Elmhurst College stuns North Central
Elmhurst College coach John Baines has sung the praises of senior guard Jake Rhode many times previously, and his team leader might just have saved his best for one of the most important games of his career.
Playing in Friday night's CCIW men's basketball semifinals at top-seeded North Central College, Rhode sparked the Bluejays to a 71-60 upset win over a Cardinals squad that had beaten them twice in the regular season.
Rhode scored a game-high 25 points in a variety of fashions, knocking down four 3-pointers, making all seven of his free throws, and working in a number of quick drives to the basket.
"He's the best guard in the league. I think he's the best player in the league and he played like it," said Baines, who will square off against Illinois Wesleyan - his alma mater - in Saturday night's championship game in Naperville. Friday's win might have done enough to get Elmhurst (22-5) into the Division III NCAA Tournament win or lose in Saturday's conference final.
Rhode and his teammates played a great defensive game while pulling off the upset, making it difficult on Connor Raridon and his fellow Cardinals to get good looks at the basket.
"I'm just really glad we got the W, especially since we had lost to them two times," said Rhode, who scored 17 points in the second half, which started with North Central ahead 32-31. "That (defense) was a focus. Coach really put us in a good position, he watched a lot of film."
Baines was thrilled to see his team play so well on the Cardinals' home floor after a poor first half led to a 56-45 setback on Feb. 8.
"I'm really proud of our kids because the last time we played here we got hammered in the first half," he said. "Mentally they put that away and they played a great game today. They really played their butts off."
For the Cardinals, who entered the game ranked No. 9 in the nation, they must play the waiting game and hope their big season and 21-5 record earns them an Division III NCAA Tournament berth when the announcements are made Monday. Last year the Cardinals won the CCIW tourney and grabbed the automatic bid.
"I thought Elmhurst's energy was much better than ours," North Central coach Todd Raridon said. "The first play of the game kind of dictated that where they just got the ball, took it to the basket and scored easily. They had a couple loose balls in the first half where they just out-hustled us to them. We were just a step slower tonight. Why I don't know."
Even so, the coach thinks the Cardinals deserve to play on.
"Both teams from my standpoint deserve to be in," he said. "They're good. They've shown all year long they're a good basketball team."
The Cardinals made just 7 of 25 shots from beyond the arc and went 22 for 60 from the floor. Connor Raridon got plenty of attention but did still tally 18 points. Michael Polack was next with 11 points.
"Their lead was never all that big, but it felt like they were in control of the game just by how hard they were playing," the Cardinals senior forward said. "Tip your hat to them. They beat us and they outworked us. I hope we get an opportunity to play in the tournament again."