2011 National Basketball Championships

Behind 12-of-13 shooting from the field and a 4-for-5 performance at the line by tournament MVP Jamaal Pittman, the Ivy Tech Bears captured the men’s club national championship with a 65-41 victory over Penn State.

Joining Pittman as All-Americans were Penn State’s Doug Palmer, NC State’s Richie Lyons, Lamar McDougold from UNC Greensboro, D’Andre Person from Southside Virginia CC, and Eric Yuschak from Delaware.

Referees receiving All-American honors for top performances throughout the weekend included Justin Carr (Ohio University), James Duke (Akron), Alex Drummund (Purdue), Jeff Feldhaus (Virginia Tech), Danielle Rader (East Carolina), and Tommy Rubright (Georgia Southern).

In a game tied at halftime and which neither Ohio State nor Dayton led by more than 4 points in the second half, it came down to the final 10 seconds to decide a winner.  After Dayton missed on its opportunity to score with 10 seconds left, Ohio State grabbed the rebound and drove to halfcourt to call timeout with 5.5 seconds remaining.

The game’s final play put the ball in the hands of eventual tournament MVP Stephanie Whitenack.  Whitenack drove the lane and put up a jumper with less than 2 seconds remaining. The shot rattled around the rim and dropped in as the buzzer sounded to give Ohio State thrilling 31-29 victory and the women’s club national championship.

Joining MVP Stephanie Whitenack on the All-American team were Ohio State’s Candice Andel, Dayton’s Jenny Samuelson, Latoya Armstrong from Winston-Salem State, Caitlin Laub of Virginia Tech, and Alexandria Gellman from Appalachian State.

With a barrage of 3-pointers, Fayetteville State vaulted out to an early 10-point lead enroute to a 36-29 halftime advantage.  Then extended its lead to 14 at 52-38, holding off a late charge by North Carolina A&T to capture the men’s intramural national championship by a final score of 62-58.

Men’s IM All-Americans include Anthony Paris (NC State Legends), Christopher Coleman (FAU), Curtis Brooks (UNC Pembroke), Farod Morales (NC A&T), and Derek Holmes (Fayetteville State).  North Carolina A&T’s Jeremy James was named the Men’s IM Tournament MVP.

Fayetteville State jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 35-28 victory over Elizabeth City State to capture the 2011 women’s intramural national championship.

Deja Middleton, named tournament MVP, led Fayetteville State.  She was joined by teammate Brittany Parker on the All-American team.  Also named All-Americans were Whitney Gray (Elizabeth City State), Bri Cox (UW Whitewater), Deandre Murray (NC A&T), and Katrina Garman (Florida).

The tournament field is down to just 14 teams as Saturday comes to a close.  The final four is set for the men’s club, women’s club, and men’s intramural divisions.  And, the championship teams for the women’s intramural division have been determined.  Coming up on Sunday…

Women’s Intramural Division
Championship Game: Elizabeth City State vs Fayetteville State
9:30 am on Kay Yow Court in Historic Reynolds Coliseum

Men’s Intramural Division
Semifinals: Florida Atlantic vs North Carolina A&T and Fayetteville State HDMD vs UNC Pembroke
8:30 am in Carmichael Gym, Championship at 11:00 am in Reynolds Coliseum

Women’s Club Division
Semifinals: Winston-Salem State vs Ohio State and Dayton vs Duke
8:30 am in Carmichael Gym, Championship at 12:30 pm in Reynolds Coliseum

Men’s Club Division
Semifinals: Penn State vs Delaware and Ivy Tech vs UNC Greensboro
9:40 am in Carmichael Gym, Championship at 2:00 pm in Reynolds Coliseum

Kay Yow Court in Historic Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State University will serve as the home to the championship games.  All-American Awards will be presented at the conclusion of each game along with the national championship trophies.

If the Hokies were expecting an easy quarterfinal game against an Ohio State team that they had defeated by 20 points in pool play earlier Saturday, they were in for a surprise.  The Buckeyes came out a new team in tournament play, knocking off Appalachian State in the opening round, then shocking Virginia Tech with a 34-33 quarterfinal victory.

Tied at 29, 31, and 33, Ohio State picked up its final point at the free throw line.  Kristin Balarak was fouled driving the basket with 9.8 seconds remaining.  Balarak missed the first free throw, but made the second, her only points of the game, giving the Buckeyes the lead.   Virginia Tech had one final chance on a inbounds pass under its own basket with 3.0 seconds remaining, but Caitlin Laub’s jumper hit the front on the iron as time ran out on the Hokies.

Laub led Virginia Tech with 12 points and 6 rebounds, including a 8/10 performance from the line.  Stephanie Whitenack had 7 points in leading a large group of scorers for Ohio State.

Ohio State can rest for the night before meeting Winston-Salem State in semifinal action on Sunday morning at 8:30.