Cedarville University Yellow Jackets

Mar. 10, 2015

It seems like only yesterday that I was writing my first blog of the season, talking about how hard we have worked, how much fun we had at Moonlight Madness, and how excited we were to play another season of basketball. Last Friday night, we were met with the harsh realization that our season is over. While we wish it had ended differently, we do not dwell on the loss, we dwell on the memories that we will never forget. We remember the soreness of pre-season workouts, our team bonding trip to Scioto Hills and the Warrior Challenge, the rush of adrenaline we got before every tip-off in Callan with a crazy student section, the long road trips full of quoting movies and doing accents, the time we ate at Maggiano’s and Texas de Brazil, playing football on the beach, watching Leighton see his mom for the first time in four years, and so many other priceless memories. At the end of the day, it is the memories we have made off the court with our brothers that we will remember forever.

For four of our seniors, they have played the last college basketball game of their careers. They were a huge part of this team both on and off the court.

Connor Scott joined the team about two years ago. After being recruited as a soccer player for Cedarville, he had to earn our respect as a basketball player…and he did. Connor is a very hard worker and made us all better in practice, whether it was by his encouragement, or by beating us in practice and making us compete harder. I will always remember him for his hard work and his crazy passion for Kentucky Wildcat basketball…(as annoying as that was).

Leighton Smith was a very big encouragement to me when I first came in as a freshman. I will always remember him telling me to keep working and not get discouraged. Leighton was one of our defensive safety nets this year. He was a great shot blocker and one of the most athletic human beings I’ve ever seen. He is probably the only guy I’ll ever know that can wake up the morning after a brutal workout, walk in the gym, and dunk without ever warming up. He was also a great leader off the court and always provided a laugh!

Jason Cuffee arrived at Cedarville the same year as me. After transferring from Wright State, he quickly became liked by all the guys on the team. Cuffee also built a reputation of being a defensive stopper throughout his career. Cuff is probably one of the funniest guys I have met and he never fails to make the guys laugh with a hilarious dance or joke. Sadly, his joking humor caused no one to believe him when he told us he was married this year. I think we all believe him now! It has been really cool to watch him mature over these past few years with how he handles himself on and off the court, and how he developed into a leader.

A fun fact about Marcus Reineke is that he actually hosted me on my first visit here. He put me on a dirty couch with an old blanket and a pillow from I don’t know where… but somehow I still chose Cedarville! Everyone knows Marcus’s strength as a basketball player…that self-developed New Knoxville jump shot. It has been a blast watching him go off in games over these past few years. Whether it was for Cedarville, or overseas on an AIA tour, Marcus never failed to awe the crowd. What many don’t see, though, is the work he put into being a good shooter. Sure, he has the Reineke genes, but he also woke up at 5 a.m. and got up hundreds of shots on "the Gun." I will never forget his work ethic and seeing it pay off!

We will not only lose those four seniors next year, but we will also be losing two student assistants. Although Nate Hughes will be back for the first semester next year, I am going to mention both John and Nate. The word "student assistant" does not do these guys justice. Both John Leonzo and Nate Hughes are some of the hardest working people I know! They have always done everything asked of them and more. They have always been there to put us through workouts, encourage us, give us advice, or just hang out. Their encouraging words have personally helped me a lot this year and they also have challenged me spiritually as well. John and Nate have grown to become our close friends and we will miss their presence next year! They will both be great coaches one day.

As for the rest of us, the off-season starts now. Although we will get an official week or two off, I know that we will not sit around doing nothing during those two weeks. You can bet we will be in the weight room and the gym getting better and preparing for next year. I am very excited to start another journey with the guys returning and with those who will be joining us. I want to thank everyone who took time to read these blogs and keep up with us all year. We really appreciate it and I have loved writing for you guys. Have a great rest of the year!

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." – Ephesians 4:1-3.

