Following the conclusion of the Benedictine College Men’s Basketball team’s run into the 77th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I Men’s Basketball National Championship, Raven forward Charlie Wallrapp earned All-America honors.

Wallrapp, who was also a first-team All-HAAC selection this season, was among the list of NAIA Div. I players to earn the honor at the conclusion of the season on Tuesday when the NAIA released the team.

“This All-America Honorable Mention Recognition is the direct result of Charlie’s dedication to his teammates and his personal development as a player,” said Raven head coach Ryan Moody. “He has worked hard to make everyone around him better. We are excited about the honor and proud of him. He is well deserving.”

He led the Ravens in scoring this season with a 15.5 points per game average and also led the team in rebounds with an average of 8.

The All-America selection is the second for Wallrapp as he joins an exclusive club of multiple All-America honorees for Benedictine. He becomes just the third multiple All-America selection in program history, joining Darryl Jones and Chic Downing.

Jones was a four-time NAIA All-America selection from 1964 to 1968 while Downing earned the honor during the 1969-’70 and 1971-’72 seasons. Wallrapp earned his first All-America selection last season, making him the first back-to-back selection since Jones.

In all the St. Benedict’s-Benedictine men’s basketball program has earned 13 All-America selections over the programs 93 year history with seven different players receiving the recognition.

He finishes his career at Benedictine with 1,443 points, which places him 11th on the Ravens All-time scoring list.

Benedictine went 23-8 this season, qualifying for the Div. I National Tournament for the first time since 1969-’70 season. The 23 wins marks the fourth-most in program history and the most wins by a Raven squad since the 1966-’67 NAIA National Championship team went 27-2.

After winning the programs first-ever HAAC Championship, the Ravens played their way into the second round of the tournament, where they lost 81-70 to eventual National Champions Vanguard (Calif.) University.

— BC Sports Information —

The Benedictine women’s basketball team earned another individual honor on Wednesday as the NAIA released the annual All-America team.

Forward Chayla Rutledge was named to the honorable mention team for her efforts this season for the Ravens and head coach Chad Folsom.

Rutledge, who was also named to the All-HAAC first team this season, led the Ravens in scoring with a 14.9 ppg average in her second full season with the program. She was also the Ravens third-leading rebounder, averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.

She led the Ravens in scoring in 15 of their 31 games this season, which included a single-season high of 27 points in a 83-79 win over Graceland  University on Feb. 20 inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

In addition to leading the Ravens in scoring, she also reached double figures in 22 games, recording a double-double in the win over Graceland.

She led the team in field goal percentage this season, converting on 160 field goals to hit 44.6 percent from the field.

Rutledge joins Justice Payne and Abby Winder as the Ravens three NAIA Div. I All-Americans and becomes the ninth Raven to earn All-America honors. She is the fifth Raven under Coach Folsom to earn the honor and the honor gives the program its 12th overall All-America selection.

Benedictine went 20-11 this season to earn its eighth 20-win season under Coach Folsom. They finished fourth in the HAAC with a conference record of 12-6.

— BC Sports Information —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Despite a subpar shooting effort, No. 6 Vanguard (Calif.) out-lasted No. 11 Benedictine (Kan.), 81-70, in the second round of the 2014 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National, Friday night in Municipal Auditorium. The Lions, who will play in their first-ever Quarterfinal tomorrow against No. 14 Georgetown (Ky.) at 4 p.m. CDT, went 25-of-67 (.373) from the floor overall. Their key was 16 points off turnovers.

Benedictine led early, 9-4, after a Jallen Messersmith free throw, but Vanguard bumped up the defensive focus. After three early field goals, Benedictine made just four more during the final 14 minutes of the first half. Meanwhile, during that span, Vanguard turned the five-point deficit into a 31-19 halftime advantage.

“The key for us was pressure,” said Vanguard head coach Rhett Soliday. “We wanted to pick up full court and get up in the floor a little bit to disrupt their offense. We knew they were a team that is really organized and very difficult to stop when they can get to the middle of the floor like you saw in the second half.”

