31 thoughts on “Championship Saturday”

1. Michael Shema dropped the opening tip to Shattuck, whereupon an immediate whistle stopped play and Shattuck left the floor. Nice gesture to get the Bears’ captain his final career start.

   Keith Page has checked in for Ursinus.

2. John Noonan sinks a long two at the 15:46 mark to put Ursinus up 10-6. Noonan has 8 points already… quite a weekend for him.

3. Hope surges ahead to take a 20-14 lead with 12:35 left. Jesse Reimink grabbed a defensive rebound and fired a crisp pass at Derek VanSolkema on the wing for a three… Ursinus called a quick timeout.

4. Reeeeeeally impressed with Hope’s offense right now. They’re moving the ball really well and creating open looks every time.

   Jesse Reimink just hit a three to put Hope up 29-17 with 9:30 to play. They’re shooting 67% (12 for 18) as a team right now.

   edit: Check that… 13 for 19. 32-21 Hope after a Vanderheide three off a Reimink assist. Hope now has 9 assists and one turnover.

5. Full timeout with 5:59 to play in the first half.

   It’s 39-26 Hope after yet another Dutchmen three, this one courtesy of VanSolkema. He’s 3 for 4 from beyond the arc; Vanderheide, Reimink and Tyler Wolfe have all hit treys as well. As a team, Hope’s 6 for 11.

6. Ursinus’ defense has really clamped down. They’re picking VanSolkema up at the three-point line and not giving him anything. Matt Howell has also been huge down low against Vanderheide.

   The Bears have charged back to within four, 46-42. Just under a minute to play in the first half.

7. 50-42 at halftime. Some numbers:

   -Both teams are hot from three-point land. Ursinus is 6 for 8; Hope is 7 for 14. The big story of the first half for the Bears is John Noonan, who has played an out-of-his-mind first half in the absence of Shattuck. He’s a perfect 6 for 6 from the floor, 4 of them threes, for a game-high 16 points. He played all 20 minutes.

   -Ursinus is outrebounding Hope 19-15. Remy Cousart continues to hustle after those long rebounds — he has 4 boards, as does Noonan.

   -Hope has 12 assists and 4 turnovers. Ursinus has 9 and 13. These Dutchmen are all passing really well… especially Reimink.

8. Hope calls a timeout with a 57-46 lead and 17:54 left. The Dutchmen have been solid on defense in the first few minutes of the half — Ursinus forcing a lot of contested shots and missing.

9. Timeout with 12:56 left in the game. Hope’s offense has been superb in the second half. Ursinus is shooting 4 for 12 as a team.

   VanSolkema’s at the line for two after the break. It’s 72-54 Hope.

10. Photo galleries from yesterday’s games are up… look under “Recent Galleries” on the right-hand side of the main page.

11. Michael Shema has fouled out for Ursinus.

    It’s 79-58 with 9:14 to play. Hope looks poised to lock up third place.

12. Ursinus is holding tough without Shema… Howell’s been a nice presence down low.

    Hope continues to keep its lead though. A Vanderheide drive to the basket draws a foul with 2:54 to play; after a missed attempt at a three-point play, it’s Hope 95, Ursinus 79.

13. 2:34 left as Vanderheide and Noonan check out for their respective teams. Warm ovations from both sides.

    98-81 Hope after a three from VanSolkema, his sixth of the game. He has 19; Vanderheide and Wolfe each have 22.

14. 100-86 is your final. A classy “Thank you, Seniors” chant from the Ursinus cheering section as time expires.

    50 minutes away from Amherst-WashU for the championship.

15. Ladies and gentlemen, we are underway.

    Opening tip controlled by Troy Ruths and in the hands of Ross Kelley. Time to decide a national champion.

16. Dave Hixon calls a timeout with 16:30 to go in the first half… he’s not happy.

    WashU leads 8-2 behind three easy buckets from Troy Ruths.

17. Cameron Smith just scored five points in about three seconds.

    Beautiful three, followed by a steal on the inbounds pass and a layup. It’s 13-4 WashU, five minutes in.

18. Aaron Thompson picking up where he left off last night… still draining threes.

    An A.T. trifecta with 12 minutes to play in the first half makes it 21-8 Bears. Thompson has six points.

    The WashU cheering section is deafening… really impressive fan turnout from St. Louis.

19. Olson a non-factor so far?

20. Olson’s making good passes, but none of the Amherst bigs are getting good looks, save for occasionally Walters.

    Hopkins was looking really slow in the opening minutes… Goldsmith took the floor early in his place.

21. Amherst’s making it a game. Olson is beginning to find Walters and Goldsmith inside for a few buckets, but Ruths continues to pile it on.

    31-21 WashU with 6:55 to play in the first half. Ruths has 14.

22. Amherst gets a couple quick buckets — an elbow jumper from Olson, then Walters takes a steal coast to coast for a layup.

    WashU still leads by 9, 34-25.

23. 45-32 WashU at the half. The Bears’ defense has been outstanding so far. Numbers to come in a moment…

24. Some first-half stats:

    -WashU is outrebounding Amherst 17-12. Ruths has 5 boards.

    -Ruths is 5 for 8 from the floor and 7 for 8 from the line. 17 points in a complete 20 minutes… what a half.

    -The Bears have assists on 13 of their 16 buckets. Amherst has been defending decently, but Ross Kelley continues to find the open — and sometimes not open — man. He’s got 4 dimes and no turnovers.

    -Aaron Thompson’s taken 9 shots, more than anyone else on the floor. He’s got 11 points, but he’s 3-of-8 on threes.

    -Olson and Walters both played the entire first half for Amherst. We’ll see if they can hold up in the second frame…

25. This just in… Troy Ruths is really good.

    Ruths has all 6 of the Bears’ points in the second half — he continues to power the ball inside and score on Hopkins and Walters with ease.

26. Olson hits back-to-back threes to put the Lord Jeffs within striking distance. 51-44 WashU with 16 minutes to play.

27. Full timeout at 15:17. Ruths sank two free throws to put the Bears up 9, but a Walters three cut the lead to 53-47. Amherst is really knocking them down from outside.

    Ruths at the line for two after the break… hits them both. He now has 25.

28. Amherst puts on the full-court press with 12 minutes to play… WashU’s had little trouble breaking it so far.

    It’s 65-51 Bears with 10:43 left.

29. WashU goes up 16 on a three by Danny O’Boyle at the eight-minute mark. It’s 72-56. If Amherst doesn’t start contesting shots better, this one’s over.

    WashU is 57% (25 for 44) from the floor. Ruths is 8 for 12; he has 29. Thompson is 6 for 11; he has 15.

30. THUNDEROUS dunk from Ruths with 3:25 left to put WashU up 80-62. Bears are firmly in control on both ends of the floor, and their fans are letting them know it.

31. 90-68 final. Down pours the confetti… out pour the Bears.

    Congrats to WashU on a spectacular season.

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