Walk Worthy,

Lane


Mar. 3, 2015

Spring break is here, the regular season is over, and the year has flown by. Last week we ended the regular season with two great wins to give us momentum heading into the tournament.

After our game at Ohio Valley was snowed out two Saturday’s ago, we were forced to make it up on Monday. We didn’t want to drive all the way down there to lose, and our play showed that. We played some of the best basketball we have all year and came out with a big win on the road! After a few days of practice, we were on the road again, but only for like five minutes. Saturday, we played at Central State and if you didn’t watch, you missed a close game. We were down most of the game and had a lot of guys make big plays for us late. In the end, even despite the, ahem…"clock issues"… we were able to come out with a win!

This leads us to this week, the last week of basketball season. Monday, we were able to get some shots up and practice some of our plays. Then, we played dodge ball. It has kind of turned into a tradition to play dodge ball as a team and it couldn’t have been more fun…or competitive. A few guys were hit in the face, and our arms were pretty sore afterwards, but it was a good time!

We will leave Wednesday morning for Philippi, West Virginia to play Trevecca Nazarene in the first round of the tournament on Thursday. We are focused on playing our last games together as a team and enjoying the time we have, but we are also focused on winning. We know it won’t be a cakewalk, but we also know it is possible. We are playing some very good basketball right now and we feel we can compete with anybody! We would appreciate your prayers this week for travels and our games. I hope everyone is having a great and warm spring break!!

Walk Worthy,

Lane


Feb. 23, 2015

This past week was bittersweet for Cedarville men’s basketball as we played our last ever home game with four of our seniors.

Last Thursday was a very eventful day, and it all started before the game. For those who don’t know Leighton Smith, he is from Jamaica and is one of our seniors. Being so far away from home, it was nearly impossible for Leighton to visit his family over the years. This led to him not seeing his mom since he left for Cedarville…nearly five years ago. I could not imagine not seeing my mom for five years…I have a hard enough time after four months!! A few weeks ago, we received an e-mail from Leighton’s girlfriend, Lauren. She said that she wanted to surprise Leighton by flying his mom to the U.S. to walk with him on Senior Night. We, along with many other people, were on board to make this happen. Lauren was able to set everything up and long story short, it was going to happen. So before our game on Thursday, Coach wanted to have "senior meetings" before the game. Little did Leighton know he would be the only one to go into Coach’s office for this "meeting." While Leighton was in the office, the whole team, Lauren, her parents, other close friends of Leighton, and Leighton’s mom all went to the locker room to wait for him when he got back. Leighton’s mom sat at the end of the room, while Lauren and her family stood in front of her. Leighton walked in the locker room with a confused look on his face, not sure why there were so many people in the room (but still unable to see his mom). After seeing Lauren, she told him that she wanted him to be able to see his mom on Senior Night and her family stepped aside. There sat Leighton’s mom. He walked up and gave her a hug, still in shock of what was really happening. Shortly after, he was escorted by his mom on Ssenior Night; playing his last ever game in the Callan Athletic Center. It was one of the coolest moments I have been a part of here at Cedarville!!

We got a solid win on Thursday, featuring one of the nastiest dunks I have ever witnessed in person by Easton Bazzoli. If you’re a fan of basketball you seriously need to see this…

EASTON BAZOLLI'S THUNDEROUS DUNK!

 

Saturday’s game ended up being cancelled due the snow. After a practice on Saturday afternoon, we had the privilege to give back a little bit. We took our basketball team and turned it into a professionaldriveway snow-clearing team, and let me tell you, we were pretty efficient! It felt really good to help some people out who needed it. We also had a pretty sweet snowball fight!

Saturday’s game has been rescheduled for Monday night so we will play at Ohio Valley at 7:45 p.m. We then have a week of practice before our final game of the year before the conference tournament. We will play at Central State on Saturday at 4 p.m. If you haven’t taken off for Spring Break, we would love to see you there!

Have a great week Yellow Jacket fans! Thank you for your continuous support this past year, we really appreciate you guys!