The Ravens had no answer for DeAngelo Jones on the Vanguard offensive end. Jones almost out-scored Benedictine by himself in the first 20 minutes as he went for 15 points.

The Ravens tried to use the loud crowd, decked in Black and Red, to rally back from the double-digit deficit. At least seven bus loads of fans traveled the nearly 50 miles to Municipal Auditorium. But, Vanguard used its balanced scoring to never let the lead shrink under seven in the second half.

Seven free throws in the final minute for Vanguard iced the game away.

Jones ended his night with a game-high 25 points as he connected on 15-of-18 free throws. The made free throws ties a tournament-high this year. Preston Wynne chipped in 20 points, while Chris Gorman and Keith Mason each had 11.

For the Ravens, Charlie Wallrapp heated up in the second half to the tune of 17 points. He posted totals of 21 points and 11 rebounds. John Harris Jr., joined him with a 20-point effort.

Both teams made 24 free throws, with Vanguard hitting on 75 percent and Benedictine going for 73 percent.

“We always fight,” said Benedictine head coach Ryan Moody. “This group has never gone away or stopped and our body language doesn’t get bad at games. We always try to keep ourselves in it and they’re a competitive group. This stings and it’s tough to lose the last one of the year only one team doesn’t.

Benedictine, in the championship for the first time since 1970, its season with a record of 23-9.

Game notes:
Vanguard (Calif.) – This is the first appearance in the championship since 2006 and second overall… The Lions help the Golden State Athletic Conference teams improve to 3-1 this year… The Lions entered the game ranked No. 8 in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game (14.4) – tonight, they had 14…With 25 points, DeAngelo Jones has now put in at least 10 points in five of his last six games.

Benedictine (Kan.) – Benedictine was held to a season-low four three-point shots after averaging 7.7 per game on the season… Charlie Wallrapp recorded his sixth double-double of the season and finished his four-year career with 1,422 points… Benedictine won its first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title this season to end its 44-year drought at the National Championship… The Ravens shot 22.2 percent from three-point range after entering the game ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division I in three-point percentage (.407).

— by Chad Waller, NAIA Staff —

No. 11-seeded Benedictine (Kan.) overcame a 12-point deficit in the first half and claimed a 70-65 win over Westminster (Utah), Wednesday evening in the first round of the 2014 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

The Ravens will take on sixth-seeded Vanguard (Calif.) on Friday at 6:15 p.m.

Charlie Wallrapp scored a game-high 19 points, 17 in the second half, and grabbed eight rebounds for Benedictine, while Jallen Messersmith came off the bench to record 15 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. The Ravens shot 47.1 percent from the field for the game and made 13-of-18 free throws in the second half to finish 17-of-24 from the foul line.

“I thought our guys fed off the crowd and this was a big win,” said Benedictine head coach Ryan Moody, whose team was bolstered by a student section that filled the north end of the lower level. “You can see from the celebration in our guys. I’m not sure that’s so much because it’s the game or because that could be the first time we won after we trailed at half. To come back from seven down at the half, you can see the emotion in the guys that it was a hard-fought battle and that was a really good team we beat out there tonight.”

Westminster was in control the majority of the first half thanks to a pressure defense that forced Benedictine into 14 turnovers. The Griffins used a 12-2 run over 3:47 to stretch a two-point advantage into a 37-25 lead with 1:31 until the half.

Benedictine (23-8) scored the final five points of the first half, a momentum swing that carried over into the second half. The Ravens scored the first nine points of the second half to complete a 14-0 run over both halves to take their first lead since the 8:27 mark of the first half.

Westminster ended its scoring drought with a basket by Nick Jenson, only to see Benedictine run off seven-consecutive points for their biggest lead of the game, 50-42. Though the Ravens led the rest of the game, a basket by Messersmith with 30 seconds remaining provided a five-point advantage that was enough to secure the win.

