Post by Loucks on Sept 3, 2008 18:17:32 GMT -5
Entering the 50th season of basketball at Bethel College, the current version of the Pilots will be looking to add their story to the rich tradition of Bethel basketball. Finishing atop the MCC regular season standings and storming through the conference tournament has kept the bar raised high for the 2008-09 Bethel men’s basketball team.
Returning all five starters from an NAIA Elite Eight run, it seems the Pilots are poised to keep the championship heartbeat alive. Senior co-captains Kory Lantz, Mark Lettinga, and William Walker, who have started 233 of the 302 possible games between them, have big plans for this team.
“This year’s expectations are big. After winning the conference and going on to win a couple games in Branson, the only thing on my mind was that we were so close—so close to getting ourselves a banner, our piece of history that no one could ever take away from us. This is on everyone of our minds as we go into this season. This is Will’s, Kory’s and my last shot to achieve it,” said Lettinga.
“Going from last to first in our conference has been a miracle in my eyes, but I knew we could do it together. There is only one thing left for us to do and that is to win it all.”
Bethel returns 92% of its scoring, 94% of its rebounding, and 89% of its minutes played from last year’s team, which tied for the 11th most wins in school history with a 29-7 record.
“Even though we had some success last year, I still think we have a lot to improve on defense and on the boards. I think that if we strive to improve in these aspects, we can be very solid,” said head coach Mike Lightfoot.
Who’s Back Bethel returns all five starters and nine of 14 letterwinners from last season’s squad. All of the returning starters received All-Conference accolades on the court or All-NAIA honors in the classroom in 2007-08.
Junior guard Ryne Lightfoot was named MCC 2nd-Team All-Conference in 2007-08. Lightfoot led the team and the conference with 4.94 assists per game. His 56 three-point field goalsand 44.8 three-point field goal percentage also paced the Pilots. Lightfoot has started 69 of the 71 games he has played in his career, missing only one game due to injury.
Junior forward Tyler Brown was also named MCC 2nd-Team All-Conference in 2007-08. Brown led the team with 45 steals on the season, which was good for 1.3 per game. He also finished second on the team in scoring with a 15.4 average, in blocks with 44, and in field goal percentage with 56.8. He finished behind William Walker in all three of those categories. His field goal percentage placed him second in the conference as well, again behind Walker. Tyler has not missed a game or a start in his career, going 72/72 in two seasons.
Versatile, strong, dedicated, and tough are just a few terms used to describe senior forward William Walker. An NAIA All-American and MCC 1st-Team All-Conference for the second straight season, Walker could go down as one of the best players ever to don the Bethel blue. He ranks 13th all-time in Bethel’s history in career points with 1,700, 11th all-time in career rebounds with 903, and 5th all-time in career blocked shots with 113.
Walker, #33, hopes to add his name to the list which includes Rico Swanson, #11, Jody Martinez, #44, and Eric Brand, #55.
“Coming in as a cocky freshman I always said it would happen, but looking back over what I’ve done, I don’t see it. The fact that it’s even being talked about baffles me. For this to actually happen would be a true achievement for me and I’d be privileged to join this group of outstanding men,” said Walker.
Senior forward Mark Lettinga, an NAIA Scholar Athlete, started all 36 games last season and averaged 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Senior guard Kory Lantz was also an NAIA Scholar Athlete and started all 36 games last season. Primarily known as a defensive specialist, Kory is also a terrific 3-point shooter and came up big in crucial situations. He averaged 5.4 points per game.
Joining the Pilots off the bench are juniors Wes Laidig and Derek Moser, and sophomores Caleb Laidig and Joey Welch. Wes Laidig averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, earning the team’s Most Improved Player award in 2007-08. Cousin Caleb averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Moser appeared in 10 games for the
Pilots and Welch appeared in 28, averaging 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in limited action.
New Faces The Pilots welcome five new faces into the program, including 2008 Trester Mental Attitude Award winner Jake Everett, from Triton High School. The 6’6” forward led his team to the Class 1A state championship last year.
Also joining Everett are 6’5” forward Aaron Griffey from Jimtown High School, 5’8” guard Stephen Ward from Michigan City High School, 6’0” guard Robby Gingerich from Fairfield High School, and 6’2” guard Tony Benford from Muncie South High School, by way of Tri-State University.
Ward and Gingerich will be two-sport athletes for Bethel with Ward also being a tennis athlete and Gingerich also being a track athlete. Benford will be redshirting this season as he gets acclimated to the Bethel program and style of play. He will be a senior when he becomes eligible next season.