Walk Worthy,

Lane


Feb. 17, 2015

It has been an eventful week to say the least! After a long road trip this past week, we are gearing up for our last home game and preparing for another short road trip this weekend.

 

Last Wednesday we hit the road for Tennessee. The drive began with sitting in traffic, but after that it was smooth sailing. We arrived in Nashville and had a tune up practice before our game on Thursday. After previously losing to Trevecca at home, we knew we had to be sharp and focused on the task ahead. After practice, we headed over to enjoy a meal at Ruby Tuesday’s. This was what we all thought would be another ordinary night before the game meal, but we were wrong. About half way through the night, our chatter was interrupted by coach saying there was an important announcement that needed to be made. We became quiet and waited for someone to say something. Jason Cuffee stood up with a cheesy grin…announcing that….he was married!! We all sat in shock but after we realized what he actually said we couldn’t have been any happier. For those who don’t know, his new wife is stud Yellow Jacket volleyball player Tori "Tornado" Thompson. Congratulations to you both!!

The next day we took on Trevecca and like expected, it was a battle till the end. After a tight last minute of the game, it came down to the wire. We got one of the last shots and none other than Austin Pickett cashed a three with seconds to go. It was a great team win!! The next day we got the opportunity to practice at Belmont University. It was really nice and looks like a sweet place to play! After that, we were off to Kentucky.

Saturday we played Kentucky Wesleyan in another tough game. This game was definitely tough to lose. After playing solid basketball and having a few chances to seal the game, we couldn’t capitalize and ended up going into overtime. We let a few chances slip away in OT as well and ended up dropping a tough game. Once again, the little things that we have to do every game were the deciding factor.

This Thursday we play Salem International at 7:45 p.m. at home for our last home game of the year. It is also Senior Night! I hope everyone comes out to support us and most importantly the seniors. They are a big part of our team and I will highlight them in a future blog! Saturday we travel again going to Ohio Valley. That game is at 4:15 p.m. I hope to see you all on Thursday!! Have a great week and stay warm!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Feb. 10, 2015

It’s road trip week! Another week is in the books and now we are focused on the week ahead.

Last week, we played two tough opponents. Thursday, we played one of the tougher teams in our conference, Alderson Broaddus. We started the game strong and built an early lead. It is tough to have played some of the best basketball we have played all year, and still lose a game, but this is what happened. After not trailing the entire game, they gained the edge on us in the last few seconds. It came to down to what Coach Estepp always preaches: doing the little things. We played great throughout, but our little mental mistakes cost us the game.

This was our focus for Saturday. We knew we had to do the big things necessary to give us a chance to win, but we also realized that it is the little things that can clinch us a victory. Saturday, we were able to execute mentally and physically against Davis & Elkins. We played a great team game and everyone contributed to the game. The starters set the tone, those who came off the bench brought energy, and those who didn’t see playtime brought enthusiasm. When we can put everything together and play as a team, fulfilling our roles, it is a special thing to be a part of. It was a good feeling to get another win on the year.

This week, we will be traveling to Nashville, TN to take on Trevecca University Thursday night. From there, we head to Owensboro, KY to play Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday. These are two big games for us and we are excited to compete.

Thank you for your support this past week!! We had some great crowds! We hope to see you back on February 19th for our last home game and Senior Night. Put it on your calendars!! Have a great week Jacket fans.

Walk worthy,

Lane Vander Hulst


Feb. 3, 2015

This season is flying by. After playing every team once in conference, we are on to the second half of our conference season. With two big home games coming up this week, we must be focused on the task ahead: finishing strong.

Last week we took on down-the-road opponent, Wilberforce, at home. Although our first half was a bit sloppier than we would have liked, we turned it around in the second half. It was a good feeling to get another win and to do it as a team, having multiple guys in double figures. Saturday, we played cross-town rival Central State. This was a big game and we had a great crowd show up to the Callan Athletic Center. The game consisted of back and forth scoring, and they hit some tough shots. Sometimes teams just have one of those shooting nights where they don’t seem to miss, but when that happens, it is up to us to identify their scorers and force them to take contested shots. Unfortunately, this is what hurt us in the game and we ended up taking a loss.