“They were the aggressors coming out of halftime and they got us on our heels,” said Westminster head coach Adam Hiatt. “We went from up seven to down seven in what seemed like a flash. We weren’t ready for that initial full-court pressure that they gave us.”

Jenson and Tallon Robertson led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points for Westminster with the duo combining for 10 rebounds and four steals. Colton Moon, Blake Skidmore and Jordan Pryor each chipped in with 10 points for the Griffins, who were held to 39.7 percent shooting for the game that included a 29.6 percent clip (8 of 27) in the second half.

Westminster finishes its season with a record of 19-13.

Game notes:

Benedictine improves to 13-6 all-time in the championships, making their first appearance in the Division I tournament since a first round loss in 1970 … Benedictine has won two national championships (1954, 1967) … The Ravens ranked #4 in NAIA Division I in three-point percentage (.409), but was held to 31.3 percent from beyond the arc … Messersmith ranks #3 in NAIA Division I in blocked shots per game (2.6).

— NAIA Press Release —

Despite rallying for 44 points in the second half of Friday night, fourth-seeded and No. 24-ranked Evangel ended the Benedictine men’s basketball teams run through the 2014 HAAC Tournament, 73-58.

Top-seeded and No. 10-ranked Benedictine (22-8) used a 44.8 percent shooting effort and went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half to outscore Evangel (23-9) 44-39 but couldn’t overcome a season low 14 points at the half to suffer the loss.

Evangel limited Benedictine to just four first-half field goals as they converted 11 to lead 34-14 at the break.

After John Harris Jr. knocked down the first basket of the game, a 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game, Evangel’s Billy Thomas II answered with the first of five first-half 3-pointers for the Crusaders.

After trading baskets and with the score remaining within a possesion, Evangel outscored Benedictine 22-6 over the final 14 minutes of the first half to break the game open.

By the midway point of the second half, Evangel pushed its lead to 29 points, their largest of the game.

At that point, Benedictine changed up their defense which sparked the offense over the final 10 mintues of the game.

The Ravens outscored the Crusaders 32-18 over those final 10 mintues of the game but could never get over the hump as Evangel managed just enough offense to keep Benedictine at arm’s length.

Zack Kleine, the HAAC Co-Player of the Year, scored a game-high 26 points for the Crusaders as Evangel finished with four players in double figures.

Benedictine’s Charlie Wallrapp led the Ravens with 13 points while Jonathan Anaekwe added 12.

The Ravens bench outscored the Crusaders 20-4, anchored by a career-high 11 points from Austin Eckert. Eckert scored all 11 points in the second half over 12 minutes of action as he helped spark Benedictine’s second-half rally. He converted three of Benedictine’s five second-half 3-pointers as the Ravens converted on 50 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.

The Ravens 22 wins moves this season to fourth on the Ravens single-season wins list. Benedictine will now wait for word on their seeding for the 77th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I National Tournament, which will be announced during a internet video stream selection show at 8 p.m. March 12.

Evangel advances to the HAAC Championship game against No. 25 and third-seeded MNU on Monday.

— BC Sports Information —

The Benedictine women’s basketball season drew to a close on Thursday night at the hands of Missouri Valley College in the HAAC Tournament Quarterfinals.

Fifth-seeded Missouri Valley (19-10) took advantage from the charity stripe in a game that saw a combined 61 fouls called to earn a 77-71 win over fourth-seeded Benedictine (20-11).

While the season concludes earlier than expected for the Ravens, the 20 wins marks the eighth time under head coach Chad Folsom that Benedictine has reached 20 wins in a season.

The tone for the game was set early as the two teams combined for more fouls than points over the first six minutes of the game.

When Benedictine’s Alexa Taff knocked in a 3-point to put the Ravens in front 5-2 with 14 minutes and 36 seconds left in the first half, the two teams had already been called for eight combined fouls.

The two teams continued to battle through the fouls, three ties and four lead changes before Benedictine pushed ahead by as much as seven points just over midway through the half.

