GPAC Weekly Review

2020-2021 GPAC Standings

• Concordia was off last week.  They remain tied atop the GPAC at 3-0, 6-1 overall.  They are at Doane on Monday, at Hastings on Wednesday, and at Briar Cliff on Saturday. 
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• Dakota Wesleyan defeated Dickinson State 87-72 on the road in their lone game this week. The game was competitive early on, before DWU used a 7-0 run to take a double-digit lead midway through the first half.  The run was fueled by a Mason Larson three pointer.  DWU got up as much as 20 in the first half, before a Dickinson State run cut the lead to 51-37 at halftime.  Early in the 2^nd half the Blue Hawks cut the lead down to single digits.  The Tigers shooting helped them to extend the lead and win the game.  Nick Harden led the Tigers going 8-15 with 26 points and 5 rebounds.  Koln Oppold was 7-11 with 16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists off the bench.  DWU is tied for the GPAC lead at 3-0, 5-1 overall.  The Tigers host Dakota State on Wednesday and Doane on Sunday. 
  
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• Jamestown defeated Hastings 77-68 in their opening game of the week.  The Jimmies started this fast, leading 19-6 off an Allante Pickens three-point basket.  They extended the lead to 33-14, their biggest of the game, off another Pickens triple with 5:58 left in the first half.  Hastings cut the lead to single digits, before Will Cordes’ buzzer beater triple had Jamestown up 12 at halftime.  Hastings made the game competitive late, using a 17-4 run to get within 5 late in the game.  Jamestown had a 3-point lead with 3:35 left.  The Jimmies used a pair of baskets from Mason Walters and another from Pickens to go up 9, a lead they held.  Walters was one rebound shy of a program record, posting 20 rebounds, along with his 13 points.  Pickens scored a team high 20 points.  Brock Schrom was 7-13 with 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.  The Jimmies followed that up with a 79-64 win at Doane.  Jamestown broke away from a 28-25 lead with 3:00 left in the first half with back to back threes from Marc Kjos to go up 9.  After leading 37-30 at halftime, the Jimmies blew the game open with a 20-7 run to extend the lead to 20.  Mason Walters had another big game, going 8-12 with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks.  Marc Kjos was 6-11 (all threes) with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.  Brock Schrom was 6-7 with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench.  Jamestown goes to 3-1 in the GPAC, 6-2 overall.  The Jimmies are at Presentation on Wednesday before being at Mount Marty on Saturday.
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• #7 Morningside won what was arguably the game of the year so far in the GPAC, defeating RV Northwestern 79-77.  As the score indicates, it was a very competitive game.  It was a first half marred with foul trouble for both bigs, as Morningside’s Trey Brown missed a large portion of the half with 2 fouls.  Even still the Mustangs led 41-39 at halftime behind solid minutes from Trey Powers, Ely Doble, and Jacob Fierst.  In the second half it was the Raiders that used great shooting to take the lead back, going up 71-61 with 7:31 to go.  Morningside used some great play to go on a 16-4 run to lead 77-75 with 1:25 to go.  Some solid defense on both sides led to Northwestern having the ball with a chance to tie the game, down 77-75.  After a Northwestern basket evened the score with 7 seconds to go, the Mustangs raced down the floor and got the ball to Will Pottebaum, where he hit the deep two-point basket as time expired.  It was an incredible game of GPAC basketball.  Pottebaum, who scored 11 of the last 16 Mustang points, ended with 18 points on 6-11 shooting, and 6 rebounds.  Trey Brown had 14 points and 5 rebounds.  Trey Powers had a big impact off the bench, scoring 10 points and 4 rebounds.  The Mustangs improve to 2-1 in the GPAC, 6-1 overall.  They host RV Dordt on Wednesday before traveling to Midland on Saturday. 
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• RV Dordt got back on track, defeating Briar Cliff 86-69.  There were several runs in the first half.  After Dordt scored the first 7 points, BCU went on a 15-4 run to go up 15-11.  The Defenders responded with the next 11 points, to go up 22-15 on a basket from Jacob Vis.  It was 35-28 at halftime.  The Defenders took a double digit lead early in the 2^nd half, and the Chargers could not get within 11 the rest of the way.  Garrett Franken led the way for Dordt, going 8-11 with 21 points.  Jesse Jansma was 7-14 with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.  Dordt improves to 2-2 in the GPAC, 6-2 overall.  Dordt is at #7 Morningside Wednesday, before hosting Doane on Saturday. 
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•  RV Northwestern lost their GPAC contest at #7 Morningside, falling 79-77 in heartbreaking fashion.  This was a very competitive game, as Northwestern played very well against the #7 team in the nation in their building.  After falling behind 41-39 at halftime, the Raiders went ahead 47-46 early in the first half on a jumper from Jay Small.  Northwestern used a 12-4 run, sparked by threes from Trent Hilbrands and Keegan Van Egdom to go up 71-61 with 7 minutes left.  From there the Mustangs used a 16-4 run to go up 77-75.  Craig Sterk tied the score at 77 with a short jumper with 7 seconds left.  The Mustangs followed with the game winning basket.  Jay Small led Northwestern going 8-19 with 22 points and 5 rebounds.  Craig Sterk went 7-13, scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.  The Raiders bounced back defeating Presentation 103-52.  The Raiders used an early 16-2 run to go up 20-7, a lead they would hold onto.  It was 52-21 from halftime and the blowout was on.  The Raiders went up 40 with 8 minutes to go.  Alex Van Kalsbeek scored a career high 24 points, going 10-14.  He also added 8 rebounds.  Hilbrands added 21 points and 8 rebounds.  Northwestern is 2-2 in the GPAC, 5-2 overall.  They are at Briar Cliff on Wednesday before hosting Hastings on Saturday. 
