There is a great air of anticipation as the 2009−2010 Pioneer men’s
basketball team resumes their season. Northland International University
spectators
rallied around the team’s dynamic play before Christmas break, and there
is continued
reason for optimism.
The team returned from break and had a solid week of practices
before
hitting the hardwood again. During that time, the team focused on
improving
individual skills, the consistent dynamic of team play, as well as daily
challenging their spiritual lives with individual and team devotions.
Following
the return, Northland has experienced a very busy three weeks of
game play. Their first game was against Lakeland College, a Division 3
opponent. The Pioneers battled to a 78−76 win. Coach Wehry stated,
“Since I
have been at Northland, we have been handled pretty easily by Lakeland.
They
are a solid team and have a solid program; yet, our guys were determined
and
mentally tough. We really did a good job of staying focused and fighting
on
every possession.”
After the win against Lakeland on Monday, the
Pioneers traveled on Tuesday
night to play a scrappy, UW-Marinette team. Both teams scored early and
often
in the first fifteen minutes of play, and things did not look good for
the
Northland squad when leading scorer, Seth Quirey, went down with an
ankle
injury with five minutes left in the first half. “At the time Seth went
down,
he had sixteen points in fifteen minutes, and—I am thinking—okay,
someone else
will need to step up,” noted Coach Wehry. The Pioneers then picked up
some key
play from numerous players and completed a 76−74 win.
During this
week of play, senior Nate Pettit was chosen as one of the NCCAA
Division 2 athletes for the week as he had two stellar games in these
wins,
averaging over twenty points per game and close to ten assists a game.
The
weekend called for a long trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to play Grace
Bible College, the NCCAA reigning champions and the #1 ranked team in
NCCAA
Division 2. Grace soundly beat the Pioneers 82−56. “They just manhandle
us.
They play hard, they are well-coached, and they have size and strength
in every
position. They are also very deep. They are a tough match for anyone,
and it
will be a tall task for anyone in our region,” acknowledged Coach Wehry.
On Tuesday, January 19, Northland hosted Finlandia University,
an NCAA
Division 3 opponent. The game
teetered back and forth all night long with each team making runs. With
just
over a minute left and Finlandia holding a four-point lead, a defensive
breakdown by Northland led to an easy basket for the Lions, and
Northland was
forced to foul with the Lions connecting on their free throws for a
91−81 win.
That night after the game, the Northland team drove to
Milwaukee and flew
out in the morning to Florida to play Clearwater Christian College and
Florida
Christian. In the first game, Northland looked like they were still on
the
plane for the first half, trailing 15−2 in the first five minutes. After
the
team righted itself, it still trailed by ten at half-time. In the second
half,
Northland regained its legs and its focus and scored the first seven
points of
the half. The game then went back and forth with Northland having a
one-point
lead with less than thirty seconds and Northland at the line for bonus
free
throws. However, the Pioneers missed both and with 1.8 seconds,
Clearwater
scored on a put-back off a missed lay-up. The Pioneers then passed the
ball to
half-court and called a time-out. With .08 seconds on the clock, the
Pioneers
ran a good half-court play and got an open look for senior Nate Pettit
in the
corner for a jump shot, but Pettit’s shot was just wide. Clearwater
prevailed
with a disheartening 72−71 win.
Two nights later, the Pioneers
were back on the hardwood preparing to face
Florida Christian College. The Florida Christian team had beaten
Clearwater
earlier in the month by twenty points, and Coach Wehry knew the task was
formidable. “We knew they were athletic; I knew that their coach was in
the
stands scouting us at Clearwater, and we really did not know much about
their
play.” Early in the contest, Florida Christian shot the ball well and
got an
early lead, but the Pioneers responded. “We played really good help-side
defense and caused a lot of turnovers, and we attacked the basket very
well. I
felt that Joel Widmer stepped up and had a great night. He was strong in
the
middle, and we were able to funnel our offense from the inside out.” The
Pioneers came away with an 88−72 win. “It
was a good way to finish our trip, and that night we had a team time
with our
families and shared what Northland basketball has meant to our
seniors—Nathan
Pettit, Ben Summers, and Joel Widmer. Each player shared his heart and
gave
much glory to God. Then the parents spoke about the impact of Northland
basketball on their sons’ lives. It was a special night and real
blessing to
all who were there.”
Though the expectations continue to be high
on the basketball court, Coach
Wehry was quick to note, “This is not about us. This is about God. One
of my
contentions is that the reason that this team could continue to have a
special
year is not only the depth of our team—but the depth of their spiritual
walks.
The seniors have grown so much in their daily walks with Christ, and it
is
evident when we practice, in the classroom, and in other areas of life.
Our
theme for the year is two-fold: “Coram Deo” (last year’s theme—“before
the face
of God”) and “Keep the Change” taken
from 2 Corinthians 3:18. Wehry concludes, “If we continue to change and
grow in
Christ because we recognize we are constantly before our God—the King of
Glory,
it will continue to be a great season.”
To follow the Northland
International University athletic teams throughout
their seasons, frequently visit the Pioneer
News
section.