Captain Hits Game Winning Three
Tyler Hayward
The old adage goes, “Games are won and lost at the free-throw line.” It was proven Wednesday night. The Grace Lancers, who are the second best free-throw-shooting team in the NAIA, failed on four straight attempts from the charity stripe in less than one minute, and that was just the opening the Spring Arbor Cougars needed.
With 4.5 seconds left in the game, and up 68-66, Lancer freshman Elliot Smith went to the free-throw line with a chance to put the game out of reach. Smith, an 82% free-throw shooter on the season prior to this game, misfired on the first. Grace head coach Jim Kessler called for time to discuss defensive strategy. Smith then missed the second free-throw and SAU senior captain Rob Boss gathered up the rebound and looked for SAU’s leading scorer, D.J. Baisden. Baisden was double-teamed by the Lancers and Boss dribbled the length of the floor, pulled up from the top of the key, and buried his first career three pointer with no time left as the Cougars won 69-68 to advance to the semi-finals of the MCC tournament.
Despite 17 points and 15 rebounds from David Swanson, and 24 points and 8 boards from Derek Johnson, the Lancers still had trouble closing out a relentless Cougar team. SAU switched from their basic half court defense to full court press, forcing two turnovers in the last two minutes as well, thanks in large part to the pressure of freshman guard Matt Van Pelt.
Defense has been a staple in the program since 2010 MCC Coach of the Year Ryan Cottingham got to Spring Arbor. The Cougars do rank 10th in the NAIA in scoring defense per game and are also in the top 25 in assist/turnover ratio. Despite a team season high for points in a game of 93 against this same Grace team, SAU knew that defense would not only be key in this game, but also in their next one. Boss certainly expects Cottingham to deliver that message to the team prior to Saturday’s game versus the 10th ranked Bethel Pilots.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of the same. Defense, defense, defense,” Boss said. “Bethel’s an excellent team, rated top 10 in the nation, so we know we got our hands full. I think we’re real confident right now. We’re playing well as a team, and I think we have a good shot going in there.”
The Pilots have beaten the Cougars four straight times, including ending the Cougars season in the semi-finals of the MCC tournament last season. This year’s semi-final showdown with Bethel comes this Saturday at 3:00, as the Pilots play host to the Cougars in Mishawaka, IN, for a chance to advance to the conference championship game.
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