Last-Second Bucket Helps Statesmen Rally in TP Game
The program’s home winning streak has now been stretched to a staggering 34 straight games; the Statesmen have also won 44 of their last 45 home contests and are 85-7 in Penn Gymnasium since the start of the 2012-2013 season.
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team sandwiched an overall frustrating night between a pair of exciting moments as it slipped past Heart of America Athletic Conference rival Grand View 86-84 in the Annual Toilet Paper game Wednesday.
#3 WPU (15-1, 5-1 Heart), which via a loss by Graceland, is now in sole possession of the North Division lead, won despite being outshot 48.5%-37.2%. The program’s home winning streak has now been stretched to a staggering 34 straight games; the Statesmen have also won 44 of their last 45 home contests and are 85-7 in Penn Gymnasium since the start of the 2012-2013 season.
It was far from pretty on Wednesday, though, in a game that included 11 ties and six lead changes. JC Washington (Sr., Houston, Texas, Sociology) did not make the crowd wait long to release their rolls of sanitary tissue. He won the tip and then got the evening off to a raucous start by collecting a Terrell Thompson (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) missed layup and flushing it home just 10 seconds into the night. Hundreds of strands of TP littered the hardwood, but after a few minutes, the sanitary tissue was disposed of and Grand View missed its free throw, so no harm no foul and the wild contest–as they always seem to be in this rivalry–resumed.
To watch WPU’s video of the TP celebration, click HERE
WHO Channel 13’s Michael Admire was also on assignment and produced a wonderful feature. Watch it HERE
The hosts fell behind 15-13, but went on a 14-0 tear and appeared to be on their way to another double-digit win. Instead, Grand View (9-7, 2-4 Heart) battled throughout in limiting the navy and gold to their lowest point total of the season.
Up 43-36 at intermission, William Penn was outscored 9-2 out of the locker room. The Vikings captured the advantage about a minute later and held the edge for much of the second stanza. Trailing 84-77 with 2:47 to go, however, Aakim Saintil (Sr., West Orange, N.J., Business Management) started a massive rally by knocking down a pair of free throws. Head Coach John Henry then requested a timeout.
Whatever plays were drawn up or encouraging words were spoken obviously worked because the team’s intensity skyrocketed out of the huddle, beginning with a steal and bucket by Terrell Thompson (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Wellness and Recreation) to trim the margin to three with 2:21 still on the clock.
The defense produced another stop and Saintil was fouled on a three-pointer on the other end; he sank all three tries and the seven-point deficit was erased in just over one minute. Both squads struggled mightily at the charity stripe; WPU was 21-for-36 (58.3%), while GVU was 14-for-26 (53.8%).
As if things were not weird enough Wednesday, the officials had to check the instant replay monitor on a few occasions down the stretch, including twice in the final 30 seconds. The first and most crucial peek-in came as the Statesmen defense recorded their final stop. A GVU player misfired late in the possession and a shot-clock violation was called, awarding the ball back to the hosts.
Then in the waning seconds, Thompson drove to the hoop, but was blocked. Fortunately, the ball fell into the hands of Dominique Shaw (Sr., Lufkin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) who spun around and kissed the ball off the glass and in for the game-winner with just three seconds left. Grand View attempted a buzzer-beating trifecta, but it fortunately did not drop and the Statesmen snubbed their rivals’ upset bid.
Corbin Medley (Sr., Rogersville, Mo., General Accounting) topped William Penn with 18 points, highlighted by four three-pointers. The senior was the only player with success from deep as the Statesmen shot just 28.0%.
JC Washington (Sr., Houston, Texas, Sociology) was next on the scoring list with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds; he blocked two shots as well. Rebounding was one thing, especially early, that the navy and gold did well as they outrebounded the Vikings 55-42. WPU held a 19-8 advantage in second-chance points.
Thompson finished with 16 points and three steals, while Saintil had 15 points and four assists. Shaw reached double figures as well in a disappointing performance. William Penn’s leading scorer was only 4-for-14 (1-for-7 3-PT) for 11 points.
Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Saturday to host Culver-Stockton in Heart action at 4 p.m.