Missouri Valley closed within two points but couldn’t get any closer as the Ravens sat on a 30-25 lead at halftime.

At the half, Benedictine held a slight advantage from the charity stripe, converting on 10 of 16 to Missouri Valley’s 8 of 13. Both teams were limited to single-digit field goals at the half.

Missouri Valley scored the first seven points of the second half to erase Benedictine’s halftime lead and take a three-point lead just 90 seconds in.

The Ravens answered the first run of the second half by the Vikings with one of their own.

Benedictine outscored Missouri Valley 14-5 over the next eight minutes to pull in front by nine points.

The Ravens remained in the lead until the seven-minute mark when the Vikings broke through the games sixth tie to take a 53-52 lead with six minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the game.

Benedictine remained within a possesion of Missouri Valley until they were forced to foul over the games final minutes which allowed the Vikigns to seal the game from the free throw line.

Missouri Valley connected on 24 of 33 at the free throw line in the second half and converted on 50 percent from the floor to end Benedictine’s tournament run.

Despite only converted one more field goal than the Ravens in the second half as Benedictine connected on 12 of 32 from the floor, the Vikings were able to hold off a last-second run by the Ravens from the charity stripe.

Justice Payne led four Ravens in double figures with 15 points. Jackie Ziesel finished with 11 points while Alex Taff and Chayla Rutledge each scored 10 points.

Missouri Valley was led by the game-high 19-point effort of Gabi Morales.

— BC Sports Information —

The top-seeded Benedictine men’s basketball team advanced to the HAAC Semfinals on Wednesday night with a 15-point win over eighth-seeded Baker University inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

Benedictine (22-7) fed off the home crowd energy inside the Nolan Gymnasium to lead wire to wire over Baker (11-19) and earn a 66-51 win over the Wildcats.

The Ravens advance to take on fourth-seeded Evangel University at 7 p.m. Friday night back inside the Nolan Gymnasium fo the second time in less than 10 days.

Wednesday night, the Ravens jumped out to a 10-point advantage with a 14-4 run and never looked back.

Baker closed within seven points near the midpoint of the first half but Benedictine turned that seven-point advantage into a 10-point lead, 31-21, by halftime.

The Ravens knocked in 50 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes of the game while holding the Wildcats to just nine first-half field goals.

Benedictine used back-to-back 3-pointers from Brett Fisher and Jonathan Anaekwe inside the first two mintues of the second half to jump start their offense and pull ahead by 18 points.

The Wildcats pulled within 14 points with 11 minutes and 26 seconds remaining in the game before Charlie Wallrapp connected on three striaght 3-pointers to push the Ravens lead to 23 points – its largest of the night.

From that point, the Ravens settled in and worked through their offensive sets to limit the Wildcats’ scoring chances en route to the 15-point win.

Baker converted 11 second-half field goals but just couldn’t find an answer for the Ravens defensively as Benedictine connected on 57.1 percent from the field in the second half, which included a 6 for 12 effort from beyond the 3-point arc.

Wallrapp finished with a game-high 20 points, going nearly perfect from the floor. He connected on 8 of 9 field goals and hit 4 of 5 3-pointers in just over 27 minutes of action.

Brett Fisher added 11 points, connecting on 3 of 6 3-pointers while Anaekwe and John Harris Jr. added 8 points each.

Rafail Tsourakis anchored the Ravens bench scoring with 6 points while Luke Norville added 5. Benedictine outscore Baker 17-6 off the bench.

EJ Carter led Baker in scoring with 14 points.

Benedictine now turns its attention to Evangel, who needed double overtime on Wednesday to dispose of fifth-seeded Central Methodist University, 125-114, in Springfield.

The No. 10-ranked Ravens took the regualar-season series over No. 24 Evangel, most recently earning a 68-65 win over the Crusaders on March 1 in the Nolan Gymnasium.

