At this very moment in time (Friday,
November 22, 2019), I feel so good. In just mere minutes, I am about to watch
Cedarville University’s (CU) Men’s Basketball Team Play Grand Valley State
University (GVSU). Being inside CU’s Callan Athletic Center (CAC) provides me
with shield from the outside weather. Please, do not misunderstand me. I love
attending football games. More importantly, not many things (in life) bring me
joy like writing about both high school football and college football. By writing
about high school football and college football, I got my start as a Sports
Writer. For that, I will be forever grateful to God. Covering football games
comes with one issue. Although I wish that I was able to cover football games
inside of a domed stadium, that is not the case. I am always outside. At times,
weather can be very unpredictable. With basketball games, weather is of no
concern. Basketball games take place inside of a building. Inclement Weather
does not affect what takes place indoors. Therefore, CAC is safe from the
conditions of the outside environment. My only focus needs to be on Yellow Jackets
vs. Lakers. I want to know if Cedarville can adequately defend its Home Court
or not. I am about to find out.
Cedarville
won the Official Tip-Off. At 19:47, the Yellow Jackets’ Branden Maughmer made a
2-Point Basket. CU’s Defense would go on to make a block. However, Grand Valley
State would maintain possession. Two seconds later (19:20), the Lakers’ Ben
Lubitz was fouled. After he successfully converted 2-Foul Shots, the game was
tied 2-2. With 19:09 on the clock, Cedarville’s Quinton Green attempted a
3-Point Basket. The basket was no good. To GVSU’s dismay, its defense fouled
Green. Therefore, Green took his place at the Free Throw Line. He went on to
make 3-Foul Shots. Less than fifteen seconds after Green left the Free Throw
Line, the Lakers’ Offense committed a turnover (18:58). At this point, gameplay
became very interesting. From 18:25 to 18:12, Grand Valley’s Jeremiah Ferguson
and Cedarville’s Maughmer’s each nailed a 3-Point Basket. Soon thereafter, the
Lakers’ Isaac Gassman picked up 2-Points. That basket cut Cedarville’s lead
from 8-5 to 8-7.
From
17:42 to 16:03, a flurry of activity took place. First, Maughmer made a 2-Point
Basket. Next, Grand Valley turned the ball over. Then, Cedarville’s Kollin Van
Horn made a 2-Point Basket. Finally, each team went on to obtain a steal. Right
before a Timeout at 15:53, GVSU’s John Slater made his presence known. Slater
hit a 3-Point Basket. During the process, he was fouled. With the completion of
a 4-Point Play, CU’s lead was cut down to 1-Point (12-11). Thus far, this game
is just about even. Neither team has gotten the upper hand. Cedarville has the
lead. However, Cedarville cannot separate itself from Grand Valley. Shortly
after the Timeout, The Yellow Jackets’ Offense turned the ball over. One second
later (15:44), CU took the ball back. Green made a steal. Cedarville would not
score. At 15:21, Gassman nailed a 3-Point Basket. For the first time, the
Lakers had a lead (14-12).
At
14:58, Cedarville’s Conner TenHove tied the game 14-14. Slater went on to give
his team a 2-Point Lead. From 14:17 to
12:48, Cedarville outscored Grand Valley State 7-3. During the time frame, each
team made a 3-Point Basket. Cedarville now leads Grand Valley 21-19. After the
Lakers’ Defense stole the ball from the Yellow Jackets, Gassman made 2-Foul
Shots (12:19). Before an ensuing Media Timeout at 11:46, Cedarville’s Defense
made a steal. The score is tied 21-21. As you can tell by the score, this game
is completely even. Neither team’s defense has been able to stop the opposing
team’s offense. Only missed baskets are the only mistakes which the offenses
have committed. Do not misunderstand me. Both offenses have had turnovers. It
is just that those turnovers have not had a huge negative effect on either
team. Coming out of the Media Timeout, CU went on to outscore GVSU 7-2. For the
Yellow Jackets, Seth Dittmer scored 4-Points. Maughmer made a 3-Point Basket.
CU leads GVSU 28-23.
