The Bluffton University men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker on Friday, Feb. 12, at the hand of the Anderson University Ravens. The Beavers fought throughout the game to send it to overtime but the Ravens held on to defeat the Beavers 85-76. Bluffton falls to 10-2 on the season and Anderson moves to 6-3.
In the first half, the game went back and forth. Sophomore big man AJ Kenney (Marion/River Valley) played a giant role with senior captain Aaron Rich (Greenville) out of the lineup. Kenney tossed in 10 huge points in the first with two rebounds. Junior guard Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) scored five points and had two takeaways.
Sophomore guards Mike Ketner (Coldwater) and Ethan Stearns (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) came off the bench and made huge contributions in the first half. Ketner had six points while Stearns added four of his own as the two teams went to the break deadlocked at 37-37.
Kenney kept it rolling in the second stanza, scoring 15 big ones for the Beavers and grabbing another four rebounds. Stearns added three more to go along with a steal. Senior guard Dezman Brown (Elyria) drilled a three of his own. Cosby had four in half number two, but no points were bigger than the layup he hit with two seconds left in the game, tying the score 68-68 and sending it to overtime. The extra five minutes did not go in Bluffton's favor as Anderson outscored the visitors 17-8 for an 85-76 Raven victory.
The double-digit scorers for the Beavers were Kenney (30) and Brown (10). Kenney's 30 points tripled his previous (10) career-high! He also ripped down a career-high tying seven boards while blistering the nets with a ridiculous 14-of-18 shooting performance. Cosby tallied nine points and picked up three steals. Stearns also chipped in with seven points, three steals and two dimes. Senior Ronnie James (Cleveland/Benedictine) was the high assists' man with three helpers.
Anderson pulled down one more rebound (28-27) than the Beavers, but the Ravens also coughed it up one more time in a turnover-marred affair (22-21). Bluffton led the Ravens in 2nd chance points (15-9), while the home team outscored the Beavers 30-18 off turnovers.
MEN'S GAME ON SATURDAY
The Bluffton University men lost another tough one Saturday night, falling to the Anderson University Ravens for the second time in 27 hours. While it was tied with 2:33 to play, the Ravens finished on a 6-2 spurt for the 75-71 victory. The Beavers fell to 10-3 following their third straight setback, while the Ravens improved to 7-3.
Senior Ronnie James (Benedictine/Cleveland) had a nice senior night showing, scoring six for the Beavers in the first half on 3-of-5 shooting and he also handed out three assists. Backcourt mate Jameel Cosby (Kenton Ridge/Springfield) helped along the way, scoring seven points for the home team. Big man AJ Kenney (Marion/Rivel Valley) came off the bench and had eight of his own in the first thanks to his deft touch around the rim. Heading into the half the game was tied up at 31 apiece after Anderson went on a 15-8 run over the final six minutes.
James kept right on pace in half number two, netting another seven points and making a huge defensive impact for the Beavers. Cosby scored 11 in the stsnza, shooting 4-of-7 from the field and knocking down a triple. Freshman guard Damian Davis (Bexley) played a huge role providing a spark for the Beavers off the bench, scoring seven points and pushing the tempo.
Ethan Stearns (Watkins Memorial/Pataskala) also added nice minutes off the bench, hitting a big three-ball late in the game. While the Beavers stayed right with the Ravens, they could not get over the hump in the final seconds. The Beavers lost their third straight with a score of 75-71.
The double-digit scorers for the Beavers were Cosby (18), Kenney (14), James (13) and Davis (11). James was the high assists' man with a career-high eight dimes and the leading rebounder was Cosby with six caroms.
Ronny Williams had a game with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 4-for-8 from deep for the Ravens.
Bluffton led in paint scoring (36-28) as the Beavers hit 28-of-54 (51.9 percent) from the field. Anderson was a red-hot 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from distance and the Ravens pulled down one more board (28-27) than the home team.
