Chapman’s Postseason Chances Take Double Hit

Chapman’s chances to make the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament were dealt a double blow last week when the Panthers lost two games in the Whittier tournament.

The Panthers, the defending champions of the Whittier tournament, lost to Hartwick (N.Y.), 85-82, in double overtime and Babson (Mass.), 82-81, on a last-second shot. Chapman led Babson, ranked No. 4 in the Northeast Region, by seven with 37 seconds left to play but lost when Michael Kingsley made a fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer.

“They were two hard losses to take because I still maintain we have a good team,” Chapman Coach Mike Bokosky said. “When you have a good team that does good things, it usually gets rewarded with victories.”

Bokosky also maintains that the Panthers are still in the running for a playoff spot. There are eight berths in the West Region, four of which go to conference champions. Not more than two of the four at-large bids usually go to an independent such as Chapman.

Nebraska Wesleyan, ranked No. 7 in the West in the latest regional poll, is the only ranked independent. No. 5 Cal Lutheran is the only California team in the top eight. Chapman has been ranked as high as 10th.

Bokosky points out that Chapman was also 6-5 at this point last season before winning 12 of its final 14 games. If the Panthers win at least 17 games, Bokosky figures, they will force the tournament selection committee to consider them.

“Not to grab for something, but we’ve always been a better team in the last two-thirds of the year,” Bokosky said. “I still think we have enough season left and the way we played those two teams shouldn’t eliminate us. It’s not like we were blown out.”

Chapman has lost five of six after starting the season 5-0 and has lost three in a row for the first time since 1992-93, Bokosky’s first season as coach. Bokosky, however, isn’t planning any major changes and said he is certain the Panthers will bounce back. “This team is a lot tougher than teams I’ve had in the past, tougher mentally,” Bokosky said. “They will get right down and start it again.”

Chapman plays Saturday at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

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The Chapman women’s basketball team is also experiencing hard times. The Panthers (4-6) have lost four of their last five, including two in a row this week to Randolph-Macon (Va.) and Wisconsin Stout.

“We’re this close to being a good team,” Chapman Coach Mary Hegarty said. “But we’re not executing the little things that make a team good.”

Tuesday against undefeated Wisconsin Stout, the Panthers pulled to one point behind with about six minutes left in the game, but turnovers, missed free throws and defensive breakdowns ended the Panthers’ chances for a victory.

Wisconsin Stout had 27 offensive rebounds, which helped it get off 90 shots in the 74-62 victory. Stout made 30 of those shots, including only one of 22 from beyond the three-point arc.

The Panthers are at the Redlands tournament today and Saturday. They play Colorado College today. Redlands and Gallaudet play in the other first-round game.