Talk about living the dream!! In a week long conference tournament Tyler's team won 3 in a row labeling them the new 2014 MCC Tournament Champions and landing them a spot in the NAIA National Tournament that will take place in Branson Missouri on March 13, 2014.
William Penn went in to the tournament as the #2 seed, right below the nationally ranked St. Ambrose squad who won the regular season. The Statesmen first took on a last placed #7 A.I.B, defeating them at home with ease as they sailed into the semi-finals game against Mt.Mercy. Tyler was sensational this game! While solid throughout the year and the tournament, Tyler was the factor that kept Penn in the tournament against Mount Mercy. What seemed like a slaughter quickly turned into a close game, as WPU watched its 18 point half-time lead dwindle quickly into the second half.
Enter Tyler. Hitting from all over the court The Tyster had all of his 18 points in the second half, keeping the Mustangs at bay and unable to rally up a lead; allowing William Penn to advance to the Championship game on a 96-89 victory over the Mustangs of Mt. Mercy.
After an unlikely upset, Grand View beating the regular season champions, St. Ambrose, the Statesmen were able to host the Championship game against their rivals - The Grand View Vikings. This game was dominated by WPU from the tip-off as Statesmen went on to win the MCC Championship game by a score of 94-75. Much of the community came out to see their guys in their finest hour and one fan was sure to pull Tyler aside and remind him that "if it wasn't for you, they wouldn't have made it into this game tonight." I couldn't agree more!
The Stahle's now await, quite impatiently, the first round of the NAIA National tournament against an in-state opponent (#6) Dordt College. Both teams seem loaded with offensive threats as they both rank in the top 3 of scoring offenses in the country; the Statesmen averaging 91 ppg with the Defenders average 89.
More news to come next week as the tournament gets underway!
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