This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, December 8, 2008
Mon. 8 Women’s Basketball at King College 6 pm
Wed. 10 Women’s Basketball at Lindsey Wilson 8 pm
Thurs. 11 Women’s Basketball at University of Cumberlands 6 pm
Fri. 12 Men’s Basketball vs. Lake Erie at Malone 6 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Sat. 13 Men’s Basketball vs. Concordia at Malone 1 pm (AM 900 WCER)
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (5-1) Thump Malone in /Mayor's Cup/Jeremy Shardo Records 1st Triple-Double
NAIA No. 21 Walsh (5-1) routed both University of Northwestern Ohio (88-69) and Malone University (85-47) last week to improve to 5-1 on the season. This weekend the Cavs play at Malone in the Annual Hoops 4 Healing Classic. On Friday, Walsh meets Lake Erie College at 6 pm and on Saturday tangle with Concordia University at 1 pm. All proceeds from the games go to the American Liver Foundation. Tickets are $7.00 each day, with children five and under being admitted for free. Both games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the internet at www.wcer.us.
Lamar Skeeter (6-0, So., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmont) scored 21 points in Walsh 88-69 win over the University of Northwestern Ohio (3-7) on Thursday night. Skeeter connected on 6-10 from the field and 9-13 from the foul line and scored 16 first half points, as the Cavs built a 48-31 halftime lead. Skeeter also grabbed seven rebounds. The Cavs kept their double digit lead throughout the second half and held its largest lead at 87-65 with 2:01 to play. Walsh placed three other players in double figures. Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds; Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) added 11 points and five assists and Greg Howard (6-4, So., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/West Liberty) chipped in 12 points off the bench. Walsh shot a blistering 80% from the foul line on 24-30
Walsh drubbed Malone (1-7) 85-47 in the 45th Annual Mayor's Cup at Osborne Hall last Saturday. The Cavs now lead the Cup series 26-19, and the all-time series 59-39. Walsh can retire the Cup next season at home. The two teams meet again, on January 27, at Walsh in an American Mideast Conference game. Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) was the story at Malone, as he recorded the first triple-double in Walsh history. Shardo scored 12 points, handed out 11 assists and grabbed 13 rebounds. Walsh jumped to an 8-0 lead, before Malone went on a 16-4 run to take a 16-12 lead. Walsh closed the half with a 16-5 run, and led 32-21 at the break. Neither team shot the ball well in the first half. Walsh shot 36% (10-28) from the floor and only 20% (3-15) from behind the arc, while the Pioneers shot just 36% (9-25) from the floor and 13% (1-8) from three-point. Walsh played stellar ball on both ends of the floor in the second half and out scored Malone 53-26. The Cavs shot 61% (20-33) from the field and 46% (6-13) from three-point. The Cavs continued to shoot well from the line, connecting on 89% on 16-18. Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) led all scores with 17 points, connecting on 5-11 from three-point. Kyelce Cescato and Greg Howard each added 12 points. Walsh also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Pioneers 47-26.
Walsh meets Lake Erie College (1-8) on Friday at 6 pm at Malone. The Storm has dropped their last five games. This is the first meeting since 1994-95, with Walsh holding a 10-0 series advantage. The Cavs meet Concordia University (6-3) on Saturday. The Cavs have a 2-0 series lead, with the two teams having met last in 1996-97.
The Cavs are averaging 96.8 points per game, with six players scoring in double figures. Lamar Skeeter and Kyelce Cescato are each averaging 16.3 points per game. Skeeter is shooting .517 from the field, .533 from three-point range and .778 from the line. Cescato is averaging 9.2 rebounds and is shooting .589 from the field. Jeremy Shardo is scoring at a 13.7 clip, is shooting .528 from the field and averaging 8.2 assists per game. Greg Howard is averaging 12.2 points and is shooting .610 from the floor and Brandon Speck is averaging 11.5 points, while shooting .512 from the field and .559 from three-point (19-34). Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) is averaging 10.5 points and is shooting .532 from the field. The Cavs are shooting .546 from the field, .446 from three-point, .745 from the foul line.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (3-5) Down Calumet
Walsh (3-5) defeated Calumet College of St. Joseph 66-51 in its only game last week. This week the Cavs travel south, playing three games in four days. On Monday (6 pm), the Cavs play King College (TN), and then meet two Kentucky foes in Lindsey Wilson on Wednesday (8 pm) and the University of the Cumberlands on Thursday (6 pm).