“Our freshmen are great kids. We have some classy kids in this bunch and will be calling on them as they continue to develop at the collegiate level. It will take some time to get accustomed to our system and up-tempo style of play, but with time, I feel this group has the potential to achieve great accomplishments,” said Coach Lightfoot.
Prolific Offense The Pilots are returning the most prolific scoring offense in the conference from a season ago, as they finished first in points per game at 82.6, scoring average at +14 per contest, also good for 5th in the NAIA, and field goal percentage at 51.9, also good for 2nd in the NAIA. The Pilots have led the conference in scoring in three of the last five seasons.
Giving new meaning to the term prolific is the possibility of having four current players in the 1,000 Point Club during the same season, a true rarity in college basketball. Already in the club are William Walker with 1,700 career points and Tyler Brown with 1,036. Just outside stand Ryne Lightfoot only 23 points shy, at 977 career points, and Mark Lettinga 167 points shy, at 833 career points. Never before in the illustrious history of Bethel basketball have the Pilots had four 1,000 point scorers in the same season.
“Having four teammates playing together that have each scored 1,000 points at the same time shows they are very unselfish,” said Coach Lightfoot. “They play together very well and really don’t care about who scores. The ‘team’ mentality that each possesses gives us versatility on any given night.”
The Schedule Facing the Pilots in 2008-09 is a tough schedule which includes a home-and-home series with crosstown rival IUSB, visits to Judson College (Judson, St. Francis IL, Mt. Mercy) and Iowa Wesleyan College (Iowa Wesleyan, Briar Cliff, Hannibal-LaGrange) for their respective tournaments in November, and the Bethel (Purdue North Central, Calumet) and Gates Automotive (Trinity International, Judson) Classics. Bethel will again travel to Florida over Christmas break to play in a tournament, this time to St. Thomas University (Florida Memorial, St. Thomas) in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The MCC Race The Mid-Central College Conference is again tabbed as one of the toughest conferences in the nation from top to bottom with NAIA Elite Eight members Bethel and Grace, NCCAA national champion Indiana Wesleyan, NCCAA national runner-up Spring Arbor, and recent NAIA National Tournament participants Huntington, Taylor, and St. Francis, with their addition of 2007 MCC Newcomer of the Year Dejovaun Sawyer-Davis.
Marquee matchups on the Pilots’ plate this season include opening up conference play at rival Grace on November 25th, traveling to Spring Arbor on January 3rd, welcoming Huntington on January 6th, Taylor on January 17th, Grace on January 24th, and going to Huntington on February 7th. None of the current Pilots have ever won on the road at Spring Arbor or Huntington or lost on the road at Goshen.
“In all my years of coaching here at Bethel, this is the strongest MCC season ever. Top to bottom, every team is loaded. There will be, yet again, more grueling and exciting MCC basketball this season,” said Coach Lightfoot.
Conference Titles for MCC Schools Bethel – 9 – last one in 2008 Huntington – 9 – last one in 2007 (tied) Grace – 9 – last one in 1993 Taylor – 4 – last one in 2006 (tied) Marian – 3 – last one in 2004 St. Francis – 2 – last one in 2000 Indiana Wesleyan – 1 – last one in 2007 (tied) Goshen – 0 Spring Arbor – 0
NAIA Tournament Success The Pilots returned to the NAIA National Tournament last season for the first time since 1999 and again found success, just as in years past. The Pilots won an overtime thriller in the opening round against Warner Pacific, cruised in the second round against Ottawa, and found themselves in the NAIA Elite Eight. The Pilots however lost to the #1 seed in the tournament, Bellevue, by four points.
“Our experience in the NAIA National Tournament was something I hope will motivate our players to want to get back to Branson again this year,” said Coach Lightfoot.
In seven total NAIA National Tournament appearances, the Pilots have advanced to the Elite Eight in five of them. Bethel holds many team records in the tournament with three championships, four championship game appearances, an 84.6% (22-4) winning percentage, 14 consecutive victories (’97-’99), 123 points in a game (’97), 222 combined points in a game (’99), 495 points in a tournament (’99), and 184 field goals made in a tournament (’95).
Also, the Pilots have four players that hold individual records in the tournament. Rico Swanson holds the record for 117 field goals made in a career (’95-’98), 22 steals in a tournament (’98), and 56 steals in a career (’95-’98); Eric Brand for 111 free throws attempted in a career (’97-’99); Von Gilbert for 23 rebounds in a game (’95) and 76 rebounds in a tournament (’95); and Ryan Bales for 42 assists in a tournament (’99) and 86 assists in a career (’97-99).
Coach’s Outlook “I am really excited about the upcoming 2008-09 season. Not only do we have a strong nucleus returning from last year’s squad, but we also celebrate 50 years of Bethel basketball. All of our players know what it means to wear a Bethel uniform. It will be exciting to be a part of something so special as we look back at all the former players, coaches, and individuals who have made Bethel basketball what it is today,” said Coach Lightfoot.
