Post-Season Battle for AU Men's Basketball

Coach Perry calls his men in for a
timeout during the HAAC
conference tournament.

There is no doubt about it, the Avila Men’s Basketball program is most definitely on the rise.  Coach Anthony Perry has only led the team as Head Coach for two seasons now, but much progress has been made in that short period of time. In the season prior to his arrival, the Eagles went 3-17 in conference play. Since then, the team has been working hard to improve.  In the 2010-2011 season, Perry’s first go-around, the team recorded an 8-12 record in conference.  This season, the team continued to build on their progress. Going into post-season play, the men held an overall record of 18-11, while going 11-7 in conference play.  

Kelby Phelps, #5, led the Avila men in
scoring, with a team-high 19 points.
(Courtesy of Jan Humphreys)

The post-season Heart of America conference tournament got underway for the men’s teams on the evening of Wednesday, February 29, 2012.  Our Avila men were ranked #4 in the eight team tournament, so they faced the #5 seeded team, Graceland University out of Lamoni, IA.  In each matchup of the two teams earlier in the season, Avila beat the Graceland in Lamoni 74-64, yet later on lost at home 75-77.  This time around, the game would be played in KC yet again because Avila had the higher seed. 

Curtis Churchman, who received HAAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as Freshman of Year honors, recalled that Coach Perry urged the men to “go out there and do something that has never been done in Avila history.”  Tip-off was at 7 p.m. and action quickly got underway. The Eagles were moving the ball well and creating opportune shots, but unfortunately they were having a hard time getting those shots to fall.  For example, the men hit only 1-17 from the 3 point line in the beginning of the game.  The point spread grew to its largest in the first half, when the Eagles were down 20-40.  Avila then began the battle back, finishing the half at 27-43.  Opening the second half, Avila finally got things going.  AU went on a 19-6 run, closing the gap to 46-49 with 10 minutes to go in the game.  With 5:30 minutes left, the Eagles finally captured the lead, going up 54-53 thanks to a 3 pointer by Austin Stockard.  The two teams battled back and forth in the closing minutes, but unfortunately Graceland came out the victor.  The Eagles fell to the Yellow Jackets by a margin of 58-66. 

Kelby Phelps, a junior guard and court leader, shared his analysis of the game: 

“I hated to send our seniors out the way we did. I think they deserved to leave here on a winning note and we couldn't get it done that night. I believe we came out a little tight knowing that it could be our last game of the year and it caused us to play a slightly timid and not shoot the ball the way we are capable of shooting it.”

The Eagles engaged in a tight battle with Graceland University
at Mabee Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 29
(Courtesy of Jan Humphreys)

But the show must go on; the men must regroup and start thinking about the season to come.  As Brandon Murillo, a freshman shooting guard, points out, “We already began pre-season on Monday (March 5) after only 4 days off.  I feel that after having undergone the likes of Coach Perry’s workouts, I am capable of taking on anything.” As Kelby makes clear, “We are still chasing a Championship, and anything less is a failure in our eyes.”