2008 Woodie Awards
Team overcomes sluggish start with lively finish
By: Grant Bissell
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: Sports
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It truly was a tale of two seasons for the Webster University men's basketball team this year.
The Gorloks started the season in disappointing fashion, losing their first six games. The team faced stiff competition from schools like Washington University, Transylvania University and the University of Tennessee-Martin and took nearly a month to record its first win. After that, the Gorloks lost another four in a row, including their first conference match, and found themselves looking up at an almost hopeless 1-10 record.
But something happened during a game Jan. 18 against the Highlanders of MacMurray College. The Gorloks found themselves down 29-19 at the end of the first half. Doubly demoralizing because, at this point in the season, Webster had lost every game they were trailing at halftime. This game, however, would prove to be different. The Gorloks came out of the locker room with renewed confidence and determination. They shot 62 percent from the floor in the second half and overcame the 10-point deficit to record their first road win of the season.
The win over MacMurray ignited a flame in the Gorloks and lit the way to a seven- game tear through the conference. Suddenly, the Gorloks were 9-11 overall and 7-2 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
However, Webster came down off its winning high after a tough, four-point loss to Blackburn College Feb. 8. The Gorloks then took out their frustrations by beating MacMurray and Principia Colleges for the second time this season.
Following those wins, Webster, a team that started off 1-10, had a conference record of 9-3 and found itself tied for first place in the SLIAC with Maryville University and Blackburn College. The Gorloks had a legitimate chance at hosting the post-season tournament at home and winning the conference. With only two games remaining in the season, the Gorloks would have to win out and hope for a loss by Maryville and Blackburn.
The Gorloks didn't do themselves any favors, though. They lost an overtime heartbreaker by two points to a young Fontbonne team and ultimately locked themselves into a third place seed in the conference tournament.
The Gorloks started the season in disappointing fashion, losing their first six games. The team faced stiff competition from schools like Washington University, Transylvania University and the University of Tennessee-Martin and took nearly a month to record its first win. After that, the Gorloks lost another four in a row, including their first conference match, and found themselves looking up at an almost hopeless 1-10 record.
But something happened during a game Jan. 18 against the Highlanders of MacMurray College. The Gorloks found themselves down 29-19 at the end of the first half. Doubly demoralizing because, at this point in the season, Webster had lost every game they were trailing at halftime. This game, however, would prove to be different. The Gorloks came out of the locker room with renewed confidence and determination. They shot 62 percent from the floor in the second half and overcame the 10-point deficit to record their first road win of the season.
The win over MacMurray ignited a flame in the Gorloks and lit the way to a seven- game tear through the conference. Suddenly, the Gorloks were 9-11 overall and 7-2 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
However, Webster came down off its winning high after a tough, four-point loss to Blackburn College Feb. 8. The Gorloks then took out their frustrations by beating MacMurray and Principia Colleges for the second time this season.
Following those wins, Webster, a team that started off 1-10, had a conference record of 9-3 and found itself tied for first place in the SLIAC with Maryville University and Blackburn College. The Gorloks had a legitimate chance at hosting the post-season tournament at home and winning the conference. With only two games remaining in the season, the Gorloks would have to win out and hope for a loss by Maryville and Blackburn.
The Gorloks didn't do themselves any favors, though. They lost an overtime heartbreaker by two points to a young Fontbonne team and ultimately locked themselves into a third place seed in the conference tournament.