By Kirstie Runion, Icon intern
Bluffton University and Defiance College battled for bragging rights Wednesday night - in a men's basketball game and a women's game.
Although it is not Ohio State versus Michigan or North Carolina versus Duke, the rivalry to these basketball teams and schools meant just as much. The intensity and emotion created two outstanding games, which for some, will be unforgettable.
When the dust settled is was Bluffton 2, Defiance 0.
Men's game
The men's game took place at Defiance. The factors of playing on the road and fighting for conference rank made the recipe for a great game.
After 39 minutes of neck-to-neck scoring from freshman William Pope for the Beavers, who put up 23 points and Logan Wolfrum for the Yellow Jackets, who contributed 21 points, the teams were tied at 55 a piece.
With 22 crucial seconds left, Coach Guy Neal called the play 14, which put the ball in team captain and senior Mychal Hill's hands for the final seconds.
After Hill penetrated through a couple of Yellow Jackets, he shot a floater to lead the team to a win with 13 seconds left. The shot bounced off the rim.
But the Beavers did not have time to think before Nick Lee grabbed an offensive rebound, who passed it right back to Hill. With no time out called the same play was ran, but this time Hill's shot was nothing but net.
The Beavers held on to the lead the last .8 seconds to seal the victory.
"It was surreal," Hill said about the shot, which he considered the highlight of his career and said the victory was a team effort.
"The game was definitely heightened because of the rivalry. We move into fourth place and now we have bragging rights." The Men's team will face Defiance again at home February 16, which is also senior night.
Women's game
Although the women's game did not come down to the final seconds, every minute counted.
The Beavers were at home and down by 9 at the half. After some regrouping, with a team effort on the floor, they were victorious with a 90-83 win.
Kim Comden and Erica King scored a combined 32 points for the Yellow Jackets but still fell short of the Beavers. The Beavers outscored the Yellow Jackets with 53-38 points coming from the bench players.
Team captain and senior, Kim Miller, put up 20 points and eight assists. Half of those assists went to Beth Yoder, who tied the Bluffton's three point record with six threes. Becky (Reineke) Boblitt of Bluffton and Beth Klocke also hit six in one game.
It was her career high here at Bluffton and only two points shy of her high school career high. She credited her shooting to 200-300 shots in practice each week, and also said it could be her hair.
"Thanks to Kylee Burkholder for the two French braids," she said.
While playing the last two games with her hair like this, she is averaging 20 points and 5.5 threes.
Although the hair might be luck, the victory was fought for and well earned. The women's team will face the Yellow Jackets on February 16, this time at Defiance.
