Cameron Cramer 15 points

The Tigers came in playing their fifth game in a seven day stretch, and did not have enough to keep up with the Saints losing 92-61.  “  I thought that Aquinas played a great game tonight, and their big guy really gave us fits again, but we are a fatigued bunch, we normally shoot the ball pretty well, and tonight we were just a little off.” explained Coach Oldebekking after the game. 

“We didn’t lose this game on lack of effort our guys really played hard, but we ran into a buzzsaw tonight.”  The cutting started early as the Saints built a quick 21-8 lead, the Tigers cut it to 11 two times in the first half but never got any closer trailing 51-38 at halftime.

The Tigers had a balanced scoring attack as four players reached double figures.  The Tigers were led by Cameron Cramer who had 15 points, and were followed by Jake Blauwkamp with 12 points.  The JV’s only have two games remaining and both are at home. This Thursday the 2nd they will face off with Calvin College at 7:00, and next Thursday the 9th will conclude the season against Northwood University also at 7:00.

Tommy Smits

Opening the tournament against the always tough Golden Eagles from Cornerstone ended in a 80-69 defeat, but in the nightcap against the Davenport University the Tigers built an early 10 point lead and held a commanding 32-17 halftime lead. ” In

 the first game I thought  we just didn’t play with the energy we needed to win, but in the second game we played much harder on the defensive end and got out on the break much better.” Only giving up 17 points at the half was great” said Coach Oldebekking.

The Tigers were led in both games by the steady play of Jake Blauwkamp, and the three point shooting and high flying acrobats of Travis Rader who had a game high 17 points in the second game including a couple of impressive dunks.

The Tigers are right back in action on Monday as they travel across town to take on Aquinas College at 7:00.

Cameron Cramer 21 points 10 rebounds

The Tigers made the trek up to Midland to take on Northwood University, and came back to Grand Rapids with a win.  The Tigers only trailed once in the game, but the score quickly changed and the lead was never relinquished as the Tigers won 65-59.

“Before the game I challenged the guys to play their hardest and to be the aggressors in the game and I thought we were tonight. ” ”  We only brought seven with us tonight, and everyone played great, I am very proud of the guys, they are a pleasure to coach.” Coach Oldebekking explained.

The Tigers were led in scoring by Cameron Cramer with 21 points and followed in scoring by Jake Blauwkamp with 10.  The Tigers are playing in the Davenport JV tournament on Friday, tip time is 2:00pm.  Depending on the outcome of the first game GBC will play again at either 6:00 or 8:00 pm.

Cameron Cramer 22 points 10 rebounds

The GBC JV’s are starting to really catch a wave of confidence as they overcame a four point half time deficit to win 67-62 in a physical matchup with Aquinas College.  ”  We didn’t start out well in this game, we were a little sloppy with the ball, and tried to force to many passes in the first half, but we took care of it much more in the second half and were able to build a small lead, and hold on.” explained Coach Oldebekking  after the game.

Grace really had to hold on, as the Saints cut the lead to two points with 8 seconds to go, but clutch free throw shooting put the game away.  The Tigers were led in scoring by Cameron Cramer who checked in in with 22 points and 10 rebounds, he was followed by Jake Blauwkamp with 12 points.

The Baby Tigers will be back in action next Wednesday when they travel to Midland to take on the Timberwolves of Northwood University. The tip is at 7:30.  January 27th the the Tigers will be playing in the Davenport JV tournament, with two games the first being at 2:00pm.  Come see the Tigers play before the season is over.

Jake Blauwkamp 21 points

Trailing for most of the game the Tigers hit the shots when they needed  to and were able to pull out a thrilling 79-74 victory over the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College.  ” Not a day goes by that I don’t see these guys in the gym on their own time working on their game. ” ” I am just so happy for them that they are seeing results, and their hard work is being rewarded with these victories. Said Coach Oldebekking.  What they have been working on clearly is their three point shooting, as they were 10-21 from long distance.

“At halftime, we were down nine and I didn’t think we played bad I just thought we weren’t playing strong, and I challenged them to just play stronger and harder they really dug in and got it done.” Grace outscored Hope 50-37 in the second half.

GBC was paced by Jake Blauwkamp with 21 points and Caleb Cook with 17 points and 7 rebounds. The Tigers have another home game Wednesday January 18th against Aquinas College at 7:00.

10 rebounds

It was cold and snowy outside but inside the Aldrich Athletic Center the Tigers heated it up, playing one of their best games of the season. Playing stingy defense and  shooting the lights out from three the Tigers were able to build a 16 point halftime lead 48-32.

Davenport responded well in the second half cutting the lead to nine  on two occasions, but timely offensive rebounds by Jake Blauwkamp and Cameron Cramer kept the game out of reach.

” The first time we played them they really beat us from three, they went 13 of 22, today we just tried to contest their threes, and I thought we did good with it they only shot 3-22, so I am very happy.”  said Coach O after the game. The Tigers were led in the score book by Jake Blauwkamp and Cameron Cramer with 23 and 22 points respectively.  Tommy Smits had 10 rebounds from is his guard position.

Grace will be back in action this Saturday against Hope College at home at 3:00.  Come out and cheer on your Tigers.

18 points 7 rebounds

Grace travelled to Cornerstone last night to take on the Golden Eagles and were turned back 75-56.  The Tigers started slow shaking off a little rust from a long exam week schedule, but got into the game eventually and with 6 minutes to go in the half took and 26-24 lead.  At that point starting point guard Jake Blauwkamp went down with an apparent sprained ankle, and GBC could only muster one more point in the half going in trailing 40-27.  “Losing Jake early certainly didn’t help us in this game, he does so much for us and is probably our best on the ball defender, but we certainly had some people step up after he went down.” said Coach O. after the game.  “I thought Travis Rader played his best defensive game, and having Cameron Meyers play with us today is such a great help to these guys, he knows the system and just plays the right way.”

The Tigers cut the lead to 6 points with 7 minutes to go, but went on a five minute scoring drought as Cornerstone built on the lead.  The Tigers were led in this game by Cameron Cramer who checked in with 18 points and 7 rebounds, he was followed in the scoring column by Travis Rader with 13 and Caleb Cook with 12 points.  The Tigers are off until after the New Year when they play at Ohio Christian on January 3^rd.  The next home game will be against Davenport JV on January 12^th at 7:00, come out and cheer on your Tigers.

Due to schedule conflict, the GBC V. Cornerstone JV game will be played Thursday 12-15 at 5:00.  The game will still be at Cornerstone as previously scheduled.

The Tigers lost a close game Tuesday night 76-70 at the DeVos Fieldhouse.  It was a see-saw battle that saw both teams build 10 point leads in the game only have them evaporate.  The game was tied with under a minute to go, but some great free throw shooting by the Dutchmen sealed the game.  There were no stats taken at the game.