Green Bay had outplayed Valparaiso Saturday night. Playing on Valpo's home floor, the Phoenix had beaten back every Crusader challenge. Even when Valpo managed to tie the game at 64 in the final minutes, Green Bay and its hot shooting guard, Kiefer Sykes, were up for the challenge. With just six seconds left, the Phoenix still led, 66-64.
But that's when Valpo turned everything over to senior Ryan Broekhoff. With fellow senior Keven Van Wijk trying to battle through a hellacious sprained ankle, sustained immediately after he had gotten Valpo off to a fast start, Broekhoff was the only real choice.
Green Bay's Alec Brown went to the line with six seconds left and the Phoenix ahead by one. He made the first but missed the second. With no Green Bay players contesting the rebound, Van Wijk grabbed the rebound and flipped it to Broekhoff. The Austrailian native raced up court, and when Green Bay's hefty forward, Brennan Cougill moved to stop him at the top of the key, Broekhoff feinted to his right, hesitated a split-second, then faded away from about three feet beyond the three point line. After he shot, Broekhoff stumbled backward and was laying on the floor when the shot went through the net. Had he glanced to his right, he would have seen his coach, Bryce Drew, also on the floor, also on his back, his arms outstretched, allowing the crowd to reveal whether Broekhoff's shot was true. Boy was it ever!
Students and bench players stormed the court after Broekhoff, almost running over Drew in the process. But game officials insisted that the teams return to their benches so that they could conduct an inspection of the replay. For the record, they wanted to see if Broekhoff was completely beyond the three line. In reality, one figured they wanted to find the exit before they were mobbed a second time.
The Crusaders now play Wright State at Valpo on Tuesday night. One of the ESPN networks will have the game for the national audience. Wright State used a last second shot of their own to stun defending Horizon champ Detroit, 66-64.
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