Monday it was straight to the film room. We had about an hour and a half film session that consisted of watching things we did right, but mainly learning and correcting the things we did wrong. It is always beneficial to dissect the plays and see where we went wrong. Although at times it is hard and frustrating to watch, we all were able to see where we went wrong individually and as a team.

This Thursday we play a tough Alderson Broaddus team at home at 7:45 p.m. Saturday we play Davis & Elkins at home as well at 4:15 p.m. These are big games for us and we need everyone there! Big crowds can make all the difference in a game. Thank you for all your support Jacket fans!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Jan. 27, 2015

Another week is in the books for Cedarville basketball, and it was a good one. We played some tough teams and came out with two great wins. They were hard earned wins that we were proud to get!

At this point in the year, every day and every game is a grind. Bodies are sore, road trips are long, and homework piles up, but we press on nonetheless. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14. In our devotions this week, our chaplain Dr. Scott Dixon reminded us of this verse. This was a great reminder to us as a team, in more ways than one. It reminded us to live a Christ-centered life as we press on toward the ultimate goal in life, which is living a life honoring to God and glorifying Him in the process. We were also reminded of our goals we have set for ourselves this season. This past week we made steps closer to meeting some of our goals.

Thursday we faced Ohio Valley in front of our home crowd. We battled with them all game and if you weren’t there you missed a good one! We were able to get another conference win and head into Saturday’s game at Salem International with some momentum. Saturday, we used that momentum to get another tough win, this time on the road. Overall we were pleased to get two good wins and gain more momentum going into this week, but we know there is still a lot of season left!

Thursday we play Wilberforce at home at 7:45 p.m., and then Saturday we play Central State at home at 7:45 p.m. in a big conference game! We really appreciate all of your support and feed off big crowds and the energy you bring. I hope to see everyone there! Have a great week Jacket fans!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Jan. 21, 2015

Hello Jacket fans! This past week was a good one for Cedarville basketball. We learned some exciting things about ourselves as a team, but we also learned some things the hard way.

We had a good few days of practice before we hosted our first home conference game. After tasting success in West Virginia the week before, we practiced knowing that we could compete with anybody.

Thursday was game day. We had a great crowd show up to our "White Out" theme night and they had a big impact on the game! We took on a tough Kentucky Wesleyan team and we came to play from the start. We were aggressive on defense and in pressuring the ball in our press. It was a tight game throughout, but we got stops when we needed them the most. In the end, we were able to grab a win at home against one of the tougher teams in our conference. We didn’t do anything spectacular, but we played aggressive and with urgency and we were able to get a solid win.

The following Saturday we played Trevecca University. We also had a good crowd who sported their plaid shirts and cut-off jeans for "Hillbilly Night"! Unlike Thursday, we just didn’t come out with the same energy and intensity that we should have. This forced us to have to fight even harder to get stops and good looks on offense. We ultimately took a loss, but we learned a valuable lesson: We have to show up ready to play and compete at our highest level possible every night. We know we can compete with anyone if we do that, but we have to get to the point where we are consistent in our efforts and that starts in practice.

This week we will play another tough game at home against Ohio Valley, who also has impressive wins on the year. At this point, every game in conference will be tough and we have to be ready. We play at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, and Saturday we will travel to Salem International University and play at 4:15 p.m.

I hope you all have a blessed week!! We appreciate all of your support!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Jan. 13, 2015

The first week of conference play is in the books. When conference games start, everyone’s record is 0-0. It is a new start and anything can happen. That is the way we looked at it coming into last Thursday’s game.

