A heartbreaking loss for Hope after cruising to a second half 16-point lead, and then losing in the last minute. It's a game that leaves fans—and surely coaches and players, too—thinking "If only." But credit Chicago for an amazing comeback, enabled by an effective press and Hope's cold shooting.

That's the short-term pain. The bigger picture is that this was another 20+ win season, capped by a league tournament championship and a tournament run. Hope will miss its senior contributors, including Sydney Vis's power moves to the basket. But they return three sophomore all-league players, some promising new players, and the John Wooden of DIII coaches, with his positive influence and nearly 800 wins . . . and, hopefully, miles to go before he sleeps. Am I the only one seeing (perhaps supported by some new recruits), a top-5 team the next two years?

P.S. Our esteemed experts offer computations that concur with my last sentence: https://thed3statlab.com/preseason_rankings.html

Quote from: scottiedawg on March 11, 2026, 09:42:02 AMI made a webpage breaking down the Hope vs. Chicago matchup.

Very impressive (ditto FDF) . . . thanks to you both!

Hope women's BB fans last evening were gifted with this season's second well-played, exciting overtime win against an excellent Illinois Wesleyan team, which must be feeling snake-bit.

With an early 16 to 4 lead, Hope looked like it might dominate, but IWU was resilient, and took a 77 to 71 lead with but two minutes left. Defeat looked imminent to Hope's suffering team and supporters. But with great character, forcing an IWU turnover and miss, Hope endured with two Sydney Vis layups and a Maddie Petroelje jumper. After two IWU last second shot attempts were foiled, the game went into overtime, where Hope—especially after IWU star guard Ava Bardic fouled out with 26 points—cruised to a 90 to 85 win.

Those of us who worship in liturgical churches may think of this game when hearing today's lectionary text from Romans 5: "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us." So it was.

Speedy, sharpshooting IWU senior Ava Bardic played like an all-American. As the teams did their post-game handshakes, Hope coach Brian Morehouse held up the line while, with a hand on Ava's shoulder, he conveyed his admiration. A fitting class act end to a class act game.

Alas, 63 of 64 tournament teams end their seasons downcast, as did Hope after a cold shooting night. Is seventeen consecutive three-point misses a team record?

Nevertheless, kudos for another year that, once again, began with a rigorous pre-league schedule and ended with a league tournament championship—as was accomplished four of the last five years, excepting last year when Hope beat the eventual national champion in the league semi-final. Somehow Greg Mitchell's teams seem to gain strength over their seasons.

Kudos to seniors Marcus Wourman and Justice Mims for their joyful spirits, as well as speed to the basket...and to defensive specialist Sam Carlson and sharpshooter Deven Marathe for their loyal team support.

With 75 percent of Hope's scoring the last four games coming from the frosh and sophomores, Hope looks to be a team on the rise. And with Calvin and Trine recruiting and returning a ton of talent, and Olivet returning its league-winning team, the MIAA should offer topflight competition next year.

Quote from: Dutchfan on March 01, 2026, 12:15:03 PMThank you, sac! That is the best recap I've ever read! If only more sports writers would write up their recaps like that.

What Dutchfan said...I've long thought Sac could have been a sportswriter. So grateful to Sac, and for you all who contribute here.

Quote from: pointlem on February 28, 2026, 07:30:25 AMHope's 3-point shooting...will need improvement if they're to survive Trine.

Wish fulfilled...and how special for the game-deciding difference to be made by Brady Miller and Justice Mims, who have not scored as much as they'd dreamed this season, but who both made 6 of 7 shots last night to carry Hope to a tournament championship. After all the practice hours, both can forever savor the memory of getting it done for their team when it mattered.

Hope fans will enjoy the post-game interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chld6sDBwRI

An unexpected Hope win against an excellent Calvin team that has had its way with Hope the last couple years. Credit a great defensive effort, quickness to the ball (enabling a 41 to 32 rebounding advantage with two fewer turnovers), a relative quiet 15-point night by Jalen Overway (with Hope surprisingly outscoring Calvin 32 to 18 in the paint), Marcus Wourman asserting himself early on instead of awaiting the game's end, and the season's biggest surprise--the continued elevation in the play and seeming confidence of Orion Yant (18 points).

Hope's 3-point shooting woes (22%, with 2 of 18 apart from Cargill) continued, and with Parker Hovey's injury (status unknown but assumed unavailable) will need improvement if they're to survive Trine.

Given the short distance among MIAA schools, I wonder if thought has been given to having the semi-final games and then the final game at the top-seeded teams...enabling increased revenue from selling two Friday houses, and a better player and fan experience (compared to playing last night and tonight on a neutral court). Perhaps the reasons for the current format trumps these considerations?

Quote from: ziggy on February 27, 2026, 08:39:58 AM

Quote from: pointlem on February 27, 2026, 08:18:04 AM

Quote from: goodknight on February 26, 2026, 05:18:17 PMI've heard Calvin expects to welcome at least a dozen new players for the program, including 10 high school seniors and likely a couple of transfers. There will be a ton of minutes available with the graduation of Overway, Winkle, Ressler and Ewing.

