Cedarville Basketball Loses Leading Scorers For Season

by Tim Miller

The Cedarville men’s and women’s basketball teams each lost their leading scorers less than a week apart in the first week of February.

Patrick Bain, a senior guard who led the team in points per game (21.7), assists per game (3.5), blocks (13), and steals (24), was on pace to win G-MAC Player of the Year. Bain tore his ACL with just over a minute to play in a win over Ohio Valley on Jan. 27.

“Patrick left everything he had on the court and although this is devastating news, he has no regrets,” head coach Pat Estepp said to Cedarville University Sports Information. “He gave this university, this program, and this team everything he had and for that we are extremely grateful.”

Junior guard Regina Hochstetler suffered the same fate in a loss to Kentucky Wesleyan on Feb. 1. Hochstetler was the Lady Jackets’ leading scorer (17.8 points per game) and played in a team-leading 33.4 minutes per game.

Patrick Bain

Bain (23) powers his way to the rim in a game against Ohio Christian on Nov. 28. (Photo: Christian Cortes)

Bain was a full-time player in Estepp’s system in all four of his seasons. The standout guard played in 28 games his freshman year and appeared in at least 26 games in each of his next two seasons. In his senior season, Bain started in all 19 of his appearances.

The senior reached 1,000 career points in a win over Trevecca on Dec. 7. He leaves the program with 1,266 points, placing him as the 35th all-time highest scorer in Cedarville history.

Bain was the most consistent player on the roster this season and was a source of sereneness when calamity struck. The Tipp City, Ohio, native dropped 41 points in a win over Lake Erie on Jan. 25. Bain also reached 25 points or more in five games this season and scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 19 games.

Bain was the top scorer in 14 of Cedarville’s games this season. Bain also led the team in rebounding seven times this season and 11 times in assists.

“Patrick was a leading candidate for conference Player of the Year honors and leads us in nearly every statistical category as well as being our best defender,” Estepp said. “Watching him handle this disappointing news has been a tremendous encouragement to our team.”

Cedarville (11-11, 6-9 G-MAC) is 1-2 without Bain. The Yellow Jackets won their first game without the 6-foot-3 guard on Feb. 3, taking an overtime victory from Trevecca.

Regina Hochstetler

Hochstetler (11) was electric from behind the 3-point line this season. (Photo: Lydia Wolterman)

Hochstetler, a 5-foot-7 guard from Berlin, Ohio, suffered a season-ending injury for the second time in her Cedarville career. After averaging 7.0 points per game on a team that went 27-4 in her freshman season, Hochstetler suffered a torn ACL just two games into her sophomore season.

Returning last season as a redshirt sophomore, Hochstetler led the Lady Jackets in scoring, firing in 14.9 points per game. This season, Hochstetler again led the way for the Lady Jackets and scored her 1,000th career point on a triple against Malone on Jan. 30.

Hochstetler helped power the Lady Jackets to the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division II 3-point percentage rankings. The junior hit on 42 percent of her triples, which was third on the team among qualified players.

The guard amassed 20 points or more in eight games this season, including a 27-point outburst in the season opener and a career-high 36 points in 40 minutes in a 72-70 win over Ohio Dominican on Jan. 6.

Hochstetler was the team’s leading scorer in 13 games this season, and no other player led the Lady Jackets in scoring on more than three occasions this season.

“I think we have enough talent on our team to make up for her 18 points per game, but it just throws everything out of sync,” Hoffman said. “From set plays to substitution rotations and everything in between. We will obviously miss her ability to put the ball in the hoop and her maturity out on the floor in big ways. ”

The Lady Jackets (18-4, 13-3 G-MAC) won their only game without Hochstetler thus far by a 83-38 verdict against Trevecca. Cedarville is tied for first place in the G-MAC with Ursuline, and five teams are within 2.5 games of first place.