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• Mount Marty picked up their first two GPAC wins of the season.  They defeated Midland 63-49.  The Lancers defense was on, as Midland struggled to find quality shots.  The Lancers found themselves up 29-16 at halftime.  They maintained the lead throughout the second half.  Jailen Billings led the Lancers off the bench, going 7-15 with 17 points and 5 rebounds.  Elijah Pappas had a solid effort, going 5-7 with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists.  The Lancers also defeated Doane 75-68.  Mount Marty struggled early on, as Doane had a 20-point lead early in the first half.  Mount Marty battled back, to force a 38 all tie at halftime.  The game was back and forth throughout the second half.  With 5:31 left Elijah Pappas hit a pair of free throws to give the Lancers the 66-65 lead, followed by a 2 and a 3-point basket from Jailen Billings to go up 71-65 with 2:56 left in the game. Saba Gvedashvilli was 4-8 off the bench with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Tajen Ross posted a double-double, going 4-6 with 11 points and 11 rebounds.  The Lancers improve to 2-2 in the GPAC, 4-4 overall.  Mount Marty is at Presentation on Tuesday, before hosting Jamestown on Saturday.
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• Briar Cliff fell at RV Dordt, 86-69.  The Chargers played well early, taking a 15-11 lead off a three-pointer from Quinten Vasa.  The Chargers could not maintain the lead, as Dordt scored the next 11 points, and taking a 35-28 halftime lead.  The second half saw Dordt hold a double-digit lead throughout.  The one charger highlight was a very athletic block by Codey Hicks on Jacob Vis.  Hicks converted the block into a dunk of his own to bring the lead down to 12.  Jaden Kleinhesselink led BCU going 6-13 with 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.  The Chargers fall to 1-2 in the GPAC, 3-4 overall. 
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•  Midland opened the week with a 63-49 loss at Mount Marty.  The 49 points is the lowest total the Warriors have scored in the six years of coach Oliver Drake’s tenure.  The trailed 15-4 early on and could not get back into the game.  The Warriors trailed 29-16 at halftime.  Midland attempted a rally early in the 2^nd half, as threes by Jake Rueschhoff and Laurence Merritt cut the led to 31-25.  That was as close as they could get.  Merritt led the Warriors, going 7-19 with 17 points and 3 rebounds.  The Warriors bounced back with a 64-51 win over Dakota State. The Warriors dealt with turnover issues early, turning the ball over on their first four possessions.  They recovered and took a 33-24 lead at halftime.  Midland used a 15-4 run sparked by a three from Colby Tichota, and 6 points from Kyle Castile, to go up 47-28 with 16:27 left in the game.  The Warriors held the lead from there.  Kyle Castille was 8-19, leading Midland with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.  Jake Rueschhoff was efficient passing the ball, tallying 10 assists.  He also added 8 points and 5 rebounds.  Midland goes to 1-4 in the GPAC, 2-5 overall. 
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• Doane returned to play this week, opening their GPAC season with a 79-64 loss to Jamestown.  The Tigers were competitive in the first half, taking a 13-12 lead early on.  Jamestown went on a run, going up 25-16 with 5 minutes left before half.  Max Masin hit three three-pointers on three consecutive possessions to pull Doane with 28-25. Jamestown ended the half up 37-30.  Jamestown dominated the 2^nd half, going on a 10-0 early on to go up 19.  It wasn’t competitive from there.  Masin ended up 7-8 (6-6 from 3) leading Doane with 20 points and 4 rebounds.  Anthony Laravie was 5-9 with 12 points and 4 rebounds.  The Tigers fell in their second game 75-68 to Mount Marty.  Doane was up 31-11 early behind threes from Tyler Sullivan, Will Grixby, and Max Masin.  The Tiger offense went cold at the end of the 1^st half, as they did not make a basket in the last 6:12 of the half.  The Lancers ended the half on a 27-8 run to tie the score at 38.  Doane went up 45-42 early in the 2^nd half.  Mount Marty regained the lead, but Doane responded with another 8-0 run sparked by Max Masin’s layups.  Mount Marty went up for good with 5:31 to go.  Masin posted 17 points and 4 rebounds.  Jaxon Harre scored 13 points and 7 rebounds.  Doane falls to 0-2 in the GPAC, 3-4 overall.  Doane hosts Concordia on Monday, hosts Midland on Wednesday, and they are at RV Dordt on Saturday. 
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• Hastings fell 77-68 against Jamestown.  The Jimmies jumped out fast, going up 33-14 midway through the first half.  The Broncos tried to cut into the lead before half, with Jared Mattley cutting the lead to 10 with a basket with 1:09 left.  The Jimmies used a late three to go up 40-27 at halftime.  Jamestown again got a 19-point lead, before Hastings used a three-point barrage to get within 6 with 9:30 left in the game.  They further cut into the lead, being within 4 with 3:35 left to go.  The Broncos could not get any closer.  Dashawn Walker led the Broncos going 10-15 with 24 points and 8 rebounds.  Ben Juhl was 8-13 with 17 points and 4 rebounds.  Hastings falls to 0-3 in the GPAC, 3-4 overall. 

