Bluejays luck runs out against Moundbuilders
No. 11 Southwestern eliminates Tabor with 73-67 defeat for KCAC title
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Hoping to keep its season alive Tuesday night and earn a ticket to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, the Bluejays knew they were going to have to bring their best game to Winfield to knock off the Southwestern 'Builders.
After all, the 'Builders had outdistanced themselves from the rest of the KCAC by four games, not to mention sweeping the Bluejays during the regular season.
Tabor had to pull off some impressive and tough wins on the road at Bethany and Sterling just to make it to the final game.
But Southwestern proved its league supremacy, though, outlasting Tabor (15-15), 73-67, to capture both the KCAC tournament and regular season title.
The 'Builders already had their ticket punched for Branson even if the Bluejays were able to pull off the upset.
Tabor looked poised to do it, too, jumping out to a 12-5 lead aided by a pair of triples from Grant Brubacher and Tyler Weinbrenner.
KJ Wilkens ripped Tabor for a game-high 22 points, flushing six of the 'Builders nine threes with four in the first half alone while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
KCAC Co-Player of the Year Rico Marquez added 14 for Southwestern.
He and Wendell Riley led the 'Builders on a 13-3 run that put them up 18-15 with 11:50 left in the first half that left Tabor only able to tie.
The 'Builders stretched their lead as far as six three times before Andy Brubacher knotted the game at 35-35 with 39 seconds to go in the first half to mark the final time Tabor would break even.
Andy Brubacher scored a team-high 18 points, half of them the first half with six threes as well.
Wilkens' fourth three sent Southwestern in at the break up 38-35, with the Bluejays shooting a better 43 percent from the floor.
In their last meeting with the 'Builders back in Hillsboro Jan. 28, Tabor was hammered rebounding, 60-42.
That was pivotal again with Southwestern not so much as even surrendering a sole offensive rebound to Tabor the first half while the 'Builders muscled their way to seven for a 21-14 edge.
Of the 'Builders' 42 rebounds for the game, 17 came offensively while Tabor could only grab eight for the game and 31 overall.
Pat Miller pulled Tabor to within 38-37 to start the second half before another triple from Wilkens helped have Southwestern out front, 43-37, not even a minute later.
Jason Dechant would get the Bluejays as close as two the final 15:00, but Tabor never had the 'Builder lead in jeopardy.
Grant Brubacher and Brad Gattis closed out outstanding careers with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