Leah Seaman (5-8, Jr., Louisville, OH/HS) scored 15 points, in just 19 minutes, in leading Walsh past Calumet College of Saint Joseph on Saturday. Seaman was 6-9 from the floor and 3-5 from behind the arc, while adding four rebounds and three assists. She scored 13 first half points, as the Cavs led 31-27 at the break. In the second half, freshman Kristi Yoder (Fr., Millersburg, OH/Hiland) scored 10 of her 12 points, as the Cavs never trailed, and led by as many as 18 points (66-48). Yoder also added a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) chipped in 11 points and Brittani Maddox (5-11, Jr., Cleveland, Heights, OH/HS) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. The Cavs shot 48% from the floor in the second half, while holding the Crimson Wave to just 8-29 (28%) from the floor.
Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 11.8 points. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 10.5 points. Kristi Yoder is averaging 8.9 points and is shooting .552 from the field.
VOLLEYBALL: Cavs Close Season at National Tourney
Walsh finished 0-3 in pool play at the National Tournament, but finished a very successful season at 29-13. The Cavs made their fourth national tournament appearance, and first since 2003 and reached pool play in Sioux City, Iowa after defeating Lee University in an opening round match.
Walsh lost in three games (25-13, 25-18, and 25-18) to Concordia University (27-5) in their first pool play match last Tuesday. The Cavs played well early and held a 12-10 lead, when Concordia closed the match with a 15-1 run. Megan McDonald (5-10, Sr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) and Natalie Borland (6-0, Jr., Kent, OH/Roosevelt) led the Cavs with eight kills each. Walsh struggled putting the ball down, converting on just .151 of their attack attempts. Jessica Schmidt (5-8, Fr., Michigan City, IN/HS) handed out 26 assists and Ashley Yuhas (5-9, So., Elyria, OH/HS) led with 14 digs.
Northwestern College (29-7) rallied from a 2-0 deficit, to defeat the Cavs 3-2 in their second pool play match last Wednesday. Walsh won the first two games by identical 25-19 scores. Northwestern then got back into the match with a 25-12 win in game three and then forced game five with a 25-20 win in game four. They then took the deciding game 15-11. Megan McDonald paced the Cavs with 19 kills, with Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Sr., Avon Lake, OH/HS) adding 13. Jessica Schmidt handed out 46 assists and Ashley Yuhas led with 16 digs. Natalie Phillips (5-10, Fr., Wooster, OH/HS) added 13 digs, McDonald and Amy Police (5-5, Jr., Perry, OH/HS) each had 12.
Walsh lost its final pool play match 3-1 to Olivet Nazarene University on Thursday, by the scores of 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-21. Erica Parker (6-0, Sr., Concord, OH/Mentor) led Walsh with 16 kills. Megan McDonald added 14 and Caitlin Whealy 11. Marie Jubak (Cincinnati, OH/McNicholas) handed out 35 assists and Ashley Yuhas led with 21 digs.
Megan McDonald, Erica Parker and Head Coach Krista Singleton were each honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. McDonald was named Northeast Region Player of the Year and to the Northeast Region Team. Parker was also named to the team, while Singleton was named Coach of the Year. McDonald averaged 4.01 kills per game, with 602 for the year. Parker led the team with a .312 attack percentage and recorded 403 kills. Singleton (140-50, 5 yrs.) led Walsh to their 15th straight winning season and fourth NAIA National Tournament appearance.