The Beavers will try to get back on track next Friday night at home against Transylvania University. Tip-off- with the Pioneers is slated for 6 p.m. in the Sommer Center.
WOMEN'S GAME FRIDAY
For the first this season there were a limited number of fans allowed at tonight's basketball game that featured the Bluffton University Beavers hosting the Ravens from Anderson University. The home women came out victorious thanks to a stellar performance in the third quarter from a plethora of Beavers. As the final buzzer sounded, Bluffton prevailed by a score of 58-45. The Beavers improved to 13-3 on the season heading into the final stretch.
Bluffton jumped out to an early lead thanks to Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) who scored the first nine points that came from two hoop and harms that were followed by a conventional triple try. The scoring slowed throughout the rest of the period before a trifecta from freshman Sydney Cavanaugh (Mansfield/St. Peters) at the 1:20 mark. At the end of the first stanza, Bluffton held the 14-9 lead.
It took the Beavers four minutes to score in the second stanza. A Taylor Malson layup finally broke the ice (Castalia/Margaretta). A steal by Malson on the next possession and a missed layup led to an offensive rebound and putback by Gillig. Cavanaugh dialed up another 3-pointer with just over a minute to go that was assisted by Malson. Heading into the half the Beavers led 27-19 thanks to a sticky defense that held the visitors to 34.6 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
The third stanza may have been the best quarter of basketball the Beavers have played all season. Bluffton went on an unbelievable 18-0 run to end the period and effectively end any Raven hopes for a victory. It started off with a Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) three-pointer from Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty Benton). On the proceeding possession, Fitzpatrick dribbled down and fired off another three.
A couple moments later, senior Nora Hemminger (McComb) stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for an old-fashioned three-point play. After a mad scramble, Shardo dialed long distance thanks to a dish from senior Abbie Parkins (Bluffton). Just 30 seconds later at the 3:30 mark, Hemminger joined the trifecta party with her corner three from Shardo. And in their final possession of the quarter with just 20 seconds remaining, senior Kylie Brock (Villa Hills Ky./Dixie Heights) dialed in a 30-footer from deep! As the buzzer was getting ready to sound, junior Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) capped off the dominating quarter with a block, making it 48-25 heading to the fourth.
Anderson was able to go on a mini-run but Bluffton weathered the storm in the final frame. With a quick four points by Gillig, the Beavers were back in a comfortably commanding lead. With just a minute remaining in the game, senior Claire Myree (Lakota West) made a nice move to the basket that resulted in a sweet floater. Bluffton sat on it for the final 20 seconds as the Beavers snapped their two-game skid with a 58-45 win on Friday night.
Gillig led the Beavers in scoring with 17 on a night in which she was presented a ball for scoring her 1,000th career point at MSJ a week ago! Brock went for nine, while Fitzpatrick chipped in eight counters. Nine different Beavers cracked the scoring column in the victory. Bluffton also won the rebounding battle (42-36) with Gillig and Saltzman pulling down seven apiece.
Hannah Hawkins hauled in 13 rebounds for her Raven squad in the loss. Bluffton won thanks to its offensive firepower and stellar defense on the perimeter. The Beavers held Anderson to just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc for 7.7 percent, compared to 30.8 percent (8-of-26) for the victors. Both teams turned it over 13 times.
WOMEN'S GAME SATURDAY
\The Bluffton University women's basketball team traveled to Anderson University on Saturday, Feb. 13, looking to complete the weekend sweep of the Ravens after Friday's convincing victory. The Beavers fought hard but they ended up falling to the Ravens by a score of 57-50. After the stellar performance in last night's game, the roles were switched on day two.
The Beavers struggled early as they dug a nine-point hole in the early going. Bluffton's first basket did not come until halfway through the first period thanks to a three-pointer by senior Nora Hemminger (McComb). Emma Saltzman (Arcadia) connected on a set of free throws, while freshman Taylor Malson (Castalia/Margaretta) cashed in a freebie as well. However, those were the only points Bluffton would garner in the first period. At the end of one, the Ravens led 16-6.
