William Penn Athletics News February 9
William Penn's Brandon Beasley walks among the flying toilet paper at Wednesday's win over Grand View
Statesmen Win Low-Scoring Toilet Paper Game
Oskaloosa–Poor shooting and stifling defenses made for an uneventful game until the waning seconds as the Penn men’s basketball team defeated rival Grand View 50-48 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Wednesday.
In the annual Toilet Paper game, the Statesmen (13-14, 5-9 MCC) scored just seven seconds into the contest on a Blake Walker (Fr., Smyrna, Ga., Campbell HS) lay-up and the paper products flew through the air.
The home team’s defense was incredible in the first half as Penn led 28-13 at the break, holding the Vikings (14-10, 5-8 MCC) to just 16.7% from the field. Grand View had such a difficult time that it was actually held scoreless over a span of 9:56 at one point. During that period, the Statesmen scored 17 unanswered points.
The second half was a complete reversal of fortunes as Penn was the squad that went cold. The hosts led 35-23 with 15:01 left, but did not put another point on the board until the 8:09 mark, a gap of 6:52.
The Vikings pulled to within two at that juncture (35-33), but Penn rallied to push the advantage back to eight at 48-40 with only 2:23 remaining on the clock.
The margin was not safe, however, as the visitors slowly chipped away, headlined by two three-pointers, and tied the contest at 48-48 with only 22 seconds left in regulation.
Brandon Beasley (Jr., Indianapolis, Ind., Columbus State CC) was then given control of the ball. The junior drove down the lane, lost possession momentarily, scooped up the loose ball, and was fouled with six seconds left.
With Penn in the double bonus, Beasley went to the line for two attempts. He missed the first free throw, but connected on the second to put the Statesmen up 49-48.
The home team had only committed four fouls to this point, so the Vikings dribbled to mid-court before Penn forced the officials to blow the whistle on a foul. The inbounds pass was then heaved at the basket, but nowhere close to anyone in black and red and Alan Douglas (Jr., Champaign, Ill., Lakeland CC) collected the loose ball.
He was fouled immediately with just 0.5 seconds remaining, but like Beasley, he missed his first shot and hit the second try, giving Grand View one last chance to win.
The inbounds pass went to Kevin Smith, the top scorer for the Vikings at 18.6 points per game, but not known for his long-range shooting ability. He launched a three-quarter court shot that surprisingly found the backboard but did not go in as Penn survived and pulled even with Clarke for sixth place in the MCC.
The combined point total is the lowest for a Penn game since these same two programs put up just 97 points in a 51-46 Statesmen win on January 9, 2008.
The Statesmen narrowly won the shooting battle, 31.5%-31.1%, but dominated the boards with a 46-34 edge. Penn was forced into 15 turnovers (ten for GVU), which the Vikings capitalized upon for 17 points.
Douglas paced Penn with 13 points, while Wiebe Goodyk (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa Central CC) joined him in double figures with ten. Douglas almost posted a double-double with a game-best nine rebounds. He also topped the home team with two assists.
Blake Walker (Fr., Smyrna, Ga., Campbell HS) just missed the mark with nine points, while Beasley added seven and Deon Bergeron (Sr., Lake Charles, La., Grand Lake HS) contributed six. Beasley led all participants with three steals.
“Alan Douglas showed great leadership at the end on both ends of the court,” Statesmen Head Coach John Henry said. “I also thought Ross Howe (Fr., State Center, West Marshall HS) gave us a good lift late defensively. Grand View was not able to get the ball down low on several possessions late and much of that was because of him.”
“Our rebounding was again huge tonight,” Henry added. “Another major key was that we were able to keep the lead all game, tying just once, and never had to play from behind.”
Next: Penn travels to Dubuque Saturday to face Clarke in MCC action at 3 p.m.
Rachel Butler of William Penn goes to the line against Grand View February 9, 2011
Lady Statesmen Upset by Grand View, 62-55
Oskaloosa–The Penn women’s basketball team struggled from the field in a 62-55 Midwest Collegiate Conference loss to Grand View Wednesday.
The 25th-ranked Lady Statesmen (19-9, 10-4 MCC) put up 100 points (100-83 win) the last time they faced the Vikings (11-16, 6-7 MCC), but this time around the shots would not drop. Grand View outshot Penn 41.4%-31.1%, including holding the home team to just 14.3% from behind the arc (3-of-21).
Penn led 26-24 at the break, but gave up the first five points of the second stanza and was never on top again.
The Lady Statesmen fell behind by as much as 11 points following intermission, but down 43-32, they rallied with 11 unanswered to draw even at 43-43 and again at 45-45 with 7:56 left in regulation.
The Vikings had their sights set on an upset, though, and cruised late for the victory.
It was a two-woman show for Penn as Orielle Thomas (Fr., Waynesville, Mo., Waynesville HS), with 17 points, and Christa Subbert (Sr., Stanton, Stanton HS), with 16 points, were the only players with more than five points in the loss. Thomas was one rebound shy of a double-double, pulling down nine. Subbert blocked two shots.
Samantha Darley (Sr., Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa CC) was next with five points and a team-high four assists. Rachel Butler (Sr., Orange County, Calif., Cerritos CC) added four points, but had more luck defensively with five steals (tied for game high).
Next: Penn travels to Dubuque Saturday to face Clarke in MCC action at 1 p.m.
