaining.
But the Lancers’ defense and transition game was about to take over the game.
Over a five-minute stretch, Grace held Bethel scoreless. The Lancers in turn raced off 12 consecutive points.
With 9:38 on the clock, Scott made a highlight reel play. The sophomore blocked a shot, grabbed the loose ball and quickly dished a pass ahead to Frankie Davidson who flushed home a breakaway jam. Bethel was forced to call timeout facing a six-point deficit.
Grace continued to roll, however. Davidson drilled a 3-pointer to extend Grace’s lead to 12. On the next play, Davidson finished an and-1 layup on the break as the Lancers led by 15.
Bethel had little left in reserve after Grace’s quick onslaught. The Pilots pulled within eight with just under five minutes to play.
But Davidson essentially wrapped up the game when he swished a 3-pointer on the wing with the shot clock winding down.
The Pilots were forced to foul down the stretch to extend the game, and Grace made Bethel pay at the free throw line.
Both teams shot at least 20 free throws. Bethel made 70 percent of its tries (14 of 20), but Grace sank 88 percent (21 of 24).
The Lancers shot 45 percent from the floor, and Bethel shot 41 percent.
Davidson led Grace with 20 points, adding five boards. Malone finished with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7 of 11 overall.
Jakob Gibbs was a perfect 10 of 10 from the free throw line for his 17 points.
Wadding was a force off the bench, tallying 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, and Scott had 8 points, 8 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block.
Brycen Graber notched 5 points, 4 assists and 2 boards, and Carter Stoltzfus produced 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 rebounds.
The Lancers remain at home on Saturday, hosting Huntington at 3 p.m. The women’s Grace/Huntington game is also at home, set to tip off at 1 p.m.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092