Ryan Krombeen - selected to the All Tournament Team

Holland, MI:  The Tigers lost their third game in a row and sixth of the season to NCAA III #20 Marietta College in the consolation game of the Russ DeVette Holiday Tournament 95-79.  The hot shooting Pioneers made 12 of 24 three pointers and 36 of 69 overall for 52.2%

“Marietta had it going tonight inside and out,” said Coach Gary Bailey.  “We would take away their inside game and they just seemed to make every shot.  We would step out to guard them and they would hurt us inside.  Coach VanderWal and his staff really did a nice job on preparation and their kids played well.  I was much happier with our effort tonight but we dug ourselves a big hole against a very good team tonight.”

Ryan Krombeen was named to the All-Tournament Team and scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists.  Zach Schutte lead Grace with 14 points.  Randy Jefferson pulled down 7 rebounds to pace the Tigers.  Fifteen players entered the game with twelve players cracking the scoring column.

The Tigers travel to Circleville, OH on Tuesday to take on NCCAA II #3 Ohio Christian University at 7:00pm.

The Tigers traveled to Holland, MI to play in the Russ Devette Holiday Tournament at Hope College tonight and limped away with a 70-62 loss to Indiana Wesleyan University, ranked #6 in the NAIA.  The tournament this year boasts four nationally ranked teams: Grace, NCCAA II #1, Indiana Wesleyan University, NAIA II #6, and Hope #15 and Marietta College #20 in the NCAA III.

The game was played to a 35-35 tie at the half with both teams shooting around the 50% mark from the floor and GBC holding a 19-14 rebound advantage.  “I felt like we were as prepared for this game as any on our schedule this season,” said Coach Gary Bailey.  “We had a really great week of practice and tonight we didn’t execute anything that we wanted to offensively.  I was happy with our defense and we controlled the defensive boards but we were pretty flat with the basketball.”

The Tigers were lead by Ryan Krombeen’s 13 points and Matt Kurtz added 12.  Randy Jefferson pulled down a team high 8 rebounds.  Grace held a 43-27 rebound advantage and turned the ball over a season high 23 times.  The Tigers were 16-23 from the line and 4 for 18 from the arc.

Grace will take on Marietta College on Friday at 6:00pm.

In what has become a favorite holiday tradition for the Tigers, the team visited Pineview Boys Home on Monday night.  “This is one of our favorite nights of the season.” said Coach Gary Bailey.  “The guys really look forward to heading north to Evart to spend some Christmas time with the kids at Pineview.”

The players arrived at 3:30pm and took off for one of three dorm houses and were greeted by the boys.  The guys watched movies, played video games, board games, and just hung out with the kids until the big Christmas party at 6:30pm.  At the party, the players presented the boys with gifts and signed a bunch of autographs.  The players were involved in skits and sang Christmas carols before the meal.  “For some of these guys, this is the only Christmas they will receive this year and it was fun to be a part of it,” said Bailey.

Zach Schutte being decorated

Ryan Dame and crew

The winning team with Ryan Krombeen

John Oostema hits four 3's

The Tigers traveled across town to take on the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University and received a lesson in free throw shooting in the 80-70 loss.  Cornerstone is the reigning NAIA II National Champions.

The game was close throughout with the first half showing seven lead changes and four ties.  Grace’s largest lead was four points in the half.  Cornerstone went into the locker room with a 39-36 advantage.

The second half would be more of the same.  With just over eight minutes remaining, the Golden Eagles held a 55-54 lead.  The difference in tonight’s game was at the free throw line as Cornerstone hit 25-33 to the Tigers 8-18.  The Tigers shot a season low 41% from the floor for the game compared to CU’s 40.5%.  For the third time this season the Tigers were outrebounded in a game.  CU held a 47-39 advantage on the boards.

