Hoopfest Title Goes To Leafs After Shocking #7 Grand View
November 7, 2009
Box Scores: Consolation | Championship
Senior Errick McCollum II
GOSHEN, Ind. – Fans at the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center this weekend caught a glimpse of just how good the 2009-10 Goshen College men’s basketball team could be.
Following a 115-68 rout of Holy Cross College in the opening round of the Maple City Hoopfest on Friday, the Maple Leafs pulled off a shocking 79-59 upset of NAIA DII #7 Grand View College (Iowa) to take the title on Saturday. The win gives Goshen an all-time mark of 12-2 and five championships in the seven-year history of the event.
“We really guarded tonight,” said third-year head coach Gary Chupp. “I was really pleased with our intensity on defense for the entire 40 minutes. It was good throughout and that was the difference.”
After Grand View tallied the first four points of the game, the Leafs responded with four in a row of their own. The Vikings quickly responded with the next four before a James Mertzger jumper gave them their largest lead of the day at 17-10 with 11:09 to go in the half.
Another Goshen run, though, got the Leafs back in the game. Sophomore Nate Manning scored five of his eight first-half points during a 7-0 streak by Goshen as the knotted the score at 17-17. On the next possession, an Errick McCollum II 3-pointer gave the Maple Leafs their first lead with 5:53 left in the half.
After trading runs all half, Grand View had one more left in them as a 9-0 streak set up the key moments of the game according to Coach Chupp.
“Down six in the final couple minutes of the half, the game was going to go one of two ways,” Chupp explained. “They could stretch the lead to 10-12 going into the half or we could get right back into it.”
The latter become reality after a trio of free throws, then a long 3-pointer by freshman Kyle Davis tied the score at 29-29 as the teams headed into the locker rooms.
After Grand View scored the first basket of the second half, another McCollum long ball gave Goshen a lead that they would never relinquish. They used a 9-2 run to open a 48-38 lead with 12:55 to play and simply added on from there. Goshen held the Vikings scoreless in the final 3:40 as they closed the day on a 9-0 streak for the 79-59 win.
Senior guard Errick McCollum II had a game-high 25 points of 7-of-14 shooting on way to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The Leafs shot a solid 46% from the field and drilled 12-of-22 from 3-point territory, while creating 17 turnovers on the defensive end. Goshen also limited the Vikings to just 31% shooting.
“We made shots, but that honestly started with our defensive,” Chupp explained. “When you are able to play that well on defense, it really gives you confidence on offense as well.”
Senior Nate West Jr. and junior Daniel Butler II were also in double figures for Goshen with 11 and 14 points, respectively. West and freshman Austin Hefley were also named to the All Tournament team.
In the consolation game, NAIA DII #16 Cornerstone University cruised past Holy Cross 98-61. Justin Yoder led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Cornerstone.
Maple City Hoopfest All Tournament Team
Matt Kingshott – Cornerstone
Kevin Smith – Grand View
Grant Burns – Grand View
Austin Hefley – Goshen
Nate West Jr. – Goshen
Errick McCollum II (MVP) – Goshen