Assisted
by a Foul Shot, Block, and Steal, Grand Valley got within 2-Points of
Cedarville’s lead (28-26). Gassman’s 2-Point Basket made the score become
28-26. For CU, Isaiah Speelman and Jacob Drees each made a 2-Point Basket. That
pushed the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 6-Points (32-26). The Lakers’ Christian
Negron responded with a Slam Dunk. Before a Media Timeout (7:33), Drees was
fouled. After the Media Timeout, he had 2-Free Throw Attempts. Both attempts
were good. At the 7:07 mark, Negron made a 2-Point Basket. Fifteen seconds
later (6:52), Maughmer made 2-Foul Shots. Cedarville leads Grand Valley 36-30. From
6:27 to 5:07, both teams combined made three 3-Point Baskets. GVSU’s Jayden
Hodgson is responsible for his team’s 3-Points. For CU, Drees and TenHove each
scored 3-Points. Cedarville’s leads stands at 7-Points (42-35).
From
4:34 to 2:26, Grand Valley State’s Offense was on fire! The Lakers went on a
12-0 Scoring Run. The Scoring Run included three 2-Point Baskets and two
3-Point Baskets. The Lakers’ Defense had 1-Steal too. By the score of 47-42,
GVSU leads CU. With 1:59 remaining in the First Half, Cedarville’s Seth Dittmer
ended his team’s lack of points. He made a 2-Point Basket. At the end of the
First Half, Grand Valley leads Cedarville 49-46. After the Halftime Break,
Grand Valley proceeded to outscore Cedarville 7-2. Cedarville turning over the
ball led to Gassman hitting a 3-Pont Basket (17:58). At 16:40, Green’s 2-Points
got his team its first points of the Second Half. The Yellow Jackets soon had
possession of the ball again. Unfortunately, the ball ended up being turned
over. At 15:46, the Lakers’ Jeremiah Ferguson nailed a 3-Point Basket. Once
Cedarville went on to commit a turnover, a Media Timeout was called (15:26).
Grand Valley is slowly beginning to separate itself from Cedarville and take
control of this game. Grand Valley’s lead stands at 59-50.
Twelve
seconds after the Media Timeout (15:14), Negron’s 2-Points pushed GVSU’s lead
to double-digits (61-50). From 14:55 to 13:44, Cedarville had 2-Turnovers.
Grand Valley had 1-Turnover. TenHove scored 3-Points. Cedarville was not
finished. Eventually, Drees and Speelman each hit a 3-Point Basket. At the
12:15 mark, a Timeout was called. GVSU leads CU 61-59. Just when it was looking
like Grand Valley would run away with the game, Cedarville has closed the gap. After
the latest Timeout, Cedarville finally regained the lead. With the scoreboard
showing 11:34, Drees nailed another 3-Point Basket. The Yellow Jackets lead the
Lakers 62-61. Cedarville’s Defense got in on the fun too. At 11:15, it made a
block and steal. A Media Timeout was called at 10:47. Cedarville has overcome a
double-digit lead and taken the lead.
Once
the latest Media Timeout concluded, each team scored 2-Points. Two lead changes
occurred. Then, Grand Valley State’s Offense opened things up. From 9:02 to 8:04,
Hodgson and Ferguson each made a 3-Point Basket. Van Horn responded with a
2-Point Basket. Before a Media Timeout (6:48), GVSU’s Jake Van Tubbergen picked
up 2-Points. Grand Valley leads Cedarville 71-66. When play restarted, CU cut
GVSU’s lead to 1-Point (71-70). Green and Van Horn each made a 2-Point Basket. The
Lakers went on to respond in a huge way. First, Steven Lloyd nailed a 3-Point
Basket. Then, Hodgson hit a 3-Point Basket too. With 4:54 remaining in the
game, Van Horn got the Yellow Jackets back onto the scoreboard. His 2-Point Basket cut the Lakers’ lead to
5-Points (77-72). From 4:24 to 3:22, Grand Valley State put the game away.
Cedarville had 2-Turnovers. Grand Valley had 1-Turnover. The Lakers went on a
5-0 Scoring Run. The Lakers’ lead was back to double-digits (82-72). By the
Final Score of 86-75, the game would go on to end. For CU, its opening game of
the Don Callan Classic was not a good one.
