Bethel defends home court against Hamline
The Bethel University men’s basketball team faced off against Hamline University to end the three-game losing streak.
By Clark Frederickson
The Bethel University junior guard Tommy Jensen hit a three-pointer in the last two minutes to help hold off the Hamline Pipers, who were starting to make a last minute run. Jensen led the Royals in scoring, shooting 5 for 10 from the field and 3 for 6 from three. Coming off ankle problems and a few tough losses, Jensen and the Royals desperately wanted this win.
The Bethel University men’s basketball team, the Royals, faced off against the Hamline University Pipers for the sixth game of the season Wednesday night. The Royals secured a 63–52 win over the Pipers in the Robertson Center, Bethel’s home court. The Royals had been on a three-game losing streak leaving them at two wins and three losses prior to this game.
“It was great to be closer to full strength,” new coach Zach Filzen said. “These past few games have been tough, so we needed this win.”
Jensen pump-faked a defender over him, took a big stride, then planted his foot to step back for that three pointer, pushing them to a double digit lead in the first half. That warranted a few bullseye shots from the sophomore fan Noah Price attending his fourth game of the season. Price pulled several more arrows out of his imaginary quiver to shoot with his air bow in the first half.
“I think that we defended really well. When we hold teams to 52 points, it’s hard to lose.” — Tommy Jensen, Bethel University guard
Their shooting helped them build a helpful lead of 11 going into the second half. But at halftime, the fan missed the Raising Cane’s three-point shot, an omen that the Royals hot shooting had left the gym just like that chicken tender grand prize. Despite the Royals’ three point percentage dropping from 46% in the first half to 30% in the second, the Royals’ defense managed to help them hold onto their lead up until the final few minutes of the game.
“I think that we defended really well,” Jensen said. “When we hold teams to 52 points, it’s hard to lose.”
In the Bethel bleachers, more and more fans’ hands went from clapping to clasping the back of their heads. The refs received the wrath of both head coaches, fans and the players. Some very not-Christian words were shouted from players’ relatives. The tension in Robertson Center had drastically risen as the game had become close towards the end. It was a two-possession game with a minute and a half remaining.
“For a 6’6 kid you flop pretty hard,” a Bethel student yelled at Hamline’s Cooper Berg as he shot free-throws with a minute left in the game.
For the first time in the game, Hamline was poised to take the lead after knocking down those free throws. Royals forward Zach Doely got sent to the line right after, where he grabbed his own rebound and put it back, turning his missed second free-throw into a three-point play. A demoralizing block from Bethel forward Joey Kidder on the other end of the floor sealed this important win for the Royals, whose record is now even at 3–3.
Bethel’s next game is an away game against the University of Wisconsin-Superior Dec. 4.