Calvin's big (and seemingly strong) recruiting class raises an interesting question, to which I have no answer. What's an optimum size recruiting class--with enough talent to enable the fittest to survive to playing time, but not so many that most recruits' expectations go unfulfilled, with diminished team morale?

And what's the optimum size for a team? Hope's 20-man varsity has given playing time to a dozen players in recent games, while leaving some nearly always as spectators (though one of last year's end-of-bench spectators--Orion Yant, who got in three games last year--is now a starter and major contributor).

As it relates to a recruit's expectations, it is up to the coaching staff for the communication to be clear and honest during the recruiting process regardless of the size of the class or program roster.

Good words, Ziggy, but boy what a challenge that is for a coach. Calvin, for example, is graduating four players from an 18-player youngish roster. If, indeed, they welcome in 10 high school recruits and two transfers, and if 14 players return, that's 26 players likely dreaming of playing time . . . when only eight players saw the floor for more than 6 minutes per game this year, of whom four are returning.

So . . . 22 players hoping to replace those four departing graduates? Are most made aware that they'll likely be playing jv or riding the bench? Perhaps some from this year's team will see the incoming talent and decide to focus their time and energies elsewhere. Regardless, and I'm just using Calvin as an example, I empathize with coaches who need to overbook talent, like airlines overbooking seats knowing that some won't show, while also being both transparently honest yet encouraging to their student athletes. I'm glad I'm a fan and not a coach.

P.S. I remember Hope former coach Glenn Van Wieren, in a talk on his recruiting process and mindful of uncertainties including injury, claiming to tell every recruit: "Don't come to Hope unless you could be happy here not playing basketball."

Quote from: goodknight on February 26, 2026, 05:18:17 PMI've heard Calvin expects to welcome at least a dozen new players for the program, including 10 high school seniors and likely a couple of transfers. There will be a ton of minutes available with the graduation of Overway, Winkle, Ressler and Ewing.

Calvin's big (and seemingly strong) recruiting class raises an interesting question, to which I have no answer. What's an optimum size recruiting class--with enough talent to enable the fittest to survive to playing time, but not so many that most recruits' expectations go unfulfilled, with diminished team morale?

And what's the optimum size for a team? Hope's 20-man varsity has given playing time to a dozen players in recent games, while leaving some nearly always as spectators (though one of last year's end-of-bench spectators--Orion Yant, who got in three games last year--is now a starter and major contributor).

Quote from: sac on February 26, 2026, 09:03:59 AMCole Charter  6-5 G  Clarkston will attend Calvin

If Jalen Overway moves on it looks like Calvin will be amply restocking talent, including seven recruits from this top 200 MI listing.
https://mittenprephoops.com/2025/12/13/michigan-boys-prep-hoops-top-100-players-in-class-of-2026/

Good synopsis and good Q, AlwaysHope. The Hope women played phenomenally well their last two games--at a level that would take them deep into the tournament. Asking them to sustain that performance (especially shooting) level is likely asking too much. Regardless, this team's level of sophomore and frosh talent bodes well for the next two years.

A competitive high-octane 96 to 88 Calvin win in GR, with a likely third matchup to come next Friday evening in Olivet. With Jalen Overway holding fort in the paint--today scoring 28 and supporting his teammates with five assists--Calvin is a tough matchup.

Hope has grown this season, with the emergence of sophomore Orion Yant...plus outstanding play from the three frosh—Cargill, Sanchez, and Wesolek—who today combined for 42 points. Hope's future prospects are bright, with the frosh and sophomores today scoring 62 of Hope's 88 points.

Very helpful breakdown, Sac. It looks like all scenarios, should Calvin win their first-round league tournament game, would lead to a Hope v. Calvin semi-final game? The only variable is whether that game will be played at Hope or at Olivet. Yes?

Despite its usual 3-point shooting woes (21%), and but 1 of 13 shooting from its trio of usual starting guards, Hope managed to eek out an exciting 68 to 64 win, thanks to 32 bench points, led by 8 of 9 shooting and 19 points from sharpshooters Carter Bishop and Avery Sanchez. Somehow the smaller Dutchmen also managed to outrebound the big Olivet front line, including snaring 14 offensive rebounds to Olivet's 3. Credit heart and effort for this win.

With Trine's loss to Calvin (thank you Knights), I believe Hope controls its own tournament court destiny—tied with Olivet for the league lead, but having defeated Olivet twice. But against two tough opponents on the road next week, they'll need the starting guards to find their range.

Hope miraculously comes back from 17 down with just over 4 minutes to go, to take Trine to overtime, where they ran out of gas. Although their season-long 3-point shooting woes held them back (19% vs. Trine's 40%) credit the Dutchmen with a gritty finish when most viewers considered the game essentially over.