Heartbreak For Both GAC & UST In The Sweet 16 - And Going Forward

Guess it had to come to an end sometime but both GAC and UST suffered heartbreaking losses tonight in the Sweet 16 Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament tonight.  GAC fought hard against a very good Thomas More team but the Saints simply came through with big shots and big plays when they had to and got a hard-earned 75-67 victory in Holland, Michigan.  UST on the other hand lost a heartbreaker in overtime down in Waverly, Iowa to what was probably an underrated East Texas Baptist team 61-58.  I got to catch most of the second half of that game after the GAC - Thomas More game so I don't know what all went down in the first half but the Tommies certainly had their chances in this one. 

The Gusties got off to a very good start in this game; something I felt that they needed to do and they held a 21-17 lead after the first period.  Thomas Moore got their game going in the second period and took a 32-29 lead into the locker room at the half yet I felt that this is exactly where the Gusties needed to be; within a possession at least and playing well.  Trine built their lead to five points once the third period got going but the Gusties responded nicely with a 5-0 push to tie the game.  The Saints, however, responded with an 9-1 run for a 44-35 lead and would get the lead to ten points at 51-41 late in the third period and managed to get the lead to thirteen points at 57-44 going into the fourth period so GAC's prospects looked dim at best.  Trine, in fact, stretched the lead to fifteen points at 59-44 early in the fourth period but the Gusties responded with an amazing 15-4 run to close within a single possession down 61-59 with 5:00 left which was a mountain of time.  Trine would increase the lead to 63-59 shortly thereafter and GAC senior guard Mikayla Miller was sent to the free throw line on the Gusties ensuing possession.  She got the first one to go down but the second one missed.  What was strange was that Miranda Rice was called for a very questionable foul and THEN the officials took nearly five minutes to ensure they had the game score correct.  That odd stoppage in play seemed to suck away the momentum that GAC had built up and the Saints were able to close things out down the stretch for the victory.  Miller finished her last game with 20 point and Rice tallied 12 points in her last game as well. 

As soon as I was able to, I switched over to view the UST - East Texas Baptist game and the Tommies were embroiled in a war with the Tigers with the latter up 34-30.  East Texas Baptist got their lead to 39-34 with just under 3:30 left in the third period but a big "3" by Tommie freshman Macy Hatlestad closed the gap to two points.  The Tigers, however responded with a "3" of their own to take a 42-37 lead going into the fourth period.  UST's fortunes appeared dim when East Texas Baptist took a 44-38 lead in the early moments of the fourth period and the Tigers stretched that lead to ten points at 50-40 with 4:45 left in regulation.  But you knew the Tommies were not going to go quietly into the night and they mounted a 10-0 run capped by a Kaylie Brazil "3" with 2:17 left in regulation to tie the game at 50-all.  UST would grab a 53-52 lead on a Spaulding lay-up and an "and one" with 1:28 left but the Tigers would get one free throw to tie the game and a last-second desperation "3" by Lauren Fischer missed its mark as the game went to overtime.  The Tommies had several opportunities in overtime to take the lead but inexplicably squandered each of those chances.  East Texas Baptist would get a 58-54 lead with just under two minutes left but UST managed to tie things up on a big "3" by Brazil with just :34 left.  The Tigers would take a 59-58 lead on a free throw but the Tommies still had one more chance left.  However, with :05 left, Renikoff inadvertently stepped out of bounds when she was close to the line.  East Texas Baptist got insurance free throws and got the 61-58 victory.  Junior forward Hannah Spaulding still had a spectacular outing on this night; finishing with 28 points while Brazil finished with 10 points.

So, a disappointing finish to a great season for all the MIAC teams this year.  I was definitely glad and fortunate to have been able to be a part of it and I want to thank everyone involved in it from coaches, players, officials and fans.  As for this next week and the Girl's State Tournament, I will once again be relegated to strictly fan status so I can watch the brain wizards at MSHSL run a once-great event slowly into the ground.  Fortunately, I do expect that there will be some very good basketball games involved to hopefully offset the dumpster fire that MSHSL has created.  As some of you already know, I will be undergoing hip replacement surgery the following Monday (3-19) and will be out of action for a while but once I am well enough to start hitting the keyboards again, I will offer up some final thoughts on what has been a great year.