Sterling College

By Vance Janak
The Hutchinson News

HILLSBORO, Kan. –  It wasn’t the prettiest of upsets, but the Sterling College men got it done. The Warriors held NAIA Division I No. 18 Central Methodist to 25.9 percent from the field and forced 23 turnovers to hand the Eagles a 56-48 loss, its first of the season, Saturday afternoon at the Tabor Classic.
           

“I thought our guys played a great basketball game today,” Sterling coach Dean Jaderston said. “Offensively, we weren’t always pretty, but defensively, it was probably one of the best games we’ve played all season. … We said we had to take away some of the stuff they do because they do it too well. Our guys really, really rose to the challenge.”

Rising to the challenge defensively meant limiting a Central Methodist (12-1) squad to just 3 of 21 from behind the 3-point line. The Eagles came into the game averaging 8.3 made 3-point goals per game. From the field, Central Methodist hit just 14 of 54 shots.

“The three ball is what stretches the defense. And if we could take that a way, and then just stay in our lanes and not gamble on stuff, we could make it tough on them,” Jaderston said. “I thought our guys did a great job of extending screens so they couldn’t catch and shoot.”

Sterling certainly didn’t light it up from the field as the Warriors hit 20 of 49 shots for 40.8 percent. Senior guard Mac Stephenson scored a game-high 17 points while senior forward Jonathan Woods added 12 points.

“We knew we had to shut down, but it’s really about what we do,” Stephenson said. “If we can come out and do the things we do, we know we can stop anybody.”

The Warriors (9-5) broke away from a 22-22 halftime tie by going on a 6-0 run in the first four minutes of the second half.

Sterling had a 42-29 advantage after Stephenson hit a 3-point goal to beat the shot clock with 6:55 remaining.

“A couple shots fell and it built confidence,” the Little River native said. “The team played off of that.”

Central Methodist closed to 47-43 with 3:05 remaining, but Woods answered with a layup on Sterling’s next possession as the Warriors played solid in the final three minutes to close out the win.

Although Stephenson said he and his teammates are happy with the win, he said playing well in the KCAC is what matters most.

“It feels good to get a good win, but, when it comes down to it, it doesn’t mean anything,” Stephenson said. “We start conference up again next week and that’s when we’ve got to lock it down.”

The Warrior Athletic Association announced that the Warrior Wood & Wedge golf tournament will once again be held again at the Highlands Golf Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. This athletic fundraiser will be held on Monday, June 23, 2008.

The Warrior Athletic Association is designed to advance Sterling College athletics by strengthening the athletic budget to help meet needs in all our sports programs.

Sterling sponsors sixteen varsity sports including football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s track & field and men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and dance and cheer.

Cost for this tournament in $110 per person. You may sign up individually or you may sign up as a foursome. Fee includes lunch, cart, and green fees.

More information can be found at the www.sterling.edu/atletics/warrior-athletic-association or by calling Dean Jaderston at 620-278-4277.

2008 Golf Tournament Registration .pdf

Four Sterling College men’s basketball players have been named to the All-KCAC Teams chosen by the conference coaches and announced at the conclusion 2007-2008 season.

Shane Stover was Sterling’s lone First Team All-KCAC selection and was named to the All-KCAC Defensive Team, while Jonathon Woods earned Honorable Mention All-KCAC honors. Freshman duo Zach Goodrich and Cody Brazelton were named the All-KCAC All-Freshman Team.

Stover (6-3, F, Sr., Colby, KS.) was named to the All-KCAC First Team after earning a spot on the All-Defensive last season. Stover averaged 7.1 points per game and led Sterling in steals (1.93) this past season and was second on the team in rebounding (4.5). He also led the team in three point goal percentage at 37%.

“Shane is one of those players who does all the little things that never show up on the stat sheet but coaches understand how important they are to a team,” said Head Coach Dean Jaderston. “Shane is the ultimate team player, and to be named one of the top 10 players in the conference is a great honor. To be named to the all-defensive team two years running also shows how valuable he was on both sides of the court. His ability to guard post or perimeter players demonstrated his versatility he probably took more charges in the last two years than any player in Sterling history.”

Woods (6-10, C, Jr., San Antonio, Tex.) was named Honorable Mention All-KCAC this season for the second straight season. Woods finished the regular season averaging 7.8 points to led the Warriors and the KCAC in rebounding with 7.3 per game overall. He was #11 in the NAIA in block shots per game with 2.06 per game.

“Jonathan was at the top of the conference in both blocks and rebounds, and his presence allowed us to provide the ball pressure we needed defensively, “said Jaderston. “He definitely changed games this season, and he should be a contender for first team next year.”

Goodrich (5’6, G, Fr., Tahlequah, OK.) was named to the All-KCAC Freshman Team in his first season with the Warriors. He averaged 5.3 points per game overall. He was second on the team this season in three point goal percentage at 37%. He also averaged 2.45 assists per game overall and 1.14 steals per game.

Brazelton (6’6, F, Fr., Tuttle, OK.) was also named to the All-KCAC Freshman Team in his first season with the Warriors. Brazelton averaged 6.2 points per game and 3.4 rebounds this season and was second on the team in block shots with fifteen.

Coach Jaderston had this to say about the two freshman. “To have two players named to the all-freshman team is a big deal. Usually, only 1 player per team will make it and for both to receive the honor speaks volumes about both their performance and consistency as freshmen. In many games this year they were our most productive players, and we expect even bigger things from them in the future.”

Sterling finished the season 16-13 overall after playing a very competitive non –conference schedule. Sterling finished KCAC play in fifth place at 11-7 and lost to Southwestern College in the quarterfinals of the KCAC Tournament 56-59.