Returning all five starters from an NAIA Elite Eight run, it seems the Pilots are poised to keep the championship heartbeat alive. Senior co-captains Kory Lantz, Mark Lettinga, and William Walker, who have started 233 of the 302 possible games between them, have big plans for this team.
“This year’s expectations are big. After winning the conference and going on to win a couple games in Branson, the only thing on my mind was that we were so close—so close to getting ourselves a banner, our piece of history that no one could ever take away from us. This is on everyone of our minds as we go into this season. This is Will’s, Kory’s and my last shot to achieve it,” said Lettinga.
“Going from last to first in our conference has been a miracle in my eyes, but I knew we could do it together. There is only one thing left for us to do and that is to win it all.”
Bethel returns 92% of its scoring, 94% of its rebounding, and 89% of its minutes played from last year’s team, which tied for the 11th most wins in school history with a 29-7 record.
“Even though we had some success last year, I still think we have a lot to improve on defense and on the boards. I think that if we strive to improve in these aspects, we can be very solid,” said head coach Mike Lightfoot.
Who’s Back Bethel returns all five starters and nine of 14 letterwinners from last season’s squad. All of the returning starters received All-Conference accolades on the court or All-NAIA honors in the classroom in 2007-08.
Junior guard Ryne Lightfoot was named MCC 2nd-Team All-Conference in 2007-08. Lightfoot led the team and the conference with 4.94 assists per game. His 56 three-point field goalsand 44.8 three-point field goal percentage also paced the Pilots. Lightfoot has started 69 of the 71 games he has played in his career, missing only one game due to injury.
Junior forward Tyler Brown was also named MCC 2nd-Team All-Conference in 2007-08. Brown led the team with 45 steals on the season, which was good for 1.3 per game. He also finished second on the team in scoring with a 15.4 average, in blocks with 44, and in field goal percentage with 56.8. He finished behind William Walker in all three of those categories. His field goal percentage placed him second in the conference as well, again behind Walker. Tyler has not missed a game or a start in his career, going 72/72 in two seasons.
Versatile, strong, dedicated, and tough are just a few terms used to describe senior forward William Walker. An NAIA All-American and MCC 1st-Team All-Conference for the second straight season, Walker could go down as one of the best players ever to don the Bethel blue. He ranks 13th all-time in Bethel’s history in career points with 1,700, 11th all-time in career rebounds with 903, and 5th all-time in career blocked shots with 113.
Walker, #33, hopes to add his name to the list which includes Rico Swanson, #11, Jody Martinez, #44, and Eric Brand, #55.
“Coming in as a cocky freshman I always said it would happen, but looking back over what I’ve done, I don’t see it. The fact that it’s even being talked about baffles me. For this to actually happen would be a true achievement for me and I’d be privileged to join this group of outstanding men,” said Walker.
Senior forward Mark Lettinga, an NAIA Scholar Athlete, started all 36 games last season and averaged 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Senior guard Kory Lantz was also an NAIA Scholar Athlete and started all 36 games last season. Primarily known as a defensive specialist, Kory is also a terrific 3-point shooter and came up big in crucial situations. He averaged 5.4 points per game.
Joining the Pilots off the bench are juniors Wes Laidig and Derek Moser, and sophomores Caleb Laidig and Joey Welch. Wes Laidig averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, earning the team’s Most Improved Player award in 2007-08. Cousin Caleb averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Moser appeared in 10 games for the
Pilots and Welch appeared in 28, averaging 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in limited action.
New Faces The Pilots welcome five new faces into the program, including 2008 Trester Mental Attitude Award winner Jake Everett, from Triton High School. The 6’6” forward led his team to the Class 1A state championship last year.
Also joining Everett are 6’5” forward Aaron Griffey from Jimtown High School, 5’8” guard Stephen Ward from Michigan City High School, 6’0” guard Robby Gingerich from Fairfield High School, and 6’2” guard Tony Benford from Muncie South High School, by way of Tri-State University.
Ward and Gingerich will be two-sport athletes for Bethel with Ward also being a tennis athlete and Gingerich also being a track athlete. Benford will be redshirting this season as he gets acclimated to the Bethel program and style of play. He will be a senior when he becomes eligible next season.
“Our freshmen are great kids. We have some classy kids in this bunch and will be calling on them as they continue to develop at the collegiate level. It will take some time to get accustomed to our system and up-tempo style of play, but with time, I feel this group has the potential to achieve great accomplishments,” said Coach Lightfoot.
