Bluejays: Let's dance in Branson
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
It started out looking dismal for the Bluejays. Ten games into the season, Tabor had yet to pick up a victory, falling to some highly-ranked NAIA Division I teams.
Some were wondering what was wrong with the Bluejays, a team picked to finish in the top three of KCAC teams.
The Tabor season began with a few potholes, and few would have expected a berth in the NAIA National Tournament next month in Branson, Mo.
Now the Bluejays and coach Don Brubacher can finally take a much needed sigh of relief.
The Bluejays (14-4 KCAC, 14-14) reserved a ticket to Branson's "Big Dance," Saturday night, fighting off a dangerous Friends Falcon team, 78-69.
Tabor returns to Branson for the third time in the past four years, capturing the KCAC regular season crown.
"It really is fulfilling to have a team respond to a season the way this group has," a relieved Don Brubacher said. "As a coach, that is an inspiring thing to have happen. We've had our real bumps in the road and our struggles.
"It's obvious now our players have never given up on themselves and on the team and the opportunity to put together a really good season."
Surprisingly, one of the Bluejays biggest weaknesses — free throws — a big ally, hitting 10-for-11 in the closing 7:00 and 22-of-30 for the game.
The score was tied twice in the first 2:20 before Tyson Ratzlaff helped Tabor to an 8-4 lead, capped off by a transition basket by Cody Schafer.
Eleven unanswered points by the Falcons, and Tabor was trailing 19-12 with 11:12 left and the remainder of the first half.
A 6-0 surge and the Falcon lead swelled to its largest, 33-23 with 2:43 left.
Ratzlaff scored four points in the final 1:00. He finished with 13 points, a team-high four assists while committing two thefts.
Schafer played an inspiring game, and he and Ratzlaff got Tabor back in the game at half-time, 33-30.
"Tyson and Cody really stepped up in that end stretch there," said Don Brubacher. "They encouraged their teammates to pick up the pressure on defense, and they did it themselves, got some enthusiasm going and that seven-point run at the end of the half was absolutely huge."
Three-point shooting also has been a sore spot for the Bluejays. However, they hit a blistering season-high 56 percent the second half.
With the Falcons up 48-46, three straight threes by the trio of Brad Gattis, Andy Brubacher, and Ratzlaff, put Tabor on top to stay, 55-48.
The Bluejays finished with 43 percent from downtown and 51 percent from the field, hitting a scalding 60 percent the second half.
Steve Rausch's basket with 6:00 left got the Falcons as close as they could, 60-54.
Jeremiah Randall finished with a game high 16 points, including 10-for-13 at the foul line with his final four points coming at the line in the waning moments of the game.
Despite a team high eight rebounds each by Randall and Gattis, Tabor lost the battle, 37-31 with Friends dominating the glass offensively, 16-7.
Gattis and Andy Brubacher added 10 points a piece, while Jared Reese, Schafer, and Tony Monson combined for 27.
Tonight at home, the Bluejays will play the winner of the play-in game between Bethany and Kansas Wesleyan in the second round of the KCAC tournament.