After only two days of classes to start up the new semester, we headed off for Elkins, West Virginia to play Davis & Elkins. The near five-hour bus ride consisted of sleeping, and making up the work we were going to miss in the classroom…but mostly sleeping. The next day we had a nice breakfast and a shoot-around to start our morning. Then we prepared ourselves for the game that night. Like I mentioned before, when conference play comes around, records don’t matter. Conference is almost a different season in itself so we knew we had to come ready to play.

We started the game exchanging baskets and it was a close battle. Right before halftime, our own Jason Cuffee got the inbounds and sank a near half-court shot at the buzzer. That gave us even more momentum heading into the second half. The second half was our half. We played smart and together and we were able to build a significant lead, which is something we have not done all season. We were able to pull out our first conference win on the road, which was huge for us. After the game we were privileged and honored to have student assistant John Leonzo bless us with a post-game dance. Let me tell you…he is quite the dancer! I only wish you all could have seen it. John probably doesn’t want anyone else to see his moves, but since I strive to give my readers the very best, click here and you won’t be disappointed!

Friday consisted of a practice and actually studying and making up the work we missed! It was a good day to rest a little bit and catch up on school work.

Saturday we faced a tough Alderson Broaddus team. We played well and went on a run early. After they made a comeback we made one of our own. After being down by 18, we cut it down to four points. But we just couldn’t capitalize or get the stops we needed late and it cost us the game. Although disappointed in the second outcome, we came back from a long away trip 1-1. It is always helpful to steal a win on the road in conference.

Thursday we take on one of the top teams in the G-MAC, Kentucky Wesleyan. We need a huge crowd for that one! It tips off at 7:45 p.m. ET. Saturday we play Trevecca and would also appreciate a big crowd! That will start at 4:15 p.m. ET. Also, Thursday will be a white out so wear your white!! Saturday’s game will be Hillbilly theme night! I hope to see you all this week!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Jan. 6, 2015

Welcome back Jacket fans! I hope everyone enjoyed their break from the always stressful work and school and was able to spend some quality time with family. I also hope you brought back some winter clothes!!

Although disappointing, our trip to Tampa was a good learning experience and also a lot of fun as we were able to enjoy the Florida weather as a team. From there, we all headed our separate ways home. Many headed back for Ohio, but I left for the great state of New Mexico! We all really enjoyed the break. It was a perfect time to let our bodies and minds rest a little bit, and also spend time with the family that some, including myself, do not get to see very often!

When we arrived back in late December, we hit the ground running. Two-a-day practices consumed most of our time so we were never bored! We made strides as a team this past week; guys became mentally tougher, better vocal leaders, and we also improved our competitiveness. Though it was exhausting, we got better.

But basketball was not the only thing we learned more about over this break. We were reminded that life is short and fragile and that we can never take it for granted. Seeing someone that you love and care about be in pain because of a loss is tough, and a couple members from Cedarville men’s basketball experienced a loss this past week. Although losing someone is hard and confusing, we know that our time here on earth is short. We are encouraged that those who passed away were believers and are now with Jesus. We would appreciate your prayers!

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:8.

This week we will travel to the home state of our own Jason Cuffee - West Virginia. We will take on Davis & Elkins on Thursday night and Alderson Broaddus on Saturday. I hope you all have a great week back at Cedarville!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Dec. 16, 2014

Christmas break is officially upon us! Classes are over, finals are over, and now we can focus solely on basketball for a few weeks.

This is going to be an exciting week for Cedarville Men’s basketball! We take on a strong Maryville team Tuesday night at home at 7:30, and then we are off to Florida! We will play Eckerd College and the University of Tampa. It will be a great opportunity to compete against two more solid teams. Of course it will also be a great opportunity to enjoy some Florida sunshine as well!

As a team, we have learned a lot this year. Most recently, we learned that true joy cannot come from the game of basketball. Basketball can bring happiness, sadness, frustration, excitement… but never true, genuine joy. This can only come from Christ! This is a great reminder for everyone in life. Our identity should be found in Christ, not in what we do!