The second quarter was a completely different story for the Beavers. Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) got things going with a layup just a minute in. At the 6:30 mark, Malson dialed in from beyond the arc to make the score 18-15. Just two minutes later, freshman Sydney Cavanaugh (Mansfield/St. Peters) would make a free throw then add a triple to give Bluffton a 22-18 advantage. A couple more free throws had the game knotted up at 25 apiece heading into half.
The score stood 35-27 in favor of the Ravens when senior Abbie Parkins (Bluffton) connected on a jump shot. The Beavers went on a mini spurt late in the third when Gillig, Parkins and Sammy Shardo (Findlay/Liberty Benton) all scored two-point field goals. Heading into the final stanza the Beavers trailed by just three (43-40).
Gillig hit from distance to give the Beavers a two-point lead with nine minutes to play. Shardo's trifecta midway through the final period made it 51-50 in favor of the Ravens but that would be the closest the Beavers could get. When the final bell tolled, the Beavers were on the wrong end of a 57-50 decision.
The lone double-figure scorer was Gillig who finished with 10 counters. Shardo followed up with nine, and Malson poured in eight. Gillig capped off her double-double performance with 10 rebounds, while Saltzman grabbed eight boards.
The Beavers struggled from the field, connecting on just 15-of-55 (27.3 percent). Anderson hit 20-of-56 for 35.7 percent. Bluffton went 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) from the stripe, while Anderson was an efficient 11-for-13 (84.6 percent).
The Bluffton women will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 18, hosting Transylvania. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in the Sommer Center before the regular season comes to an end on Saturday in Lexington, Ky.
VOLLEYBALL
The Bluffton University volleyball team kicked off a marathon day in the Sommer Center with a five-set victory over Franklin College on Saturday, Feb. 13. Franklin rebounded for a four-set victory in the non-conference match, but it wasn't much consolation for the Grizzlies who fell to 7-4 on the season and 4-2 in the conference.
Franklin led two sets to one and bolted out to a 10-1 lead in the fourth. The visitors still held a commanding 17-10 lead before sophomore Elle Price (Findlay) took her turn at the service line. Two timeouts and 11 serves later, Bluffton led 21-17 and was on its way to set number five! The Grizzlies again appeared ready to cash in with a victory, leading 12-7 in the clincher, but this time it was Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) who served Franklin off the court. She fired two aces during her seven-serve trip to the plate, sending the home team to an unfathomable 15-13 win that helped the Beavers move to 4-3 in the HCAC!
Senior Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) and freshman Alysha Like (McComb) both pounded 12 kills, while Cassidy Posey (Paulding) and Cassie Mladek (Coshocton/Ridgewood) were nipping at their heels with 11 and nine winners, respectively. Sophomore Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) led the home team with three blocks.
Piling up a team-best 23 digs was junior libero Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf). Bower, Weekley and Noel Ufferman (Marysville/Fairbanks) were also in double figures with 18, 14 and 10, respectively. Kleman and senior defensive specialist Chelsey Taylor (Hicksville) both fired three aces in the HCAC victory. Ufferman doled out 30 assists and Price added 13 helpers for the Beavers.
Franklin and Bluffton split the first two sets of match two before the visitors finished off the nightcap with 27-25 and 25-20 victories in sets three and four.
Everybody got in the action but it was Mladek leading the way with a career-best 10 kills. Jessica Lovell (Grove City) added eight kills, while Price and Campbell chipped in seven winners apiece. Price dished out 20 assists and Lindsey Shaw (Findlay/Van Buren) doled out 12 helpers.
Lovell picked up a team-high 10 digs. Kleman, Bower and Caitlyn Renner (Cairo/Bath) all picked up nine digs in the non-conference matchup. Campbell was again in on three blocks.
Bluffton will make the one-hour trip northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 16, when the Beavers travel to rival Defiance College. The double feature is slated for 6 p.m. in the Weaner Center.
