This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, January 5, 2009
Tues. 6 Women’s Basketball at Carlow University 7 pm
Sat. 10 Women’s Basketball at Cedarville University 5:30 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men’s Basketball at Cedarville University 7:30 pm (AM 900 WCER)
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (12-2) Take Four-Game Win Streak to Cedarville
Walsh (12-2, 1-0) has its second American Mideast Conference showdown in eight days, when they travel to Cedarville University (16-1, 1-0) on Saturday night at 7:30 pm. Both teams are sure to improve upon their current rankings (Walsh #15, Cedarville #9), when the latest NAIA Top 25 poll is released today. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the internet at www.wcer.us.
After falling to NAIA Division l California Baptist (80-73) on December 20, the Cavs reeled off four straight wins last week. The Cavs trounced Brock University (86-61), Ohio State University-Marion (111-48), Algoma University (85-55) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (85-68) in the AMC opener for both teams.
Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) and Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) combined for 49 points in the win over Brock. Shardo connected on four from behind the arc, while Cescato was 11-12 from the floor. Greg Howard (6-4, So., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/West Liberty) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) dished out a career-high 13 assists. Cescato shined again in the rout of OSU-Marion, hitting on 10-12 from the floor and leading the way with 20 points. The Cavs shot 66% from the floor and out rebounded OSU-Marion 51-21. Eric Love (6-2, Sr., Concord, NC/Mt. Pleasant) added 17 points off the bench and Jeremy Shardo handed out eight assists. Cescato and the Shardo's led the way in the win over Algoma. Cescato was again superb from the floor, hitting on 8-12 field goals for a game-high 18 points. Jeremy Shardo added 17 points and dished out six assists, while brother, Joe, tallied 16 points.
Walsh used an 18-2 second half run to put away Mount Vernon Nazarene 85-68. The Cavs snapped a 38-all second half tie with their big run. Jeremy Shardo led all scorers with 24 points, connecting on 8-11 from the floor and 4-5 from three-point. The NAIA assists leader (7.7) also handed out seven assists and had two steals. Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) added 17 points on 9-9 from the foul line and helped hold MVNU's scoring leader, Ben Falkenberg, to 10 points, all in the second half. Walsh shot 59% from the floor and connected on 8-19 from three-point.
Walsh and red-hot Cedarville meet for the 75th time at the Callan Athletic Center in Cedarville on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets have won eight straight, including a 66-64 win over NAIA No. 5 University of Rio Grande on Saturday. Walsh leads the all-time series 38-36 and has won the last three meetings.
The Cavs are averaging 91.4 points per game, with seven players scoring in double figures. Kyelce Cescato is averaging 15.8 points per game and a team leading 8.1 rebounds. He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.633). The Cavs lost the services of their second leading scorer; Lamar Skeeter (6-0, So., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmont), who suffered a broken leg at Malone during the Hoops 4 Healing Classic. Skeeter, who is lost for the season is averaging 15.1 points. Jeremy Shardo is averaging 14.6 points, with 108 assists, against only 42 turnovers. Shardo is shooting 52% from the field, 45% from three-point and 85% from the line. Joe Shardo is averaging 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. Joe is shooting 55% from the field and 46% from three-point. Brandon Speck is averaging 11.1 points and is shooting 49% from three-point. Greg Howard is scoring at a 10.6 clip and is shooting 58% from the field, and Bradley University transfer, Saihou Jassey (6-6, Jr., Banjul, Gambia/Rose Hill HS) has played in three games and is averaging 10.0 and is shooting 69% from the field.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (7-7, 1-0) Win AMC Opener
Walsh won three times last week to even their overall record at 7-7. The Cavs also won their American Mideast Conference opener, when they knocked off Mount Vernon Nazarene 73-71 on Saturday. This week, they hit the road twice for a pair of AMC games. On Tuesday they travel to Carlow University (7 pm) and on Saturday play at Cedarville University (5:30 pm). The Cedarville game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the internet at www.wcer.us.
Last Tuesday, the Cavs upset NAIA No. 11 Cornerstone University 78-73 on the road. The Cavs' balanced attack was led by Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s), who scored 18 points on 7-12 from the floor. Berry also added five rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Chelsea Chaffin (5-3, Fr., Mt. Sterling, OH/Madison-Plains) and Ciera Burkes (5-3, So., Shaker Heights, OH/HS) each tallied 11 points. The next day, Walsh bested Concordia University 64-50 on the road. Berry again paved the way with 20 points, with Jessie Miller (5-10, Jr., Strasburg, OH/HS) adding 13.
Walsh played one of its finest games in their come-from-behind win over Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Cavs trailed 47-40 at the half, and by as many as nine points (53-44) in the second half, before putting the clamps on the Cougars. Walsh held the Cougars scoreless for more than six minutes, as they turned a deficit into a nine-point lead. Berry was again the key, scoring 20 points on 7-10 from the floor and 6-6 from the line. She also added six steals. Chelsea Chaffin was 6-10 from the floor, scoring 17 points, to go with five assists. Cara Bedard added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Walsh and winless Carlow meet on Tuesday. Carlow is 0-13 overall and 0-2 in the AMC. They were drubbed 106-59 by Shawnee State on Saturday. The Cavs lead the all-time series 5-1, with two straight wins.
The Cavs and Cedarville (10-3, 1-0) play for the 33rd time in an AMC battle on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets defeated Rio Grande 73-61 on Saturday and have won their last two games. Walsh trails 18-14 in the all-time series, but won the last meeting 80-71.
Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 14.1 points. She is shooting 52% from the field and 79% from the line. Cara Bedard is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 10.8 points and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds. Chelsea Chaffin is averaging 8.6 points and 3.4 assists.
