Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Grace College Lancers avenged an earlier loss to Roberts Wesleyan by topping the Raiders 73-66 Friday night in the second game of the Warsaw Optimist Tip-Off Tournament.
The Lancers wasted little time exciting the home crowd by jumping out to an early 22-8 lead in the game's first six minutes. The Lancers were unconscious offensively, nailing nine of their first 11 shots. However, Roberts Wesleyan switched to a zone defense, stifling the Lancers run. Wesleyan then went on a run of their own, and by the end of the first half, the score was 36-35 in favor of Grace.
The second half began much like the first as the Lancers reopened their lead to 10 points, 55-45. Then, up 64-55 with 6:40 remaining in the game, Andy Schmidt was called for a technical foul. Roberts Wesleyan scored two free throws and made a jumper on the ensuing possession, cutting the lead down to just five, 64-59.
The Lancers held on, however, sinking several key foul shots in the final minute of the game. James Joiner nailed six foul shots to seal the Lancer victory at 73-66.
Freshman Dan Scharlach led the Lancers with 21 points and nine rebounds. Andy Schmidt added 15 points for Grace. Ryan Fitch scored 19 for Roberts Wesleyan.
The Lancers (2-3) will play Cornerstone in the championship game at 3 p.m. today. Cornerstone beat Purdue Calumet in the earlier game, 120-93.
GRACE 73, ROBERT WESLEYAN 68
Robert Wesleyan 35 31 - 68
Grace 36 37 - 73
Robert Wesleyan - Koselny 3-8 1-2 8, Straub 2-6 0-1 5, Camplieta 4-7 2-2 11, Kilewer 3-4 0-0 6, Lemm 1-2 0-0 2, Randle 5-9 0-1 11, Cummings 2-3 0-0 4, Fitch 6-12 7-8 18. Totals 26-60 10-15 68.
Grace - Schmidt 6-14 3-4 15, Joiner 2-4 6-6 10, Gilmer 2-7 0-0 5, Tonagel 1-6 0-0 2, VanDussen 3-7 0-0 7, A.Christner 1-2 0-0 2, Gornik 4-8 1-1 9, Scharlach 10-16 1-2 21, Swanson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 29-85 11-13 73.
• Women's B-Ball
Grace 70, Mt. Mercy 56
At Kankakee, Ill., the Grace women rallied from a five-point halftime deficit and run away to a 14-point win Friday in the first round of the Olivet Nazarene Tournament.
The Lancers trailed 32-27, but outscored Mt. Mercy 43-24 in the second half. Grace hit on 30 percent of its field goals before halftime and 55.6 percent after the break.
Allison Davis and Eve Arthur each scored 15 points to lead four Lancers in double figures. Kristi Keilman added 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Amy Doron had 10 points.
Grace is now 2-1.
GRACE 70, MT. MERCY COLLEGE 56
Mt. Mercy 32 24 - 56
Grace 27 43 - 70
Mt. Mercy - Spurgin 3-5 2-3 9, Marshall 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 1-5 0-0 2, Franklin 2-6 1-2 5, Esslinger 3-12 4-6 12, Carpenter 2-8 0-1 4, Fleming 0-1 0-0 0, Uthoff 8-9 0-1 18, Lange 3-8 0-0 6. Totals 22-54 7-13 56.
Grace - Davis 5-7 4-4 15, Arthur 6-10 1-1 15, Doron 4-8 2-3 10, Droke 0-0 0-0 0, Whitaker 1-2 0-2 3, Orem 1-9 2-2 4, Scott 1-2 1-1 3, Keilman 3-10 5-9 11, Dunn 4-7 1-2 9. Totals 25-45 16-24 70.
