Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Emerson Droubie, Trey Frye III, and Coach Matt Johnson. Interviews conducted by Norse Women's Coach James Fassett! Also click to hear the player spotlight interview with Kyle Hustrulid.
SAGINAW---The Bay College Norse men's basketball team clamped down on defense and nailed 16 triples on offense Saturday in a 92-65 win over the Delta College Pioneers on Saturday in Saginaw.
The Norse held the nation's leading scorer, Sir'Real Smith, to 15 points, and Bay freshman Emerson Droubie drained seven three-pointers as the Norse locked up the second seed in the MCCAA playoff race. The loss dropped Delta into fifth place, meaning that the two teams could meet again March 3rd in a playoff game at Bay.
Smith, averaging 32.1 points per game this season, scored 40 points against the Norse in a tight Bay victory in Escanaba earlier this month. This time, Smith was hounded by a trio of Norse defenders, led by freshman Kyle Hustrulid, who locked Smith down with an uncomfortable tight defensive style.
"I was really worried about this one," Norse Coach Matt Johnson said. "I'm not just saying that because that is what coaches are supposed to say. Sir'Real Smith is the real deal, man. He is really, really good. They've got a couple of other pieces over there that I think are pretty good, as well. For us to do what we did defensively? It's great that we scored 92 points, and a whole bunch of our guys shot the lights out. But to hold them to 65, and to hold Sir'Real to 15, I feel fantastic about that."
Hustrulid was the man who was mostly in charge of guarding Smith, and he takes a lot of pride in nis defense. So, what was Johnson's message to Hustrulid entering the game?
"Well, I told him to pray a lot, which he does," Johnson joked, noting Hustrulid's stong relgoius beliefs that he wears openly on his sleeve. "We should all maybe do more of that! But, in all honesty, we just said that we need to do what we do. We had to cheat his way (in guarding) and have a plan that there was always a secind guy there. We had to contest everything, and we did. Kyle was in great position, and the second guy always had a hand up."
Actually, Hustrulid says that his faith in God really is a big factor in situations like this, and he truly belives the Lord helps him to handle these kinds of challenges.
"It's a really long season, and everyone's feeling it right now," Hustrulid said. "Throughout the whole process, I just have to stay steady. Not get too high. Not get too low. I think that's what's helped me. Doung the little things, like defense, of course. Taking charges. Doing all the things that I can cintrol. Especially, my attitude, and effort. My faith in Jesus Christ is what pushes me through, whether I'm doing good or whether I'm struggling, that's what I lean on. I really think we can (win) three in a row, and thatn will be huge going into playoffs. Locking up that two seed is especially big."
Now, Hustrulid is from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and his teammate, Droubie, from an about an hour north of the Twin Cities, did the job on offense. Six of his seven triples came in the first half as the Norse turned a 28-21 lead into a 46-28 halftime advantage.
"I just came in tonight with a locked-in mindset," Droubie said. "Shoot with confidence and balace, as Coach (Assistant Mike) Cretens has taught me. If i shoot with balance, I like my chances of it going in every time. My teammates and coaches having confidence in me. That gives me the upmost confidence to go out there and shoot it, cointested, uncontested. And defense is a bigger part of the game, not just shooting the ball. I've really tried takung pride in my defense. I know it's not the greatest in the world, but getting rebounds, boxing out, ciommunication is key. I feel like since high school till now is a big step for me defensively."
During that run, sophomore Will Kelley scored five straight points, Taveon Vann scored twice, and Kyler Sager came off the bench to drain a triple.
Hustrulid also added a triple on offense, something he has been doing more regularly lately, and Trey Frye III scored eight first half points. The Pioneers were never able to challenge in the second half, as the Norse built leads as many as 33 points. Frye was in control handling the ball, and ended up with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.
"I was just confident in my (ball) handling," Frye said. "I got a good feel for the ball after I hit that (first half) three. It boosted my confiendce, and when I drove, and people were collapsing, I was able to hit my shooters, and people like Emerson knicked down shots at a real high percentage today."
The Norse improved to 20-6 ob the season, 9-3 in conference play.
Bay is now locked into the second seed in the playoff race, regardless of what happens Sunday in a make-up game against Kirtland Community College, and on Tuesday against undefeated conference champion Mid-Michigan.
Delta College fell to 9-15 overall, 6-7 in the conference standings. The Pioneers are currently in the fifth and final playoff spot, heading into their final regular season game against Montcalm Community College. At the moment, these two teams would play again in the NJCAA Region 12 tournament opener in Escanaba.
Droubie led the Norse with 23 points and eleven rebounds for another double-double. Big man Savion Johnson also had a double-double of ten points and ten boards. It was a great game for Frye, who had the first Norse triple double in years. Sager added three triples and eleven points.
The Pioneers were led by Smith's 16 points and nine rebounds, but that was literally half of the average scoring total for the man known around the league simply as “sir”. Darrion Youngblood added 13 points and Deontrey Gary had 12 for Delta.
The Norse have a make-up game on Sunday with Kirtland Community College. It's a game that was scheduled in Escanaba on Wednesday, but was postponed by weather. Then on Thursday, the Mackinac Bridge was closed for seven hours, so this game was rescheduled to be played Sunday on a neutral floor: at Delta College.
The Bay-Kirtland game will start Sunday at 5:00 and will be broadcast live on FM-106.3 and on-line at www.baynorse.com.