Since this is my second year blogging, I thought I would try something new. Throughout the rest of this year, I want to highlight some of our seniors. I want you guys to get to know them a little better off the court! This week I will be highlighting Marcus Reineke. Here are a series of questions I asked him… let’s see how well you know our lights-out shooter!

"What is your favorite thing to do besides play basketball?"

"I enjoy the outdoors and hunting! Specifically bow hunting Ohio whitetail deer."

"What are your plans for after you graduate?"

"I plan on pursuing a career in the fire service."

"What is your favorite meal?"

"Grandma’s Thanksgiving meal, topped off with pecan pie!"

What has been the highlight of your time at Cedarville?"

"Winning the NCCAA National Championship and all of the Scioto Hills and bus trips."

"What is your favorite kind of music?"

"I’m a big country fan, specifically Justin Moore and Eric Church."

"Who has been your favorite roommate this year?"

"I guess you…" (That’s me guys!)

I hope that gave you a little insight on Marcus! If you all have any more questions that you would like me to ask him, or any other senior for the future, you can tweet me @lanevanderhulst. While you’re there, give @CedarvilleMBB a follow as well! I hope everyone is having a great Christmas break! If you aren’t able to come to the game on Tuesday, you can watch us live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cedarville/ at 7:30 ET!!

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." James 1:2-3.

Walk worthy,

Lane


Dec. 9, 2014

Another week is in the books with Cedarville basketball. Once again, we continue to learn in tough ways as this season progresses, but we are learning nonetheless.

Last Tuesday we took on Ohio Christian at home. It felt good to be back in our home gym again after being on the road the previous weekend! The game was a battle. We played hard, but couldn’t get the stops we needed to run away with the game. So it was a fight to the end. After a few clutch plays at the end from Jason Cuffee, we came out with our second win of the year. We were very happy to get another win, but at the same time we realized that we did not compete to the level of which we knew we were capable. This showed us that we can never take a night off from competing, or even a play off from hustling.

Wednesday and Thursday we had two tough practices where we competed and made strides as a team. Although they were tough and physically demanding practices, they were very beneficial! Friday afternoon we left for Lewis University. After arriving at the hotel, we got time to settle in before having a team dinner that night at one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to, Maggiano’s. We started off with fried mozzarella and zucchini. From there, they brought out endless pastas of all kinds. To say we were full would be an understatement. After dinner, we had a shoot-around and a walk through (emphasis on the walk).

The next day was game day. We came out strong, getting stops on the first few possessions of the game. But a timid offensive game kept us from staying with them. It was a frustrating loss. As a team, we have to play with confidence and keep a positive demeanor throughout the game. We cannot play defeated, nor look defeated, no matter what the score. This is something that we have to fix and focus on as a team.

We now have a week to recuperate and practice in preparation for Saturday’s game at Mount Vernon Nazarene. With it being finals week, we must stay locked in in the classroom and on the court! Good luck to all those taking finals this week and thank you for your continued support!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Dec. 2, 2014

We learned a lot in this past week. We learned that basketball is much more than just a physical game and we also learned that we can compete with anybody.

Last Tuesday we played a tough Hillsdale team at home. Shout out to the fans who attended even though many had taken off for break! The game was tight the whole way and our press was effective, but little mistakes proved costly as we came up short in the end. Wednesday, we were graciously given the day off!! Many were able to go home or find a place away from Cedarville to go. It was really nice to have a day to relax and enjoy family! Thursday, it was back to the grind. After a good practice that afternoon, we took off for Evansville, Indiana.

We knew that Friday was going to be a tough game. We were playing the #5-ranked team in the nation for Division II. Bellarmine was bigger than us, but we knew we could set the pace. That is what we did to start the game. We played them tough and were down eight going into halftime. It was the start of the second half that taught us about mental toughness. We came out flat to start the second half and let the game get away from us. Even after we made our runs to cut it closer, our mistakes and lapses in the second half dug us in too deep of a hole. After that game, we learned that we could compete with anyone. We realized after watching film how just simple mental mistakes, such as executing a play, getting back on defense, and not letting other teams runs break us, can be the difference in the game.

