Men of Messiah Transition into Off-Season
Men's Basketball Review
Nick Hemming
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Sports
For faithful fans of Falcon basketball, unfailing devotion begins in November and ends in February; for the men of Messiah, a steadfast commitment to the court is a never-ending endeavor. The culmination of a summer of training and practice leads to a rigorous five-month season which, once complete, ushers in the beginning of off-season workouts. After introducing the 2009-2010 season with four prominent wins in five contests, however, the Falcons faced their first wake-up call of the season, dropping the next three games in close fashion. With a summer of unparalleled self-discipline in mind, the boys in blue rebounded to find a successful season amidst a challenging Commonwealth conference.
The Falcons began conference-dominated play after early-season struggles left them winless against commonwealth rivals Albright and Elizabethtown, though an early January resurgence appeared with an overtime victory over visiting Widener University. A steady lead for the Falcons in what was considered to be a must-win game began to fade late in the fourth quarter; the men of Messiah, however, were not to be out done. With just over half a minute to play, senior guard Jamie Yoder gathered a perfectly executed inbound pass and immediately drew the crucial in-conference match to a tie. After spoiling two opportunities to win the game in regulation, Widener watched the fighting Falcons run away with the overtime win, 65-61.
The much-needed victory for the men of Messiah set the stage for a commanding late winter season, including a second chance to overcome a deep blemish against rival Elizabethtown. Once again, Brubaker Auditorium welcomed the return of fourth-quarter drama. After struggling to top the surging Blue Jays for most of the February 3rd contest, Elizabethtown's poor free throw shooting presented the Falcons with an opportunity to draw even. With anxiety ever-present, Junior Tyler Ritzman dialed in and knocked down a game-sealing three pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation. It was the only basket he made.
The Falcons began conference-dominated play after early-season struggles left them winless against commonwealth rivals Albright and Elizabethtown, though an early January resurgence appeared with an overtime victory over visiting Widener University. A steady lead for the Falcons in what was considered to be a must-win game began to fade late in the fourth quarter; the men of Messiah, however, were not to be out done. With just over half a minute to play, senior guard Jamie Yoder gathered a perfectly executed inbound pass and immediately drew the crucial in-conference match to a tie. After spoiling two opportunities to win the game in regulation, Widener watched the fighting Falcons run away with the overtime win, 65-61.
The much-needed victory for the men of Messiah set the stage for a commanding late winter season, including a second chance to overcome a deep blemish against rival Elizabethtown. Once again, Brubaker Auditorium welcomed the return of fourth-quarter drama. After struggling to top the surging Blue Jays for most of the February 3rd contest, Elizabethtown's poor free throw shooting presented the Falcons with an opportunity to draw even. With anxiety ever-present, Junior Tyler Ritzman dialed in and knocked down a game-sealing three pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation. It was the only basket he made.
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