Cedarville hits century mark in season-opening rout 

By Danielle Cherry 

In Cedarville’s season opener against visiting Appalachian Bible, the Yellow Jackets took an early lead with defense that pushed the Warriors to their breaking point, running away to a 115-62 victory.

The Jackets played with confidence and a sense of urgency to build an early lead. Bringing in a tough defense, the Jackets whittled down the Warriors’ shot time, forcing bad passes, jumping in for interceptions.  

From the start it was clear the Jackets were playing at a higher level of intensity that Appalachian Bible was unable to match. Holding the pace for the whole game, Cedarville made quick work of the Warriors, building a steady 30-point gap in the first half. 

For Mikail Harmison, jumping toward the hoop was the norm, leaping long-jump style for  layups. He avoided the defense with a special spring in his step, scoring 11 points off of his quick timing and choices. 

“It felt great to be out there,” Harmison said. “I’m just so blessed to have the opportunity to play at a school like this.”

Only having 11 players, Cedarville used every man with no slump in pace or drop in play. The transition of five new players entering the court was seamless, all because of the connections the Jackets have with one another. 

New to Cedarville, Ruben Bos from the Netherlands showed his 6-foot-10 height brings more than just dunks. While bringing some action to the backboard, Bos shot 2 for 4 from 3-point range, firing up the team, fueling the connection that was already giving the Jackets the lead. 

“We hang out with each other — we do all the little things together,” Bos said. “That really translates on the court as well, the way we celebrate each other’s points or steals or efforts I think that really translates.” 

Also new to Cedarville, freshman Elijah McCree led the team with 19 points and made three 3-pointers and six steals. The pressure of the game didn’t get in his head, rather everything was done with a cool attitude and a casual confidence in his ability, aiding the team in passes, baskets and steals with a high 42% usage in all of his actions. 

“Elijah is tremendously talented, and he’s a freshman academically. He’s just trying to figure things out, but he is a wonderful talent.” said head coach Rob Jones. 

There was no lack of action despite the hefty lead Cedarville ran away with. The Jackets were all over the floor scuffling for balls, not letting one idle move from the Warriors go to waste, with Thomas Grunt stealing the ball, boxing the other team in. 

With three blocked shots, Grunt’s reentry into Cedarville basketball after two years of injury shows his skill and passion to keep fighting, and that translates right onto the court, battling for every ball. 

“I feel like our hard-working plays like diving down on the floor, going for offensive rebounds, stuff like that, definitely fuels our team,” said Harmison.

The continued 30-point gap never ceased, yet into the second half the pace from the Jackets dropped as the Warriors came out with more fight to even out the score. Passes were thrown away and there was a general relaxation on the court as the Warriors went on a run. 

“When the score gets the way that it gets sometimes it takes away from the urgency,” Jones said. “But I thought Mikal Hamrison diving on the floor the way that he did, Elijah McCree and the way that he picked up the ball and put on ball pressure, those little things are evidence of urgency.”

Jackets who have seen the court many times like Jonathan Whiteside, Jordan Jonathan and Will Gibson set a steady pace throughout, combining to score 36 points. Their leadership on the court upped the gameplay from the drop that occurred in the second half. 

“At the beginning of the season we want everybody to get a little bit of a taste of in-game play,” Jones said. “Throughout the season there are ebbs and flows, you just never know what the course of the season is going to create.” 

Danielle Cherry is a junior communication major and is assistant editor and writer for A&E and passionate writer for Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and was wondering if she was watching the right sport with how many dives for that ball there were in this game.