“We were forced to play a different game tonight then what we planned,”  said Coach Gary Bailey.  “With Cory Jamieson picking up his third foul in the first half we were a little out of sync early.  This was Ryan Dame’s first game back in in almost three weeks and he seemed a little rusty.  But it all comes down to making free throws and we have just not been good at the line this year.  We have four losses and three of them are a direct result of poor free throw shooting.  It’s a little hard to take losses like this when you play so hard and can’t make a free throw.   We will get back to work on this right away.”

John Oostema led Grace with 17 points with Cory Jamieson hitting for 12 and Ryan Dame 10.  Zach Schutte pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the Tigers.

Hey fans,

This new video came through on Allen Durham.  We just wanted to share it with you.

http://www.ccsnonline.com/2011/12/14/video-of-the-week-catching-up-with-allen-durham/

The Tigers showed again why they are the #1 team in the counry on Saturday afternoon in Kissimmee, FL.  In the anticipated rematch of #1 and #2, Grace again came out on top in the battle of two very good teams, downing the Patriots of Valley Forge, 71-60.

The Tigers were in control for much of the game but Valley Forge kept the game uncomfortably close until the closing minutes. Once again it was rebounding and defense that were the keys to a Tiger win.  “I think we did just what we wanted to do on defense the last two games against two very good teams,” said Assistant Coach Dan George.  “I was very pleased with the way the guys have executed the defensive game plans.”

Ryan Krombeen

Captain Cory Jamieson (Wayland) led the Tigers with 18 points but his most valuable contribution was handling the ball against the Patriot pressure.  Senior Ryan Krombeen (Calvin Christian) duplicated his effort of the previous night with another great all around game scoring 14 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. Matt Kurtz (Lowell) with 13 points and Zach Schutte (Calvin Christian) with 10 points also hit double figures.  Junior Randy Jefferson (Grand Rapids Union) had 9 rebounds.

The Tigers head back to Michigan tomorrow morning and will face NAIA Cornerstone University on Saturday, December 17.

Cory Jamieson

John Oostema

The Tigers combined a solid defensive performance with some great outside shooting to score an impressive win, 70-57, over an athletic Florida Christian College team Friday night in Kissimmee, Florida.  The Tigers shot a blistering 9 for 13 for the game from outside the three point arc, lead by senior guard John Oostema’s (Grand Rapids Christian) perfect 5 for 5.  Oostema made 4 of his threes in the first half and the Suns had trouble solving the Tigers’ defensive schemes which only allowed 25 first half points to Florida Christian.  Grace led at the break, 39-25.

“I was happy with most everything we did tonight,” said Coach Gary Bailey.  “We set some goals for the team prior to the game and they executed the game plan well.”

Oostema finished with 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and 19 points to lead all scorers.  Senior Ryan Krombeen (Calvin Christian), back in the lineup after missing the last two games, played stellar defense, holding Florida Christian’s big man, Sam Stephens, to just 4 points.  Krombeen also had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.  The Tigers continued their pattern of balanced scoring with senior Cory Jamieson (Wayland) contributing 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), senior Matt Kurtz (Lowell) scoring 11 points, and junior Zach Schutte chipping in 12 points and 7 rebounds.

The Tigers face #2 Valley Forge Christian College at 1:00 PM in Saturday’s wrapup game of the FCC Christmas Classic before heading home on Sunday.  The Tigers are grateful for the tremendous support from families, alumni, supporters, and friends of Grace Bible College who have attended the games in Florida.  Some who live in Florida traveled as much as four hours one way to attend these games.  Thank you!

Aaron "The Dragon" Schutte Dunks v. Clearwater Christian!

The Tigers played another game against an NCCAA II Top Ten team without starting big men Ryan Dame and Ryan Krombeen.  There was no doubt the Tigers missed the two, both out with leg/ankle injuries, but they were able to play well enough to defeat the #10 Clearwater Christian Cougars for their 66th consecutive NCCAA II win.  “We always have to keep the big picture in mind,” said Coach Gary Bailey.  “Winning or losing one game during the regular season, or even the final scoring margin of a win, is not as important as the long term health of these two guys and having them ready at the end of the year.  They will play when they are healthy enough to play.”