Saturday, we played the home team Southern Indiana. This was a very physical team and we knew we had to come ready to play. We started the game well and played solid throughout. We were aggressive and our effort was good, but the difference in the game came from the free throw line. We outscored Southern Indiana from the field by about 15 points, but they were able to get to the free throw line a significant amount of times more than us. This proved to be the deciding factor as we again came up short. Sadly, this was something we could not control. But what we could control was our transition defense which had breakdowns at times. All in all, we learned and matured a lot last week and are significantly better from it.

A huge shout out to my man Marcus Reineke!! He scored his 1,000th point against Bellarmine making him the 52nd player in Cedarville history to do so. Keep ballin’ son!!!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break! I hope to see you all Tuesday as we play Ohio Christian at home at 7:45 p.m.!! Then we are back on the road to Chicago to play Lewis this Saturday! Thank you for all your support Jacket Fans!

Walk worthy,

Lane Vander Hulst


Nov. 24, 2014

Last week, I mentioned there were things that we can and can’t control in the game of basketball. This past Saturday, we got a chance to put into effect the things we can control, and unfortunately also experienced some things we can’t control.

After a good week of practice, we set off for Grand Rapids, Michigan on Friday to take on Grand Valley State. It just so happens that on the way to Grand Valley, we pass by a little town known as New Knoxville, Ohio. This little town happens to be the home of our own Marcus Reineke. So what better place to stop and eat a home cooked meal!? Our big bus squeezed into town and parked right in front of Marcus’s house. Once inside, a glorious meal awaited…Pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, mac and cheese, beans, freshly cooked (and killed) deer meat, buffalo dip, chips, and delicious cookies. We were all thankful the game wasn’t that night because we ate A TON! A big thank you to the Reineke’s for their hospitality and willingness to cook for twenty plus grown men!

After arriving at the hotel later that night, we were off to bed. We woke up the next morning and had a nice hotel breakfast followed by a devotional with our chaplain Dr. Dixon. He talked about thanksgiving, and no, not just the Thanksgiving where we eat a lot of food, but rather thanksgiving to God and how we give Him praise. He mentioned that we should be specific in our praises to God. A lot of times we are very general in our praises, but how has God specifically blessed your life and impacted you? A very good thought!

When game time arrived, we were all focused and ready to play. We knew what we needed to do better from last game, and what we needed to accomplish for this game. We took care of what we could control. We were tougher than last game and made the improvements that we knew we needed to make, but a frustrating shooting night made it difficult to get anything going. A bad shooting night is something that we can’t control, but only to an extent. It is up to us to put in the work and get our shots up outside of practice. In the end, we came up short. But once again we didn’t leave the game without learning something.

Monday will be another day of practice before our next home game on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. against Hillsdale! We hope to see everyone there supporting us!! After that we will be on the road again Thanksgiving day and will play Bellarmine on Friday and Southern Indiana on Saturday! I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and a great break!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Nov. 20, 2014

The season is in full swing. As many of you know, we opened our season last week at home in the Don Callan Classic. Friday night we took on Ohio Dominican University in our first game of the season. Since our volleyball team ended up hosting the G-MAC volleyball tournament (which they won) at home, our game had to be pushed back a little…and by a little I mean to 11:00 p.m.! So the theme of "Pajama Night" for our Yellow Jacket fans was quite appropriate. We had a great crowd show up and we were ready to play. The game was exciting and went back and forth and in the end we were able to get our first win of the year. With the game ending around 1:30 a.m. it took us all a little while to wind down from the excitement and energy we had. Thankfully, we were able to sleep in the next day!

