Cedarville precision and aggression sweep the floor with Hillsdale

By Danielle Cherry

Coming off of a streak of losses, the Cedarville men’s basketball team hoped to grab a win against Hillsdale on January 30. Through a physically aggressive game, their precise teamwork and communication allowed the Jackets to sweep the floor with the Chargers: 81-65.

From the start, Cedarville got out to an early lead. With only 10 seconds left on the shot clock, the Jackets struggled to get off a shot. But this was only a tactic. Weaving in and out of the defense, Cedarville begins their run with jumper after jumper. But on the other side of the ball, they got stops to fuel their lead. 

“Our defense set the tone. I think one thing that really started the run was at the beginning of the game when Timmy got a stop, and he looks at the bench and celebrates, and then the next play takes an all-ball charge,” Ethan Sellers said.

The whole team moved as a unit, on the same page, allowing them to defy the odds and beat Hillsdale, who was second in the GMAC to Cedarville’s ninth. The win was a true team effort, and the men effectively shared the ball.

Sam Johnson cleared two players while landing a perfect layup. Flicking the ball like a fly, Jaylen Davis hung suspended while executing a layup. Anthony Ruffolo hopped over defenders, gliding through the Chargers’ defense as if they were not even there. Timothy Davis’s energy fueled his teammates’ fire.

“Timmy’s presence and his passion showed up early. I thought Timmy was way more valuable than what his numbers showed in the box game,” Coach Rob Jones said. “I thought Kyle Thomas was the same way. He had a great court awareness, especially when they were starting to press late in the game. Both those guys had an incredible impact on the game, and it wasn’t just the statistics.”

The Jackets came out with the mission to defend their territory at all costs. Hillsdale was left to shoot from downtown because of the Jackets’ tight defense. Standing tall like a tower, Tymoteusz Pszczola swiped at a ball midair, catching it one-handed, seemingly with no effort at all. Pszczola was among the top scorers, earning 16 points, varying his scoring from dunks to threes.

Fired up by the crowd the Jackets played with an aggression that had the coaches jumping out of their seats in excitement. Every call, whether foul or fouled, benefited the Jackets, fueling their play and adding to their strength. 

“Tough times happen, and tonight was a great example of what it means to be a team,” Sellers said. “Whether we missed shots or fouled or turned the ball over, everyone on the bench was encouraging us and pushing us forward.”

Coming out of the half, the team held their heads high in confidence, yet a slip in precision allowed Hillsdale to edge back into the game. And yet, the men stepped on the gas again, shooting 60% from the three, higher than their normal field goal percentage. 

Sellers, the leading three-point shooter, did not miss a trey all game, making all five of his attempts and wowing the crowd with his natural finesse. From deep in the court at the end of the shot clock, Sellars fires a shot, and the crowd jumps to their feet, screaming in delight as it swooshed into the net.

But tensions soon rose as Hillsdale grew upset by their continuing losing streak. A technical foul on their team led the game to a level of physicality that was tougher and more aggressive than before. But the Jackets held their own, not letting the game’s pace slip, continuing with precision. 

“Highlighting the little things is a way of encouraging the team through the tougher moments throughout the course of the game,” Jones said. “There’s gonna be tension, so I thought we did a good job of responding in those moments, whether that was on the court or in the huddles.”

The Jackets played with aggression and precision that had the crowd wound like a jack-in-the-box. Because of their love for each other, the team was able to play through some hard calls and even harder fouls. 

“It’s a brotherhood and how we can love each other,” Sellers said.

The coaches and players celebrate this achievement through their brotherhood. This Saturday, the Jackets face a nationally renowned team: Findlay. Fueled by this win, the men will look to flex their strengths to another team. 

“I think we’re one of the best teams not only in the conference but in the country,” Sellers said. “Today, we showed what Cedarville basketball can be. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs this season, but tonight, everyone bought in, it was a a great win.” 

Danielle Cherry is a freshman Communications major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves a good cup of coffee.

Photo by Preston Cavin