WINONA LAKE - A stout defensive performance for Grace’s men’s basketball team led the Lancers to an 84-69 win over Huntington on Wednesday.
The Lancers (16-0, 6-0 Crossroads League) continued their perfect start to the season, extending the team’s best start in team history in the process.
Huntington entered the game ranked in the top-six in the country with 92.2 points per game. But the Lancers’ defense held the Foresters (10-6, 3-3 CL) to their lowest output of the season, snapping HU’s seven-game winning streak in the process.
The game began with a defensive struggle. Six minutes into the game, Grace held HU scoreless for six straight possessions. The Lancers took a slight 17-13 advantage after a score from Jake Wadding.
Off the bench, Ian Scott was a key spark for Grace. He produced in a variety of ways, hitting a 3-pointer, scoring a breakaway dunk and distributing the ball well. He finished the half with a stellar line of 7 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
Back-to-back triples from Brett Sickafoose and Scott gave Grace a 22-15 advantage, and an and-1 by Jakob Gibbs gave Grace its first double-digit lead of the half.
As the first half continued, the physical play seemed to grow between the two fierce rivals.
Grace ended the half on a high note when Cade Gibbs buried a 3-pointer in the waning seconds, sending Grace to the halftime locker room with a 45-34 lead.
Cade Gibbs was a force, racking up 17 first-half points on 7 of 11 shooting.
The Lancers shot 59 percent from the floor in the half and 56 percent on 3-pointers. HU shot 41 percent from the floor and 20 percent on 3s.
The Foresters began the second half well, scoring six quick points to slash Grace’s lead down to 45-40.
But the Lancers’ offense erupted in furious fashion with 15 unanswered points. Jakob Gibbs was pivotal during the run, scoring the final eight points straight to push Grace’s lead to 61-41.
Huntington did its best to generate a rally, edging to within 12 at 68-56 with 7:10 remaining.
Grace slammed the door, however, over the next four minutes. HU was held without a point for 4:09, and Grace rattled off 12 straight points to effectively end the contest.
Carter Stoltzfus hit a key triple in the run, and Elijah Malone threw down a rim-rattling dunk on a fastbreak to bring the packed crowd to its feet at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The Lancers blew their lead back up to 24 and cruised the final buzzer.
Grace finished the game shooting 48 percent from the floor compared to 36 percent for Huntington. Grace outrebounded HU by 15 (46-31), helping overcome the team’s 22 turnovers.
Four players scored in double figures for Grace, led by 19 points apiece from the Gibbs’ brothers.
Scott finished the game with 16 points, 11 boards, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals with just one turnover, and Malone had 10 points, 8 boards, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
Jake Wadding amassed 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block, and Stoltzfus notched 6 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Next up, the Lancers are slated to play at archrival Bethel on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game has the potential to be moved to Monday, however, depending on this weekend’s weather.

Lady Lancers Win Third Straight Behind Stingy Defensive Effort
WINONA LAKE - Grace College’s women’s basketball won its third straight Crossroads League game with a 56-41 defeat of Huntington on Wednesday night.
The win moved the Lancers (8-8, 3-3 Crossroads League) to .500 and into a tie for fourth place in the conference.
Grace’s win was in large part to a stifling defensive effort that held Huntington (9-7, 3-3 CL) to single digits in the first and third quarters en route to the 15-point victory.
The Foresters scored first in the Wednesday night clash but Maddie Ryman answered with an old-fashioned 3-point play and Peyton Murphy picked the pocket of a Huntington player and scored a fast break bucket to give Grace a 5-3 lead midway through the quarter.
Grace’s defense forced Huntington into eight turnovers in the first quarter and converted on 54 percent of their shots to build a 15-7 lead at the first quarter break.
The Lancers lead reached double digits early in the second quarter when Molly Long closed Grace’s first possession with a mid range bucket.
Huntington came storming back with a 14-3 run and with 3:40 left in the half the Foresters had pushed ahead 21-20.
After tying the game at 24, Grace closed the half on 5-0 run to carry a 29-24 lead into the halftime break.
The Lancers shot 52 percent in the first half while the Foresters shot 42 percent. Grace also had a narrow 15-12 advantage on the boards.
Grace took a firm grasp of the game in the third quarter behind a signature defensive effort. The Lancers held the Foresters to just six points on two made baskets while also forcing Huntington into six turnovers.
Grace was able to take advantage of the strong defensive showing and pushed their lead to 40-30 as the game entered the final frame.
An early score from Murphy saw the Lancers’ lead grow back to double digits which is where it would stay for the remainder of the game.
Ryman, who had six points in the fourth stanza, scored to push Grace’s lead to its biggest of the game at 18 points.
The foresters tried to muster one final charge but came up short as Grace held on for the 56-41 victory.
The Lancers finished the game shooting 41 percent from the floor while the Foresters shot 36 percent. Grace held a 32-26 advantage on the boards.
Huntington turned the ball over 25 times which Grace took advantage of to the tune of 27 points.
Murphy led all players with 15 points while also contributing 11 rebounds and six steals. Ryman and Patton followed close behind with 14 and 13 points respectively. Bekah Marshall grabbed seven rebounds.
The Lancers next game is a road matchup against Bethel and is currently scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. The game may be rescheduled to Monday pending forecasted weather that may impact the surrounding areas.