Victory tasted sweet indeed for the Tabor men?s team Saturday, as they took down a Bethany College team that humiliated them on the road earlier in the season.
The 21-point win comes after Tabor bested Ottawa University in overtime for a 2-0 sweep for the week. The Bluejays are now 12-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play, good for fifth place in the KCAC standings.
?It?s good to see your team respond and take care of business at home,? said coach Micah Ratzlaff. ?The fans have been really good to this team.?
Bethany?The Jays started off hot in their 78-59 home victory. Phillip Jimenez made the first of his two three-pointers and Lawson Kingsley followed with two more to give Tabor a quick 11-8 lead at 15:43.
Despite their positive start, the Jays faltered the last part of the first half as Bethany?s size and strength at the post position took a toll and Tabor struggled to shoot from the perimeter.
Tabor made just three of 14 from three-point range in the first half, but trailed by only six points at halftime, 38-32.
?I thought we were really sluggish, offensively, in the first half,? said coach Micah Ratzlaff. ?We weren?t in attack mode. They turned it totally around in the second half.?
The Bluejays outscored the Swedes, 46-21, and improved 30 percent from three-point range.
Kyle Wallace sank a three-pointer 20 seconds into the half, the first of five three-point baskets he would make.
Chippeaux slammed home a dunk at 17:23 to give Tabor a 41-40 lead. Bethany tied the game twice more in the next 1:30 before Wallace hit two free throws that sparked an eight-point spurt that put Tabor on top, 51-44.
The Swedes pulled to within three points, but Wallace foiled the comeback with another three at the 10:27 mark.
Wallace added 10 assists to his 22 points in the second half. Jimenez had 13 points and Chippeaux registered a double-double for the third game in a row with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
?Kyle Wallace obviously had a huge night and so did Ryan Chippeaux,? Ratzlaff said. ?Those two men have carried us.In my mind, (Wallace) has always been the best point guard in the conference.?
Ottawa?The Tabor men earned an overtime win in a neck-and-neck battle with Ottawa Thursday, despite being forced to start some guards who have had limited playing time this season.
?It?s been a long week, with Lawson (Kingsley) and Joe Penn out,? said coach Micah Ratzlaff. ?We?re used to chaos this year and this team doesn?t flinch when something like this happens, which is good.?
The Bluejays scored 17 points in overtime to claim the 92-80 victory on their home hardwood.
Tabor traded buckets with Ottawa for much of the first half, with neither team claiming more than a five-point lead.
But as the clock wound down, Tabor scored three times in four minutes from beyond the arc to lead 41-34 at the break.
Chippeaux started the second half with a basket, but Ottawa responded with two three-pointers that ignited a 13-3 scoring spurt in the first four minutes. But Gavin Serene drained a three with 13:30 left to put Tabor on top, 51-47.
The Braves and the Bluejays traded baskets for the next few minutes, but at 5:17 Ottawa sank three back-to-back three-pointers to make it 69-69 with 3:44 left.
Three more times Tabor would make the go-ahead shot, and Ottawa would tie it again. With 24 seconds left the Braves scored to make it 75-75 and the game went into overtime.
At first, the back-and forth continued. But with 3:43 left, Chippeaux powered to the basket to make it 79-77. Tabor took control from there with 13 more points to secure the win.
?When we needed a bucket, we somehow usually found one,? Ratzlaff said. ?I thought we stepped up and guarded them really hard in overtime. (Ottawa) got looks, but they were really tough looks. They hit some tough shots all night long.?
Chippeaux led the Bluejays with 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
?Chipp works really hard, so he?s always going to get better,? Ratzlaff said. ?Chipp is turning himself into one of the best post players in the conference, hands-down, which is awesome. That?s what we expect of him.?
Serene, a Hillsboro High alum, started for Kingsley, who was injured in last Saturday?s game. Serene scored 16 points, including four three-pointers.
?He?s getting the chance,? Ratzlaff said. ?He?s played a lot of basketball over the past four years and he deserves that chance. He made really big shots for us.?
Wallace also had 16 points and Arnold added 10. Tabor took advantage of Ottawa?s turnovers to outscore the Braves 17-8 on points off turnovers.
Coming?Tabor is scheduled to travel to Bethel College Thursday, with tip-off at 8 p.m., and Friends University Satur?day, with tip-off at 7 p.m.
?Going to Bethel, it?s like the snake pit,? coach Micah Ratzlaff said. ?It will get you. It?s just really hard playing there.?
As for Friends, Ratzlaff said, ?They?re the team nobody wants to play on the road. They?re dangerous.?
See hillsborofreepress.com for same-night coverage on both games.
