| Jess Prewett and Franklin are
off to a great start in 2011-12. Franklin athletics photo |
Although we celebrate the Cinderellas of the NCAA brackets every March, we would be remiss if we overlooked the unlikely undefeated men's and women's squads entering the 2012 portion of the Division III schedule. This said, we hit the northeast (Hartwick's men), the southeast (Piedmont women) and the midwest (Franklin women) to profile feel-good stories thus far.
Without further adieu, we shine the spotlight Around the Nation.
During those white-knuckle, last-minute possessions last year, then-junior guard Sarah Condra noticed Franklin “got a little hectic and crazy.” With four of their five Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference losses coming by five points or fewer, the Grizzlies finished 19-7 before getting bounced in the conference tournament semifinals.
Ultimately, for any team with aspirations of playing deep into March, finding your way in one-possession games is imperative. Although we are a ways away from March Madness, Franklin is 4-0 in games decided by less than five points – a big part of why the Grizzlies are 12-0, ranked 13th and sitting atop the HCAC standings.
“I think there's an even-keel personality that this group has,” coach Kim Eller said. “They don't get real high, but they don't get too low either. I think that being unflustered – in close games you really want that personality in that group.”
A prime example that personality showed Dec. 7 against defending HCAC champion Hanover. After the visitors forged a 67-all tie with 59 ticks left, junior center Jessica Prewett and sophomore forward Krista Schott combined for three free throws before helping prevent Hanover from hoisting a last-second shot in a 70-67 victory.
However, that only ranks as the Grizzlies' second-best triumph thus far. They tallied the final five points over the last 90 seconds, seizing the lead on Condra's three-ball with 31 seconds remaining, to hand No. 7 DePauw its lone loss, 52-47, in the Franklin College Tip-Off Tournament championship game on Nov. 19.
“I think when you get that first game that's close and you pull it out, it gives you confidence,” Eller said. “They have a lot of confidence. That's a big key as well.”
Although Condra (20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds per game), a senior guard, has emerged as an All-American candidate, Eller warned that, “We are more than just her.” Junior Annelise Tarkington (5.5 ppg, 3.0 apg) has emerged as a steady floor leader, while Prewett (8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and freshman Lindsey Dall (7.3 ppg) are solid low-post options. In addition, the defensive abilities of Schott (3.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 spg) and freshman forward Krista Beaman (3.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and the all-around game of Kasey Dollens (6.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
There is also another intangible factor for Franklin's success.
“Our huge thing is our team chemistry this year,” Condra said. “(In) years before we've gotten along, but this year everyone is friends with everyone.”
Hartwick building off last year's run
A year removed from averaging 20 points per game, Mark Blazek hobbled through much of the 2010-11 campaign with a bad left hamstring, seemingly derailing Hartwick's hopes for seeing its name penciled into the NCAA Division III Championship brackets for another calendar year. Except Todd McGuinness' young roster defied expectations, capturing the Empire 8 Tournament title and making their first NCAA trip in 15 years.
And now, with Blazek healthy again, Hartwick (11-0) is a weekend sweep of Elmira and Alfred away from establishing a record for best start in school history.
Although the return of Blazek, a 6-foot senior guard and career 1,000-point scorer, has certainly strengthened the Hawks, getting to develop promising youngsters such as Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Jared Suderley and starting guard Anthony Keane as they have weathered several close calls to start the season: Each of their first six victories came by six points or fewer.
Even more remarkable: Although Hartwick’s 11 opponents are currently a combined 45-65, with 0-10 Elmira next, nine of Hartwick's first 11 games have been played away from the home-cooked comfort of Lambros Arena, including their first seven contests. The only times they dressed in their locker room have been back-to-back wins against Oneonta State and Elms on Dec. 8 and 9.
“It's been good,” McGuinness said. “We have a lot of experience. I don't call that many timeouts to end games. I just trust my guys. We've made foul shots and when we haven't made them, we've made defensive stops.”
This confidence comes from the McGuinness' reliance on drilling end-game situations every day in practice. Hartwick will play games-within-games to five points, or ones lasting 90 seconds to three minutes, while its coach lets his players learn on the fly.
“It definitely helps us,” Blazek said. “Just simulating that really helps us know what to expect and just be confident that we can make plays at the end of games. Even though you hit a game-winner at the end of practice, it helps the ind's confidence and the group's confidence.”
Being a part of Hartwick's resurgence has been especially buoyed Blazek's confidnece after fighting through his injured hamstring last season. A pre-biology major with a 3.97 GPA, he is averaging 15.4 points while giving the Hawks a dependable outside threat to complement Suderley (16.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and 6-8 senior forward Chris Ryder (13.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) down low.
“It's really gratifying to be part of this team and be able to help them the way I can,” Blazek said.
Piedmont moving forward
Not even the loss of two key frontcourt players – one quit during the summer, the other two days into preseason practice – from last year's Great South Atlantic Conference championship discouraged Piedmont's seventh-year head coach Jamie Purdy.
“I didn't know that we were going to be 10-0,” Purdy said, “but I thought we had a chance to have a successful year.”
Yet the Lady Lions are undefeated through 10 games, off to their best start ever while ascending to No. 20 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.
Credit Purdy for helping Piedmont reinvent itself. From having experienced inside-outside balance, the Lady Lions now start four guards around 6-3 senior Sada Wheeler (15.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 4.8 bpg) since there are only four post players – including two rookies – on the roster. Senior Amber Satterfield (13.1 ppg) is shooting 44.2% from long range, while junior Alyssa Jones (10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) has done a nice job setting up teammates. Also, senior Shanice Wheeler (9.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.2 spg) and junior Kelondria Thompson (8.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) are effective at getting to the basket and, most importantly, finishing.
“They get after it,” Purdy said. “They have heart. They've bought into what we've wanted to do. They let their defense control our offense, and that's what we want.”
Indeed, Piedmont is forcing 22.4 turnovers and 53.6 points per game while holding foes to 31.0% shooting. Only two of the Lady Lions' games have been decided by less than 10 points – including a 57-45 triumph over Greensboro on Dec. 10.
Even so, Purdy is trying to downplay Piedmont's recent rise, saying simply, “I don't want them to be cocky, I want them to play with confidence.” However, even the coach is admitting she is enjoying seeing Piedmont's name mentioned nationally.
“It's a great change. We're all happy to be where we are,” Satterfield said.
“We've always worked hard. I think this year, get our name out there and people actually recognizing us is a big deal. We really deserve it. I'm really glad that we're actually getting recognition.”