TAD’S POWER RANKINGS

1. Concordia (-) – 10 game GPAC win streak is a very impressive feat
2. Morningside (+2) – Massive win over RV Northwestern at the buzzer
3. Northwestern (-1) – They’re right up there with Morningside.
4. Jamestown (-1) – The offense continues to impress
5. Dakota Wesleyan (-) – Starting to figure things out and playing well
6. Dordt (-) – Strong performance against BCU, Garrett Franken and Jacob Vis are strong inside
7. Hastings (-1) – Another tough loss for Hastings against Jamestown
8. Briar Cliff (-) – The offense needs to find different ways to score
9. Mount Marty (+2) – Got in the GPAC win column
10. Midland (-1) – Offense is struggling mightily
11. Doane (-1) – Competed hard in their losses following their COVID shutdown

GAMES OF THE WEEK

RV Dordt (2-2 6-2) at #7 Morningside (2-1 6-1) Wednesday, December 2^nd 8:00pm CT

Concordia (3-0 6-1) at Hastings (0-3 3-4) Wednesday, December 2^nd 8:00pm CT

Jamestown (3-1 6-2) at Mount Marty (2-2 4-4) Saturday, December 5^th 4:00PM

GPAC Stat Leaders

Steals per game

Zach Imig (MOR) 2.71spg

Elijah Pappas (MMU) 1.88spg

Justin Wiersema (CUNE) 1.86spg

Koln Oppold (DWU) 1.83spg

Zach Witters (DOA) 1.71spg

Jake Rueschhoff (MID) 1.67sp

Mason Hiemstra (HAS) 1.67spg

Anthony Laravie (DOA) 1.57spg

Ely Doble (MOR) 1.50spg

Bradley Dean (DWU) 1.33spg