Prolific Offense The Pilots are returning the most prolific scoring offense in the conference from a season ago, as they finished first in points per game at 82.6, scoring average at +14 per contest, also good for 5th in the NAIA, and field goal percentage at 51.9, also good for 2nd in the NAIA. The Pilots have led the conference in scoring in three of the last five seasons.
Giving new meaning to the term prolific is the possibility of having four current players in the 1,000 Point Club during the same season, a true rarity in college basketball. Already in the club are William Walker with 1,700 career points and Tyler Brown with 1,036. Just outside stand Ryne Lightfoot only 23 points shy, at 977 career points, and Mark Lettinga 167 points shy, at 833 career points. Never before in the illustrious history of Bethel basketball have the Pilots had four 1,000 point scorers in the same season.
“Having four teammates playing together that have each scored 1,000 points at the same time shows they are very unselfish,” said Coach Lightfoot. “They play together very well and really don’t care about who scores. The ‘team’ mentality that each possesses gives us versatility on any given night.”
The Schedule Facing the Pilots in 2008-09 is a tough schedule which includes a home-and-home series with crosstown rival IUSB, visits to Judson College (Judson, St. Francis IL, Mt. Mercy) and Iowa Wesleyan College (Iowa Wesleyan, Briar Cliff, Hannibal-LaGrange) for their respective tournaments in November, and the Bethel (Purdue North Central, Calumet) and Gates Automotive (Trinity International, Judson) Classics. Bethel will again travel to Florida over Christmas break to play in a tournament, this time to St. Thomas University (Florida Memorial, St. Thomas) in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The MCC Race The Mid-Central College Conference is again tabbed as one of the toughest conferences in the nation from top to bottom with NAIA Elite Eight members Bethel and Grace, NCCAA national champion Indiana Wesleyan, NCCAA national runner-up Spring Arbor, and recent NAIA National Tournament participants Huntington, Taylor, and St. Francis, with their addition of 2007 MCC Newcomer of the Year Dejovaun Sawyer-Davis.
Marquee matchups on the Pilots’ plate this season include opening up conference play at rival Grace on November 25th, traveling to Spring Arbor on January 3rd, welcoming Huntington on January 6th, Taylor on January 17th, Grace on January 24th, and going to Huntington on February 7th. None of the current Pilots have ever won on the road at Spring Arbor or Huntington or lost on the road at Goshen.
“In all my years of coaching here at Bethel, this is the strongest MCC season ever. Top to bottom, every team is loaded. There will be, yet again, more grueling and exciting MCC basketball this season,” said Coach Lightfoot.
Conference Titles for MCC Schools Bethel – 9 – last one in 2008 Huntington – 9 – last one in 2007 (tied) Grace – 9 – last one in 1993 Taylor – 4 – last one in 2006 (tied) Marian – 3 – last one in 2004 St. Francis – 2 – last one in 2000 Indiana Wesleyan – 1 – last one in 2007 (tied) Goshen – 0 Spring Arbor – 0
NAIA Tournament Success The Pilots returned to the NAIA National Tournament last season for the first time since 1999 and again found success, just as in years past. The Pilots won an overtime thriller in the opening round against Warner Pacific, cruised in the second round against Ottawa, and found themselves in the NAIA Elite Eight. The Pilots however lost to the #1 seed in the tournament, Bellevue, by four points.
“Our experience in the NAIA National Tournament was something I hope will motivate our players to want to get back to Branson again this year,” said Coach Lightfoot.
In seven total NAIA National Tournament appearances, the Pilots have advanced to the Elite Eight in five of them. Bethel holds many team records in the tournament with three championships, four championship game appearances, an 84.6% (22-4) winning percentage, 14 consecutive victories (’97-’99), 123 points in a game (’97), 222 combined points in a game (’99), 495 points in a tournament (’99), and 184 field goals made in a tournament (’95).
Also, the Pilots have four players that hold individual records in the tournament. Rico Swanson holds the record for 117 field goals made in a career (’95-’98), 22 steals in a tournament (’98), and 56 steals in a career (’95-’98); Eric Brand for 111 free throws attempted in a career (’97-’99); Von Gilbert for 23 rebounds in a game (’95) and 76 rebounds in a tournament (’95); and Ryan Bales for 42 assists in a tournament (’99) and 86 assists in a career (’97-99).
Coach’s Outlook “I am really excited about the upcoming 2008-09 season. Not only do we have a strong nucleus returning from last year’s squad, but we also celebrate 50 years of Bethel basketball. All of our players know what it means to wear a Bethel uniform. It will be exciting to be a part of something so special as we look back at all the former players, coaches, and individuals who have made Bethel basketball what it is today,” said Coach Lightfoot.