The Notre Dame College Falcons came into WesBanco Arena and in front of a mostly West Liberty crowd and knocked off the Hilltoppers 100-96 in the MEC Championship game. With the win NDC improves to 23-8 on the season and will advance to the NCAA Atlantic Region.
Coach Tim Koenig talked about the win afterwards:
" It is a dream. It is a goal. We have never been to the national tournament. We had never won a conference title outright. We shared a couple back when we were NAIA."Koenig said.
He talked about what a great tournament is:
"I would just like to thank Wheeling- the players and the coaches that make this such a great tournament. We are just very fortunate to be able to play another day."Koenig added.
Will Vorhees who led the NDC box score with 29 points- 14 rebounds- and- eight assists talked about his favorite accomplishment:
"Of all the accomplishment and accolades I have gotten, this is by far my favorite one. I am at a loss for words. You can't predict this feeling- and- it is so awesome."Vorhees stated.
Larenz Thurman added 17 points- while Halil Parks scored 16. NDC shot 56 percent as a team- 37 percent (10-27) from the 3-point line- and- 86 percent (18-21) from the free throw line. NDC won the rebounding battle 41-25. They had 21 assists- and- 11 turnovers.
Thurman talked about fighting thru an injury:
"I rolled my ankle. Tried to give it a go a few times and it did not work out to well. It was feeling kind of weak. I knew that my teammates would pick me up though."
As for the rebounding:
" It was huge getting some key rebounds there. We kept them off the offensive glass- and- that was huge."
Koenig spoke about getting contributions from everyone and having one thing that changed:
" Whether it was Angelo Cugini giving us 10 minutes or the big man next to me giving me 40 everyone contributed tonight. With Larenz hurt we had to go thru Will a lot. He really came thru for us. He has matured so much on and off the court just this season. Not just him but our whole team. "
Koenig added talking about the 3-point shot:
" We did not make nearly as many as we did yesterday. I kept telling the guys though if you put in the work- you make the right play, you put the time in the shots will fall. We had some big key ones today. Especially a guy like Halil Parks setting a tournament record shooting 80 percent from the 3-point line in the tournament. That is unheard of. Not only that but Halil really helped us on defense. Especially when Bruce was in foul trouble he is guarding either the best player or second best player on the other team. He had a tough stretch in the latter part of the season but I am really proud of what he did this weekend."
Yahel Hill scored 35 points to lead West Liberty- while Dalton Bolon had 16. Eric Meininger added 15 in the defeat. The Hilltoppers shot 53 percent from the floor- 49 percent (16-33) from the 3-point line- and- 53 percent (10-19) from the free throw line. They had 21 assists and four turnovers in the contest.
The two teams would both come out with a lot of energy and the game would be knotted at 11 at the first media timeout. NDC would then go up by three (25-22) five minutes later. It would be closely contested and NDC would have a 40-39 advantage with under five minutes in the half. Thurman would hit a jumper at the halftime buzzer that gave NDC a five point lead (51-46.)
Thurman had 15 in the opening half- Vorhees added 14 and nine rebounds. While Parks waIould net 10. NDC shot 51 percent from the field. They shot 38 percent (6-16) from the 3-point line- and- 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line. They had nine assists and five turnovers in the half. NDC led the rebounding battle 24-14.
West Liberty would come back and tie the game at 61 early in the second half. The Falcons would then respond with a 8-0 run to go up by eight. After a Hodges 3-pointer at the 5:38 mark NDC saw the lead evaporate quickly. The Hilltoppers would come back and go ahead 91-90 after a Hill layup with 2:53 to go. NDC would get a Hodges layup and a tip-in by Vorhees to build a three point advantage. Will Yoakum would hit a pair of free throws for West Liberty to make it 94-93 NDC with 1:22 to go. Isaiah Sanders would have a pair of dunks- before Hill hit a 3-ball to cut the lead to 98-96 with six seconds to go. Vorhees would seal it with a pair at the free throw line to get NDC into the national tournament for the first time in school history.
Hodges talked about the run to close it out:
" We could of folded or hung our heads when we were down one with 2:53 to go but that just made us want it more."
Hodges talked about how he and Thurman are like family:
" This guy and I went to prep school at Tri-C back in 2015 and he was my roommate. He is my best friend.
Thurman expanded on that:
"That is my brother. Ever since I committed and set foot on the campus at NDC they have treated me like family."
Hodges talked about he and Vorhees as well:
"Will and I go all the way back to being little kids. So this one was for the city of Lima as well."
NDC will be back in action Saturday as they will be the sixth seed in the Atlantic Region. They will face CIAA Champs Virginia State in the opening round. The time of that game is still TBD.
NDC had a trio of players on the MEC All-Tournament Team. Thurman-Hodges- and- Vorhees. The duo of Jair Rodgers and Tommy Bolte from Concord along with Vonte Montgomery from Fairmont State. The team was rounded out by Meininger and Bolon. Vorhees was the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.
NCAA Atlantic Region:
(1) Indiana (Pa) vs (8) West Chester
(4) Mercyhurst vs (5) Fairmont State
(2) West Liberty vs (7) East Stroudsburg
(3) Virginia State vs (6) Notre Dame College
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