Season 24 Conference Tournament Recaps
Quarterfinals
Roanoke 70, Bethany 63
Maroons corral Bison
The ODAC quarterfinals kicked off with the biggest upset of the tournament as Roanoke, the sixth seed in the West, stormed back from a seven-point halftime deficit to upset top-seeded Bethany, who finished the regular season as co-champions in the West.
The Maroons, who won only four games in conference play prior to the conference tournament, used a balanced inside/out attack to lasso the Bison's bid for a second consecutive bid to the national tournament. Roanoke center Jerry Barton and guard Christopher Parikh each poured in thirteen points in the decisive second half as Roanoke overcame Bethany's 58% shooting percentage in the opening stanza. As good as they were in the second half, the Bison were just as bad in the second, shooting only 39% from the field including 22% from behind the arc after hitting five of six shots from downtown in the first half.
When Roanoke SF Richard Handel drained a three from the baseline at the 15:42 mark of the second half for his only points of the game, it marked the first time Roanoke had knotted the game since the score was tied at 18 with just under nine minuted remaining in the first half. Over the next eight minutes there were nine lead changes or ties, the last coming when Barton made the second of two free throws to put the Maroons ahead 53-52. Bethany had a chance to take the lead on the next possesion when the Bison's All-Everything big man, Phillip Hartig stepped to the line for a one-and-one situation and clanged the free throw off the front iron. Roanoke's Patrick Williams grabbed the rebound and the Maroons went on to pull away for a seven point victory.
Roanoke improved to 11-17 on the season and moved into the semifinals where they will meet cross-state rival Lynchburg, a 24-point victor over Virginia Wesleyan. The loss sends Bethany (17-11, 11-5) back home, lamenting the fact a bittersweet 1st place finish in the West likely won't be enough to even get the Bison into the PIT.
Eastern Mennonite 78, Washington & Lee 72
Royals fight off hard charging Generals for semifinal berth
In the most anticipated quarterfinal matchup in recent ODAC memory, the Eastern Mennonite Royals withstood a brutal physical assault by the Washington & Lee Generals to march on in their quest for a league record sixth conference tournament title.
The Generals, who posted a dramatic home win over the Royals on Curtis Bessler's layup with 1 second remaining during their regular season tilt, got no such magic this time around. Washington & Lee committed 27 fouls and were outscored by 21 points from the charity stripe as the Royals went 30-37 from the foul line. Eastern Mennonite missed three free throws in the final minute of the game but Washington & Lee was unable to capitalize.
The Royals were led by Michael Abney who finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. Joseph Lee paced Washington & Lee with 17 points, including 15 in the second half.
Eastern Mennonite (19-9, 10-6) moves on to face league champion Guilford in the semifinals. The Generals (17-10, 11-5) will wait and see where the WCAA selection committee sends them for their first round NT contest.
Guilford 68, Washington & Jefferson 54
Quakers strengthen their bid for a #2 seed
Eighth-ranked Guilford overcame a sluggish first half against the pesky Presidents, in which they swindled a 13-point lead with six minutes remaining to go into the break tied at 25.
The Quakers were led by James Warren and Louis Bailey with 12 points apiece. Warren also added 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Washington & Jefferson also got 12 points from Steven Jeanlouis.
Royal Kraft, the Quakers' senior SF, went down to an ankle injury in the closing minutes of the game, and his return for the remainder of the season is now in question.
Guilford (22-5, 13-3) solidified their quest for a #2 seed when the NT begins in a few nights. Washington & Jefferson, under first year coach jreitz finishes its season at 15-13, 7-9. Rumors have swirled around Greensboro all season that long-time Quakers coach, colville would not return for what would be his 15th season in the Gate City. However, colville announced after the game that he had inked a one-year contract extension that will almost ensure he grabs his 300th victory at Guilford next season, as he currently stands only 14 victories shy of that elusive mark.
Lynchburg 67, Virginia Wesleyan 43
Hornets sting Marlins to move closer to a NT bid
Three nights ago the Lynchburg Hornets went to Hampton Roads to take on Virginia Wesleyan in an ESPN Bracket-Busters matchup and were hassled into a 34% shooting night. In last night's quarterfinal matchup it was the Marlins who were stung by dismal shooting as they finished the night 14-48 from the field (29%).
Lynchburg's collapsing zone surrendered only 3 trifectas for Virginia Wesleyan while the Hornets nailed 11 of 22 attempts from behind the arc, including a 9 for 16 performance in the first half when they raced to a 19-point lead.
The Hornets got double figure nights from Todd Nathanson, Terry Lambert and Michael Smith who each posted 13 points in the win. The Marlins (19-9, 10-6) got 8 points from John Jackson. Lynchburg, still clinging to national tournament hopes, saw their RPI lowered to 68, 5 spots behind Virginia Wesleyan, who now must wait and see if their 63 RPI will be enough to bag an at-large bid to the Big Dance. A win over Roanoke in tonights semifinal contest may not do anything for Lynchburg's bubble status, so Coach barretchap has instructed his troops that anything short of a tournament title is unacceptable.