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FRIDAY,
March 11, 2005
Game Day #2
Today the team had their sweet 16 matchup
against Concordia University (Neb.) at 1:45
pm CST.
They woke
up around 9 and had a team breakfast before
watching some tape on their opponent and reviewing
some plays on the outdoor basketball court
at the Residence Inn. They left for the gym
around noon and watched the first half of
the MidAmerican Nazarene game.
The game
for the Saints started a little late, and
the Saints seemed to show up a little late
as well. They struggled to score early on
and fell behind to the Bulldogs 25-13 at one
point before a 9-0 run to make the game
closer. This would be a common theme, with
Concordia lengthening their lead, Flagler making
a run, but not being able to get over the hump.
In the
second half, Concordia was really in control
most of the way and endured all the Saints'
runs to come back. Flagler couldn't get it
closer than 6 most of the half, but with
about 3 minutes to go, they pulled to within
one point and made a defensive stop to take
possession with a chance to go ahead.
On
the ensuing possession, Carlton Summers'
3-point attempt hit every part of the rim
and didn't fall, and that spelled the end for
Flagler. They fought hard all game long, and
that showed a lot about the character of the
team and the amazing season the Saints had.
For the seven seniors who will not play again,
their run with the Saints was not one that
will soon be forgotten.
They finished
the day by watching Embry-Riddle, the FSC Champions,
lose in another heartbreaker to a dominant
Walsh College (Ohio). Walsh has the players
and potential to go very far in the tournament,
and Riddle played an amazing game but came
up short.
After a
short amount of rest, the team will wake up
at 6 a.m. to drive to St. Louis, where they
will catch a flight back home to Florida on
Saturday.
The season
this Flagler College men's basketball team
had was full of ups and downs and tough wins
and losses. But through it all, it made the
entire team come together as one and develop
bonds and friendships, along with one heckuva
basketball team along the way.
Congratulations
to the Saints on an amazing season, and for
the seniors, thank you, guys.
Thursday,
March 10, 2005
Game day
versus Albertson College
The team
woke with all the emotions flowing of the first
big game day.
With a noon (CST) game scheduled, the team had a meeting in the hotel lobby for
breakfast at 9 a.m. before departing for
the gym. The Saints arrived and looked very
ready for their game against the Coyotes from
Albertson.
The Saints
came out looking very strong, with Chris Crumpler
and Darrell Freeman sparking the Saints' scoring
attack early on. Even with poor shooting (4-17
from 3-point range), the team still held a
5-point advantage through the half, and that
was only because Albertson hit a 3-pointer
at the buzzer.
In the second
half, the team came out with a lot of energy
and utilized their size and quickness, exploiting
the slower and weaker Albertson. The team really
ran away with the game, and although Albertson
pulled to within 6 points a couple of times,
they never got closer. The Saints sat on the
ball at the end and rolled to an 82-70 victory,
advancing to Friday's Sweet Sixteen at 2:45
pm (EST).
They then
stuck around to watch the game between their
possible opponents, Trinity Christian and Concordia
(Neb.). Concordia pulled out the win, setting
up the Friday matchup. The Saints then got
some well-deserved rest before returning to
the gym to cheer on Florida Sun Conference
rival Embry-Riddle, also in attendance at
the Flagler game cheering on the Saints. The
levels of respect each team has for one another
are very evident in this atmosphere, as enemies
turn into friends and cheer for their hated
rivals.
The sponsors
treated the team to another dinner at Golden
Corral Buffet (apparently the largest in the
world) before the Saints returned home to get
some sleep. The coaches did some real research
on Concordia, and the players watched tape
of the team to learn more for tomorrow's match
up.
Don't forget
to tune in to WFCF 88.5 Flagler College Radio
for live play-by-play action at the game. You
can also listen online at http://radio.flagler.edu/.
Wednesday,
March 9, 2005
Wednesday was a busy day for the Saints. They
woke up pretty early in their first day here
in Branson, Missouri. As we arose, there were
snowflakes falling outside, and it was really
cold.
The Saints
practiced at noon at the Branson High School,
where they went over some last-minute preparations
for Albertson. We then went over to the gym
where the tournament was being played to watch
some of the other games for a while before
going to dinner at Lone Star Steakhouse, courtesy
of the team's sponsor, Dolly Parton's Dixie
Stampede. The team had a great dinner and then
went back over to the gym for a mandatory meeting
with all the teams. They participated in the "Parade
of Champions" and then the team came home to
call it a night before the big day.
Tuesday, March 8,
2005
BRANSON, Mo. — Tuesday was the travel day for the team, as they left
the comforts of St. Augustine for the little big city of Branson, Missouri.
It was a very long day for the team, as they met at the school at 4 a.m. in
the midst of a torrential downpour. The rain poured down as the players loaded
their week's worth of essential “life-gear” (Playstation 2, Video
Cameras, CDs and clothes). Their flight left Jacksonville International Airport
at 6:50 a.m. and after connecting in St. Louis, arrived in Branson/Springfield
Airport at 11:50 a.m. EST. A 5-hour flight definitely takes its toll on anyone,
as some of the players' legs showed in practice during the afternoon.
Personally,
my day in the air was not quite as pleasant, but I'm just a reporter, so
nobody should really be too concerned. After
taking off from Jacksonville on a separate
flight at 6:50 to Memphis, we were forced to
return to the airport and make an emergency
landing due to failures in the landing gear.
According to the stewardess, “Our landing
gear wouldn't go up, and if we would have continued
flying, we would have to go at such a slow
pace that we would have run out of gas.” So
needless to say, I didn't mind landing safely.
After spending a few hours in the cozy Jacksonville airport, I was routed
through Detroit and arrived in Branson at 5:30
EST.
Meanwhile,
back in Branson, the team held practice at
2:30 CST and went over some final details for
Thursday's opponent, but Coach Bo Clark said
the team seemed “very tired,” and
they did not stretch enough before practice.
Some things I have learned through talking to the players and coaches
about Thursday's opponent, Albertson College, are the following:
1) They were ranked 5th in the country before
they started conference play in January.
Apparently, they play in a very solid conference
with four representatives here.
2) They are located somewhere in Idaho.
3) According to student manager Nate Tepp, they are “A bunch of 6-foot-9
white guys that can shoot and run.”
4) Their point guard is also a football player (hence why the team used women's
basketball assistant coach Jon Tillotson in practice this week for preparation).
5) The Flagler team is mentally and physically ready for this game; they
are just going to have to perform on the court now. This is a winnable contest
in all their eyes.
At night,
the team attended a banquet hosted by the NAIA
for all 32 teams that have made it to this
point. The team also ran into Florida Sun Conference
Champion Embry-Riddle, seeded two spots
higher than the Saints. The banquet was at
Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, a southern-style
take on Medieval Times performances, but very
fun and interesting at the same time. Dixie
Stampede is also the team's official sponsor
in their time here.
Tomorrow, the first-round games start at
College of the Ozarks, and the team will
hold their final practice at noon. From there,
the team will participate in the teams' parade
at night, where all the teams will parade
through the college gym.
Lou Dubois,
Sports Editor at the Gargoyle and Voice of
the Saints on WFCF 88.5 FM, Flagler College
Radio, is with the men's basketball team in
Point Lookout, Missouri, at the College of
the Ozarks, as they make their push toward
the National Championship. Check in daily to
see updates of the happenings with the men's
basketball team, and don't forget to tune in
to WFCF 88.5 FM Thursday at 1 p.m. EST for
live play-by-play of the Saints' first-round
match up against Albertson.
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