Women’s basketball loses on senior night, men roll over McPherson
Men move to 3rd seed in KCAC tournament, hosting York on Wednesday.
On Saturday, the Thresher basketball teams had their final regular season games of the season, taking on McPherson. The women’s team would fall 66-60 in their final game of the season while the men would take the win away from the Bulldogs, 70-58, on their way to the playoffs.
Women fall short despite fourth-quarter comeback
Throughout the first quarter of the women’s game, the Threshers would only shoot 36% from the floor and put up only nine points compared to McPherson’s 15 points.
The second quarter was a momentum boost for Bethel where they would only be trailing by one point at halftime after Troi Lucas made a three right before the half. She would lead the Threshers in scoring with 10 points in the half. The third quarter went back to a low-scoring Bethel team, with only nine points compared to the Bulldogs’ 20, bringing the Threshers to a 50-38 deficit going into the fourth quarter.
To start the fourth, Bethel would score seven straight points, led by five from Brianna Clark and with seven minutes left, the Threshers would only trail by three. McPherson then brought their lead back up to seven which would be the momentum kicker for Bethel. Josie Stupey would score five consecutive points bringing the deficit to two.
McPherson then got away from the Threshers and eventually win the contest, 66-60. Stupey led all scorers with 11 points with three other Threshers with 10: Lucas, Carley Robb, and Jaycee Freshour. Stupey would also lead the team in rebounds with eight.
This was the final contest of the season for the women’s basketball team as they finished their season 7-20, 5-17 in KCAC play.
Men win in tune-up for postseason action
The men’s basketball team honored nine seniors before they took down McPherson, 70-58, to kick off the road to Hartman Arena.
“Senior night is always special because these guys have been a part of the program and around everyone for a great stretch of Bethel basketball history,” Bethel head coach Jayson Artaz said. “Cliff [Byrd II] and Bryant [Mocaby] through five years and the remaining players through four years. I’m just thankful for our seniors and the ability to have been able to coach them in their time here.”
All throughout the first half of play, both teams were very low scoring as the Bulldogs limited the Threshers’ offensive possessions.
“They really tried to slow the game down which created some tension for us because we believed we were the better team and when someone does that to you it can create some anxiety on the defensive and offensive end,” Artaz said.
McPherson would hold Bethel to just 20 points in the first half, which marked Artaz’s group’s lowest-scoring half of the season. The Bulldogs led at the break, 25-20. Then, the Threshers came out on fire, scoring the first ten points of the half and giving them their first lead of the game, 30-25.
Within the first eight minutes of the half, Bethel went on a 21-8 run to bring their lead to 41-33. With only five minutes left in the half, the Threshers would lead by 20 and never lose their momentum, eventually winning 70-58 in their final regular season contest.
Mocaby and Carmelo Yakubu would tie as leading scorers with 14 points apiece. Byrd II had 13 points in the contest with Jalyn Todd close behind with 10. Todd would record a double-double with 10 rebounds as well.
“This [win] was a big one because it cemented us into third place,” Artaz said. “Had we lost it would have dropped us down to fourth. After the win I remember just feeling happy that we were able to pull out the win for our seniors and for the standings.”
The men will take on York in the first round of the KCAC tournament on Wednesday at Thresher Gym at 7 p.m., locking in the three seed after toppling ranked (NAIA) Southwestern earlier in the week.
“Playoff basketball is a lot of fun and something we all really look forward to,” Artaz said. “York is extremely talented and they boast one of the top players in the conference, Brent Clark, so we have to be ready to execute and just continue to do the things that have made us successful to this point.
“We need to be locked in, but also relaxed when we play which can sometimes be difficult. If we just play how we have played the last few weeks we will be fine. [We’re] Looking forward to seeing all our fans and competing in the postseason.
“Our student section and fans have been absolutely awesome. I legitimately think they’re worth at least ten points for our team and I think they also do a great job of creating a fun atmosphere that makes more people want to be a part of it.”