NAIA PLAYOFFS : SCC Ousted as Shooting Cools Off

The temperature was in the 70s here Tuesday when torrid-shooting Southern California College streaked to a 20-point victory in the opening round of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics basketball tournament. When the Vanguards awoke Thursday, however, it was snowing.

Bad omen.

Turning as quickly as the Midwest weather, SCC’s shooting touch went frigid in the second round and the Vanguards were humbled, 92-59, by second-seeded Wisconsin Eau Claire at Kemper Arena.

The Vanguards (26-9) hit the century mark in their 102-82 victory Tuesday against Washburn University, but they didn’t score their 30th point against the Blugolds (28-3) until more than six minutes had elapsed in the second half. They shot 57% from the field Tuesday, but managed just 30% Thursday.

The Blugolds, a disciplined defensive team with more height and more bench strength than Washburn, certainly played a part in the Vanguards’ loss. But SCC Coach Bill Reynolds said his team “hasn’t shot that poorly in two years.”

“They had us rushing our shots,” he said. “Then we got into a one-pass-and-cast mode. We lost all our patience and poise, which is something we’ve played with all year. Certainly, they’re well-coached and a fundamentally sound defensive team, but we’ve played well against Division I schools this season. We just started playing catch-up too soon.”

And with good reason. When Duane Bushman hit a seven-foot baseline jumper with eight minutes left in the first half, the Blugolds were cruising, 36-13.

Bushman, a 6-foot-7 center who didn’t start but played 23 minutes, led Eau Claire with 26 points, hitting nine of 10 shots from the floor and all eight of his free throws. And 6-7 forward Mike Johnson controlled the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds, 10 in the first half.

“They really exploited our weakness by pounding the ball inside,” said SCC forward Terry Scruggs, who scored 32 points Tuesday but had to settle for a team-high 15 points against a tenacious Blugold defense. “Yeah, they were all over me, giving me those little nudges on the elbow that never get called.”

And 6-7 center Jeff Bickmore, the only Vanguard taller than 6-4, was thoroughly frustrated, making just four of his 16 field-goal attempts. Forwards Mike Henjum and Bradd Heckman and guard Rick Witmer were a combined one for 14 from the field.

Indeed, this was a rout of such proportions that no one player could have made a difference. The Blugolds shot 58% from the field, made 23 of 25 free throws and outrebounded SCC, 40-30. They dominated underneath but also fared pretty well outside. Guard Matt Benedict made six of 11 shots, most from long range, for 19 points and Eau Claire led by as many as 41 points late in the second half.

“We were concerned about this game because their offensive quickness was so impressive in the first round,” Blugold Coach Ken Anderson said. “But we took care of the ball, handled their press, got good shots on offense and made them earn what they got.”

What the Vanguards got, plain and simple, was hammered.

“It was an unfortunate way to end the season, on such an embarrassing note, and I’m sorry we weren’t better representatives of West Coast basketball today,” Reynolds said. “But I told the kids that there’s no way you can undo in one game what you’ve accomplished in the first 34.

“I’m very proud of the way these guys have played this season. I think they’ve played up to their capabilities all year. And, heck, only one team is going to leave here happy anyway.”

In fact, the Vanguards seemed to be in good spirits as they left the locker room after the game. It seems the Blugolds’ romp was, in the view of SCC point guard John Mounce anyway, a blessing in disguise.

“I’m just glad we didn’t get beat at the buzzer,” he said.

After the first few minutes of Thursday’s game, it was clear there was no chance of that.