Pilots Pass Way Past Grace
![Grace's Bruce Grimm Jr. directs the attack Thursday night. The senior from Rochester had 23 points in a 98-88 conference loss to Bethel.](https://www.inkfreenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSC_0207-529x800.jpg)
Grace’s Bruce Grimm Jr. directs the attack Thursday night. The senior from Rochester had 23 points in a 98-88 conference loss to Bethel.
WINONA LAKE – It was all about the pass, not the past, for Bethel College men’s basketball coach Mike Lightfoot Thursday night.
The veteran mentor of the Pilots was focused on the present moment after seeing his team notch a huge 98-88 win at conference foe Grace College.
The win kept the No. 21 Pilots atop the Crossroads League standings at a perfect 7-0. No. 12 Grace, which had beaten Bethel four straight times, falls to 5-2 in league play. Indiana Wesleyan sits in second now at 6-2.
Lightfoot, now 674-246 in his 26th season at Bethel, watched his prolific offense share the wealth in improving to 16-3 overall with their 11th straight win. The Pilots placed six players in double figures, led by 24 points from senior forward Jordan Bowerman and 20 from junior guard Ryan Benner, and shot a sensational 58 percent from the field.
Bethel entered Thursday night’s contest at the Orthopaedic Capital Center ranked No. 9 in the NAIA nationally in scoring at 84.5 points-per-game.
“I look at what’s happening now,” said Lightfoot in regard to the recent losing streak to Grace. “For us, it’s in the moment. We’re trying to fight and claw in the conference. Every game in our league is so tough. This is a great win. We came here tonight knowing it was going to be tough.
“The thing is that we got good looks because we passed the ball better tonight. Our kids were good making the extra pass to posts and on drives to the basket. It’s a combination of playing with confidence and how we passed the ball.”
Grace, which had won four in a row, got a huge effort from Greg Miller. The 6-6 junior forward, who hails from Akron, poured in a game-high 28 points to go with nine rebounds. Senior guard Bruce Grimm Jr, a Rochester native, scored 23 points, while sophomore Karl Columbus (South Bend Riley) netted 14 points.
The game, which was dubbed as the NAIA Game of the Week by the NAIA national office, lived up to its billing. With the win, Bethel now leads the series, which dates back to 1960, 60-59.
Grace came out on fire to open the contest. The Lancers, led by Miller and Grimm Jr., raced to a 25-15 lead seven minutes into the opening half. Bethel, using the inside presence of the 6-7 Bowerman, who played at Leo High School, and its depth responded with a 19-4 run to take a 34-29 lead. The Pilots led 46-43 at halftime as Bowerman had 13 in the opening half. Grimm Jr. netted 15 and Miller 13 in the first half to lead the hosts. Bethel shot 63 percent from the field, hitting 19-of-30 shots in the opening half.
“I was proud of how our guys hung in there early and weathered the storm,” Lightfoot said. “Grace came out and shot lights out to start. We had no answer early for Grimm and Miller.”
The Pilots quickly took control of the contest in the first three minutes of the second half. Bethel blitzed Grace with a 13-1 run as Benner drained a pair of treys and Bowerman went to work in the paint to take a 59-44 lead. The Lancers battled back within 59-50 before Bethel built its largest lead of the contest at 82-65. Grace put together one more run late, getting within 90-82 with 1:50 to play on a Miller 3-pointer before Matt Schauss hit 3-of-4 free throws for the Pilots.
“We went back to our strengths in the second half and got Bowerman touches,” said Lightfoot. “And Ryan was banging some threes for us. We were like No, No on those and then nice shot. Our bench has been very important all year long for us and was again tonight.”
The Pilots bench, led by 13 points from 6-8 junior center Michael Mislan and 10 from senior guard Drew Schauss, outscored Grace 26-11. Freshman guard Jordyn Coon, a WCHS product, had a point, a rebound and an assist in four minutes of playing time for the Pilots.
“We really like Jordyn and he’s playing more and more for us as the season goes along,” said Lightfoot of the 6-2 perimeter player. “He really won the game for us at St. Francis last Saturday with seven straight points late. He’s athletic and he’s one of our best passers.”
Longtime Grace coach Jim Kessler pointed to the defensive end of the court as the culprit in this setback. The loss was the first at home in nine games for the Lancers.
“This was one of our poorest defensive efforts of the season,” said Kessler, owner of 668 wins in his 36th season at Grace. “They got layup after layup. We did not make adjustments defensively or offensively when we needed to.
“That’s a good team, but you can’t give up 52 points like we did in the second half. They beat us inside. They are a smart, veteran team and they drove in down our throats and pounded it in the paint on us. It was more about mental toughness. We didn’t bring it.
“We did not work the ball for our best opportunities after that good start. We didn’t have the patience and we settled for less than our best options on offense. We also got lax and were not the aggressors.”
Sophomore guard Matt Schauss had 16 points, including a 10-of-12 effort from the free throw line, and sophomore guard Zach Miller 12 points for the Pilots. Junior Taylor Kolbus, a Goshen High School grad, started and had two rebounds for Bethel.
Grace shot just 31-of-73 from the field, but stayed close thanks to hitting 10 treys and having a season-low total of just six turnovers.
Senior guard Elliot Smith, a Northridge High School alum, had nine points and a pair of steals for the Lancers. Grimm Jr. led the Lancers with five assists.
Bethel hosts No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan (17-2) and Grace plays at St. Francis Saturday in conference games, both starting at 3 p.m.
![Bethel freshman Jordyn Coon, a WCHS grad, eyes a free throw late in the game Thursday night at Grace College.](https://www.inkfreenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSC_0242-529x800.jpg)
Bethel freshman Jordyn Coon, a WCHS grad, eyes a free throw late in the game Thursday night at Grace College.