No. 2 seed Culver-Stockton College advanced to the semfinals on Wedensday night with a 105-89 wn over seventh-seeded Graceland. Culver-Stockton will host No. 3 seed MNU who beat No. 6 seed Missouri Valley on Wedensday in Olathe, 87-80.

— BC Sports Information —

After battling through six ties and seven lead changes on Saturday afternoon in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium, the battle for the outright HAAC Championship went to the No. 9-ranked Benedictine men as they earned a 68-65 win over No. 19 Evangel University.

For Benedictine (21-7, 14-4 HAAC) the win secured its first-ever HAAC Championship since joining the conference for the 1992-93 school year.

Benedictine took the lead for good with 45 seconds remaining and then held off several last-second attempts by Evangel (21-9, 12-6 HAAC) to hang on for the three-point win.

The Ravens connected on 4 of 8 over the games final 45 seconds while limiting the Crusaders to just one free throw to earn the win.

Evangel jumped out to as much as a nine-point lead on Benedictine before the Ravens went on a 15-6 run to pull the game to its first tie at 23 points with seven minutes and forty seconds left in the first half.

Benedictine took and brief lead only to have Evangel grab it back by five points before Benedictine closed the half outscoring the Crusaders 7-1 to take a 36-35 lead.

In the second half, the lead traded hands four times with Benedictine lead early by as much as six points before Evangel pulled ahead by five points.

Neither team was able to pull away setting up the Ravens final push to the win.

Evangel outshot Benedictine, converting on 41.1 percent to the Ravens 40.4 percent.

The Ravens connected on 12 of 19 from the charity stripe in the second half which helped them overcome just eight second-half field goals.

Zack Kleine scored a game-high 23 points while Kerry Tillery added 11 points for Evangel.

John Harris Jr. led Benedictine with 17 points and was one of three Ravens in double figures. Charlie Wallrapp added 15 while Brett Fisher finished with 10 points.

Benedictine held a decisive advantage off the bench, as they outscored Evangel 36-17 anchored by Harris Jr.

For Benedictine the win gives them the No. 1 seed in the HAAC Tournament beginning on Wednesday. The top seed also gives the Ravens one of the HAAC’s three automatic bids to the 2014 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I National Championship Tournament.

The trip to Kansas City, Mo., for the National Tournament marks the Ravens first trip to the tournament since last qualifying in 1970.

— BC Sports Information —

Before the Benedictine women’s basketball team could honor their six-member Senior class, they had to take on Evangel University inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

Benedictine (20-10, 12-6) forced 21 Evangel (8-20, 5-13 HAAC) turnovers en route to a convincing 90-64 win to secure the No. 4 seed in next weeks HAAC Tournament.

The Ravens came out firing offensively.

Tori Aubuchon connected on one of her two 3-pointers to set the tone for the Ravens just over a minute into the game.

By the midpoint of the first half, another 3-pointer from Rosie Youngstrom gave the Ravens their first double-digit lead of the night.

The Ravens scorched the nets, converting on 67.5 percent from the floor in the first half while holding Evangel to just seven first-half field goals as they built as much as 26 point lead before taking a 49-24 lead into the half.

Evangel heated up in the second half, knocking in 50 percent to outscore the Ravens 41-40 but couldn’t get any closer thatn 24 points as the Ravens cruised to the 26-point win.

For Benedictine head coach Chad Folsom, the win allowed the Ravens to reach the 20-win mark for the seventh time under his leadership.

Benedictine dominated the paint, outscoring Evangel 36-18 and also held a decisive advantage in bench scoring. Benedictine’s bench outscored Evangel’s 60-33 as five players reached double figures for Benedictine.

Youngstrom led the way with 14 points while Alexa Taff was close behind with 13. Justice Payne and Jackie Ziesel each scored 12 points while Claire Pedulla rounded out the Ravens double-figure scorers wtih 10.

The win allows the Ravens to earn the No. 4 seed in next week’s HAAC Tournament, which gets underway on Thursday.

— BC Sports Information —