It was the Schutte brothers who gave the Tigers another big boost tonight.  Zach Schutte (Calvin Christian) had 16 points and led the Tigers with 8 rebounds.  Aaron Schutte (Sioux Center HS, IA) had 13 points as the two brothers were a combined 12 for 20 from the field.  Senior captains Matt Kurtz (Lowell) and Cory Jamieson (Wayland) also stepped up big. Kurtz led the Tigers in scoring with 17 points, including 6 of 7 from the free throw line.  Jamieson added 12 points and a game high 9 assists.

The Tigers trailed for a good portion of the first half but they took a 46-40 lead at the half on junior Greg Salmon’s (Wayland) three pointer with one second left.  “I wasn’t especially pleased with the way we played at times tonight but I was pleased with our effort,” noted Bailey.  “We practice with different combinations of lineups for occasions like this.  We were happy to get the win.”

Grace will play tournament host, and #5 ranked, Florida Christian College, Friday evening at 8 PM.  The game will again be announced on the web by Rick Cooper. To listen with Media Player – click here - http://azulweb.streamguys.com/ohiochristian.asx)  To listen with all others – click here - http://war.str3am.com:7570/listen.pls

The Tigers will play three games this weekend against some of the best teams that the NCCAA has to offer and you can listen live.  Rick Cooper, voice of CCSN and the NCCAA II National Tournament, will be broadcasting the games live with pre-game and post-game interviews with the coaches and players.  He will also be giving inside notes and comments about the Tigers basketball program over the past few years.

The Tigers players and coaching staff would like to thank Pioneer Construction for their generous gift to make this broadcast happen.

Schedule:

Thursday, December 8th, -vs- Clearwater – Game at 6:00pm Pre-game show at 5:40pm

Friday, December 9th, -vs- Florida Christian – Game at 8:00pm Pre-game show at 7:40pm

Saturday, December 10th, -vs- Valley Forge – Game at 1:00pm Pre-game show at 12:40pm

To listen with Media Player – click here - http://azulweb.streamguys.com/ohiochristian.asx)

To listen with all others – click here - http://war.str3am.com:7570/listen.pls

Aaron Schutte

Grace defeated the Red Lions of Lincoln Christian University, 82-66, in the last game of the Midwest Region Tip-off tournament Saturday afternoon and stretched their NCCAA II winning streak to 65 consecutive games. With their third victory in three days they once again established themselves as the team to beat in the Midwest Region.

The Tigers played without two big starters Saturday afternoon as Ryan Dame (Wayland) and Ryan Krombeen (Calvin Christian) nursed leg injuries.  “That provided opportunity to play a lot of players who don’t usually get as many minutes,” said head coach Gary Bailey.  “We have three tough games coming up next week in Florida and we needed the help from deep in our bench tonight. We had stretches where our bench made some defensive mistakes but for the most part I was pleased with the effort. The important thing is we got a good win and didn’t have to play Krombeen and Dame.”  Bailey got help from Aaron Schutte (Sioux Center HS, IA), forced into a starting role because of the injuries stated above.  The 6’2″ power forward scored 13 points and was a presence in the paint defensively.  Bailey again played all 17 players who dressed with no one playing more than 23 minutes.  The Tigers were led in scoring by seniors Matt Kurtz (Lowell) with 16 and Cory Jamieson (Wayland) with 14.  The other Tiger in double figures was Aaron’s brother, junior Zach Schutte (Calvin Christian) with 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Grace dominated the boards once again, holding a 42-25 advantage.  Even missing 6’7″ Dame and 6’6″ Krombeen the Tigers again won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Red Lions there 44-28.

The Tigers will play next in a classic format tournament at Florida Christian College in Kissimmee, Florida beginning Thursday, December 8.  All three games will be webcast.  See our link for details.