Saturday we took the court again playing Ashland University. It was a game in which we seemed to struggle to find energy. With our fast-paced style of play, energy is something we must have every game. We learned that the hard way as we took the loss, but we were all able to learn from the game.

After a much needed day of rest on Sunday, Monday we were back in the gym to clean up our play and to get ready for another big game on Tuesday at Findlay. We knew Tuesday’s game was going to be tough. Findlay always has a solid team, but Findlay playing at home has been almost unstoppable over the last few years. We set the pace for the game early, but mistakes and a frustrating lack of effort at times is what let the game get away from us. Taking another loss, we also learned from this game as well. Elite teams do not take plays off, never. Elite teams dive for the loose ball and never miss a box out. In the game of basketball, there are things we can and can’t control. Things we can’t control: a bad shooting night, calls made by the refs, playing time. Things we CAN control: our attitude, our hustle, our energy, our intensity, our effort, our communication…There are both things we can and can’t control. By taking care of things we can control, we can know at the end of every game, win or lose, we did all we could. That’s all anyone can ask for!

Saturday we are back on the road against Grand Valley State. We hope to have a good few days of practice to get better and keep improving! Thank you to everyone who showed up to support us last weekend. A good crowd makes all the difference in the game!!

Walk worthy,

Lane


Nov. 13, 2014

It’s that time of year again! Basketball season has arrived. After a 10-18 season last year, everyone had their minds on getting better. After our last game of the season, many of us took about two days off, and then it was back to work. Since then, we have spent countless hours in the gym and weight room. We have all grown not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Even though we only graduated one player from last year, Brian (Paw paw) Grant, we are a totally different team this year.

Here is a little recap of what Cedarville Men’s Basketball has been up to so far…We all arrived at Cedarville excited to see everyone again. After a few days to settle in, we were back in the gym ready to work. We had a great off-season and worked extremely hard! We also got to have a little fun on our traditional Scioto Hills camp trip! One of the most exciting parts of the retreat is our Warrior Challenge. This is a tough, physically exhausting race that involves team building activities such as getting all team members over a 10 ft. wall, and getting up to six guys to stand on a 2 ft. by 2 ft. platform. The coaches usually split our team into two separate teams and both teams dress up in ridiculous costumes, but this year was a little different. We were still split up into two teams and still wore the short shorts and spandex for a costume, but this time a third team was competing….the COACHES. They showed up with throwback Cedarville track jump suits and looked pretty intimidating. Murmurs could be heard among the team, "Are they really gonna do this?" "Can they still run?" "They’re how old??" But they were for real. The race was on and we all took off. Long story short, the team I was on, led by Jason (Oorah!) Reep, took the W. In fact, we finished far ahead of the other teams (because duh we had Reep). But to our surprise, who was it that came in second…the coaches!!?? Yes, they sure did. They may have been lying on the ground afterwards, but they still finished second. (I will withhold the names of the guys whose team finished last for protection of embarrassment.)

Moonlight Madness was the next big event for us as a team. If you weren’t there, then you missed out on a very exciting night! We had an awesome crowd for starters. The place was electric and really reminded us why Cedarville is so special! After a scrimmage and three-point contest where Marcus Reineke literally could not miss, we put on a dunk exhibition in which AP (Austin Pickett) fired up the crowd by doing dunks which involved volleyball, baseball, and track themes! We had a great time and it got us really pumped for the season. We are blessed to have such great fans!!

This brings us to this week. Game week. After a few scrimmages to beat up on someone other than ourselves, we are more than ready for this season to finally begin. We can’t promise scores or outcomes, but what we can promise is that we are going to compete and play hard every night for each other, for our fans, and ultimately for the glory of God! I hope you will follow and support us on this journey we are about to embark on. Yellow Jacket basketball is officially here!!!

Walk Worthy,

Lane


Lane Vander Hulst is a 6-foot-6 red shirt sophomore forward from Roswell, N.M. He is in his second season with the Yellow Jackets and is majoring in business management.