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Home > Blogs > Springfield, Ohio High School Sports > Archives > 2009 > March > 19 > Entry
On this date in area sports history …
Three years ago on this date, March 19, 2006, the Wittenberg men’s basketball team returned from Salem, Va., after losing in the NCAA championship game. Complete story on the jump.
Long bus ride puts Tigers’ season in perspective
National runners-up savor memorable year
By LUCAS SULLIVAN News-Sun Sports Writer
Wittenberg’s bus ride back from Salem was the same distance, but after Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Virginia Wesleyan it probably felt a lot longer.
Players were in good spirits when the bus rolled toward Springfield at 9:35 a.m. and by the time it stopped for lunch just outside of Charleston, W.Va., players were laughing and talking with Tigers fans that had stopped at the same travel plaza.
Coach Bill Brown even treated the team to frozen yogurt.
But before the players left Salem, Va., Brown read from a hand-written note that contained his thoughts about the team’s 59-56 loss to the Marlins in the Division III NCAA championship game.
Brown said the game will “gnaw at me for the rest of my life” and told players that the devastating loss needed to be put into perspective, behind family and health. He also told them to lean on their faith.
The Tigers could also lean on some magical moments throughout a season that saw them finish 30-4. One would have to be Friday’s semifinals win over Amherst where senior Dan Russ scored 20 second-half points and rallied the Tigers to a 64-60 win.
Another would have to be the Tigers’ tournament run that never left Springfield until the Final Four.
And don’t forget their second straight North Coast Athletic Conference title at Wooster, where Wittenberg atoned for two regular-season losses to the Scots with a 71-69 finals win. Plus the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the nation for a good part of the season.
Brown also tied Larry Hunter’s all-time wins record at 305 and the Tigers tied the 1994 Final Four team’s record for most wins in a season.
But probably the most memorable was watching seniors Kenny Brady, Phil Steffes, Dane Borchers and Russ play the best basketball Wittenberg has seen in quite a while. And Borchers has one more year of eligibility left and said he will be back next season.
As the bus drove onto Wittenberg’s campus at 4:30 p.m., Brown acknowledged his seniors.
“This is their last bus ride,” he said. “Thanks guys — for everything.”
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