ALMA MEN'S HOOPS FALLS TO ALBION 73-59
The Scots Men’s Basketball team embarked on one of their most meaningful league games in recent memory on Wednesday night, as they entered play in a four-way tie for third place in the MIAA. One of those teams was the evening’s opponent, the visiting Albion Britons, who like Alma, began action at 3-3 in the league.
The game, played in front of a hopeful home crowd at Cappaert Gymnasium, didn’t go as planned, ending with a 73-59 Albion victory. Both teams played hard and Alma fought until the end, but the Britons used timely shooting and a tenacious in your face defense to hold the Scots at bay. Alma is now 3-4 in the MIAA and 5-12 overall.
Although Albion led the game basically from wire-to-wire, the lead never felt comfortable for the visitors until the final minutes of the contest. After the game was tied at 2-2 early on, Albion maintained a slim lead until going on a 9-0 run that gave them a 17-5 advantage at the 9:15 mark.
Alma cut the lead to six points when Fr. G Cory Schneider (Carson City, MI/Carson City) hit a three-pointer to make it a 21-15 game with 6:18 remaining in the first frame. The Britons answered however and were able to increase the lead to 11, as they took a 32-21 lead into the lockerroom.
The Scots shot just 24% in the first half on 5 of 21 shooting, including 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. The Britons made good on 35% of their attempts in the first frame, including 4 of 11 on three-pointers.
The second half started with Alma scoring the first five points of the half to make it 32-26 just one minute in and after a jumper by Jr. C Isaac Thaler (Middleville, MI/Thornapple-Kellogg), were still within five at 34-29 at the 16:47 mark. Again, Albion answered as they scored the next seven points to get the lead back up to 12 points at 41-29 just two minutes later.
Alma kept fighting and cut the Britons’ lead to less than double digits on six occasions, but could never get closer than eight points, as Albion kept the defensive pressure on and hit the offensive shots when they needed them. Alma shot 44% in the second half and hit on 16 of 20 free throw attempts, but it was not enough and Albion was able to get out of town with the 73-59 win.
Schneider led the Scots with 11 points, while Fr. G Julius Porter (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) added 10 for the home team. The leading rebounders for Alma were Sr. F Ryan DeHaan (Rockford, MI/Rockford) and So. G Kevin Ginther (Harbor Beach, MI/Harbor Beach), each with seven boards.
Alma stays home this weekend and will host MIAA rival Kalamazoo College at Cappaert Gymnasium, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Posted: Wed, January 28th, 2009 at 9:49PM
