Olive’s Career Day Boosts Lancers
WINONA LAKE – Coming into Saturday, Tre Olive had one game in double-digit scoring.
On Saturday against Spring Arbor, Olive erupted. The junior poured in a career-best and game-high 22 points off the bench, lifting the Lancers (12-4, 2-2 Crossroads League) to a 73-62 win.
Grace trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half before Olive sparked the Lancers. Grace missed six of its first seven field goals, and Spring Arbor had the upper hand for most of the opening half.
The Cougars (6-10, 0-4 CL) used a 14-3 run in the early stages to gain control. Spring Arbor pulled ahead 36-26 with five minutes left in the half, but lockdown defense from Grace and an offensive boost from Olive gave Grace an unlikely halftime lead.
Olive scored 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting before halftime, and Spring Arbor was held to just two points for the final 5:11 of the half. Brandon Vanderhegghen swished three free throws with 11 seconds left after being fouled on a 3-pointer, and Grace went into halftime with a 39-38 lead.
Grace’s momentum continued in the second half. The Lancers began the period by making 11 of their first 14 field goals.
Grace was particularly deadly from deep, burying five 3’s to pull out to a 66-51 lead. Olive’s hot shooting carried into the second half with three more triples to propel the hosts.
With 8:03 remaining in the game, Grace led 70-55. The Lancers hit a dry spell down the stretch and only mustered three more points for the rest of the contest. The Cougars were unable to make a serious push, however, and lost by 11.
Olive’s 22 points came on 7-of-9 shooting, 5-of-6 beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the foul line. He also had two assists and two steals.
Vanderhegghen tallied 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, and Erik Bowen earned his 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Logan Irwin scored 13 points to go along with five assists, and Kyle Fillman added six points and six boards.
For the game, Grace made 46 percent of its field goals and 10-of-16 (63 percent) from the 3-point line. Spring Arbor connected on 50 percent shooting in the first half and just 27 percent after halftime. Grace also had a plus-7 advantage in rebounding.
The Lancers now sit one game out of first place in the league standings. Grace travels to Huntington on Tuesday for its next league contest.