Grace College’s Caleb Featherston shoots over Bethel College’s Zach Miller during the Crossroads League tournament final. Both Grace and Bethel would play in national tournaments as part of a banner year for the Crossroads League. (File photo by Mike Deak)

WINONA LAKE – When one thinks of basketball, the state of Indiana usually has a say in the matter. Immediately, it’s easy to point to ‘Hoosiers’ with local celeb Steve Hollar ready to fight as Rade Butcher, Bob Knight ready to fight anyone, or Muffett McGraw’s Fighting Irish women emerging as a legitimate contender year in and year out to go with Connecticut’s ridiculous annual blitzkrieg on women’s college basketball.

In a year when the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament didn’t have a single team from Indiana on its bracket of 68 teams – the first time since 2005 – quite the opposite was the case at the NAIA level. In fact, it was a banner year in college basketball in the state of Indiana as far as the Crossroads League is concerned.

Greg Miller

The men’s NAIA Division II champions hail from Marion as Indiana Wesleyan stormed through the tournament to claim the title March 18. Aided by Whitko graduate Zac Vandewater, who had a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards in the championship game against Midland (Neb.), the Wildcats won its first men’s basketball NAIA title 78-68 over the Warriors. Jordan Weidner was named the Most Outstanding player of the tournament, and coach Greg Tonagel the Division II Coach of the Year. The NAIA was loaded with Crossroads teams as Bethel, St. Francis and Huntington all joined Wesleyan in the 32-team field, Bethel making the quarterfinals before bowing out.

Weidner led a parade of players from the CL to All-America status, taking First Team honors. RJ Mahurin of IWU, Aaron Evans of Marian and Shane Merryman of Huntington were Second Team All-America, Scott Kohne of St. Francis Third Team All-America, and Rob Hogans of Spring Arbor, Ryan Benner and Zach Miller of Bethel, Austin Fox of St. Francis and Greg Miller of Grace College were all Honorable Mention All-America.

Skylarr Shurn

As far as the women were concerned, St. Francis were clearly the best team in NAIA. Running an undefeated 38-0, the Lady Cougars not only dethroned reigning champion Indiana Wesleyan from the top of the national rankings in mid-season, but also knocked IWU from the mantel as the Crossroads League conference champs. St. Francis would go on to win the NAIA Division II tournament by defeating College of the Ozarks, 75-68, March 18 to earn its first-ever Division II national title. National Championship MVP Skylarr Shurn was a monster in the final, scoring 33 points while head coach Gary Andrews was named Division II Coach of the Year.

“Our seniors have done a great job, they are not only great basketball players, but great people off the floor,” Andrews said following the championship win. “I thought they led by example and worked hard. They did whatever it took to win. I thought they were tremendous tonight. Just like all season.”

Taylor Goshert

Shurn was later named the NAIA National Player of the Year as well as First Team All-America, while teammate Brooke Ridley joined Shurn with First Team All-America honors. Juaneice Jackson of Grace College, the school’s all-time leading scorer, was named Second Team All-America as was Pazia Speed of Huntington. IWU’s Taylor Goshert, a Wawasee High School graduate, was named Third Team All-America. Grace’s Allison Kauffman and Jenelle Wilson of St. Francis were both Honorable Mention All-America selections.

Grace College almost added a third title to the Crossroads League collection in the NCCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. A three-point miracle from Logan Irwin in the semis gave Grace a 65-62 win over Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.), and nearly pulled out another stunner in the final against Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.). Trailing by two points in the final seconds, Irwin again had the ball in his hands, but couldn’t get the final shot to fall. Grace (20-15), which finished just sixth in the conference standings, still had quite a run according to head coach Jim Kessler.

Juaneice Jackson

“It was a fun season,” remarked Kessler following the NCCAA final against PLN. “It was fun because of the character of the men on this team and their willingness to work together. A lot of this season goes to the leadership of Greg Miller. Each year that he was here, Greg just got more valuable for us.”

Grace College’s women’s program also played in the NCCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Losing all three of its games, the Lady Lancers finished 17-18 overall but finished the Crossroads League season with its best record (12-6) and highest finish (fourth) in program history.