1997-98 MIAA Men's Basketball Report

  League   Overall
  W L Avg. Opp.   W L Avg. Opp.
Hope 10 2 80.6 70.8   26 5 80.3 68.8
Albion 8 4 67.1 66.3   20 8 68.7 66.1
Calvin 8 4 82.4 73.6   16 10 84.0 75.0
Adrian 5 7 69.0 72.0   11 15 71.7 72.7
Kalamazoo 5 7 67.3 68.6   10 15 68.5 68.4
Alma 4 8 66.8 73.9   11 14 72.6 74.6
Olivet 2 10 77.8 85.7   5 20 78.2 86.3
Defiance - - - -   13 12 89.1 87.3

1997-98 MIAA Scoring Leaders:   1. Hollis Edwards, Adrian, 12-215-17.9; 2. Jeff Bell, Olivet, 12-212-17.7; 3. Aaron Winkle, Calvin, 12-199-16.6; 4. Joel Holstege, Hope, 12-192-16.0; 5. Rob Velthouse, Calvin, 12-168-14.0; 6. Dan Van Hekken, Hope, 12-156-13.0; 7. Ben Geerling, Albion, 12-152, 12-7; 8. Antonio Robinson, Olivet, 12-151-12.6; 9. Sam Hargraves, Calvin, 12-147-12.3; 10. Russ Iwema, Calvin, 12-143-11.9.

1997-98 Three-Point Shooting Leaders:   1. Josh Canan, Hope, 36-18.500; 2. Erick Shaffer, Albion, 39-19-.487; 3. Hollis Edwards, Adrian, 46-21-.457; 4. Dan Van Hekken, Hope, 62-26-.419; 5. Nate Karsten, Calvin, 44-18-.409; 6. Sam Hargraves, Calvin, 81-33-.407; 7. Mike Riley, Adrian, 84-31-.369; 8. Eric Spielhaupter, Alma, 74-27-.365; 9. Joel Holstege, Hope, 54-19-.352; 10. Ben Taylor, Adrian, 75-22-.293.

1997-98 Overall Field Goal Shooting Leaders:   1. Tim Czarnecki, Albion, 95-59-.621; 2. Bruce Lawrence, Olivet, 99-54-.545; 3. Rob Velthouse, Calvin, 120-64-.533; 4. Russ Iwema, Calvin, 106-53-.500; 4. Antonio Robinson, Olivet, 106-53-.500; 6. Joel Holstege, Hope, 134-66-.493; 7. Aaron Winkle, Calvin, 147-71-.483; 7. Brian Ellison, Kalamazoo, 120-58-.483; 9. Jeff Bell, Olivet, 169-80-.473; 10. Dan Van Hekken, Hope, 122-55-.451.

1997-98 Free Throw Shooting Leaders:   1. Doug Austin, Alma, 30-29-.967; 2. Pat Stegeman, Hope, 44-38-.864; 3. Steve Thwaites, Kalamazoo; 4. Antonio Robinson, Olivet, 52-41-.789; 5. Jeff Bell, Olivet; 54-42-.778; 6. Kris Merritt, Hope; 31-24-.774; 7. Hollis Edwards, Adrian, 46-34-.739; 8. Aaron Winkle, Calvin, 55-40-.727; 9. Russ Iwema, Calvin, 42-30-.714; 10. Rob Velthouse, Calvin, 56-40-.714.

1997-98 Rebound Leaders:   1. Aaron Winkle, Calvin, 12-96-8.0; 2. Ben Geerling, Albion, 12-95-7.9; 3. Jeremy Hyler, Alma, 12-89-7.4; 4. Brian Ellison, Kalamazoo, 12-82-6.8; Brian Ellison, Kalamazoo, 12-82-6.8; 5. Kris Merritt, Hope, 12-79-6.6; 6. Jeff Bell, Olivet, 12-77-6.4; 8. Tim Czarnecki, Albion, 12-70-5.8; 8. Russ Iwema, Calvin, 12-69-5.8; 10. Rob Velthouse, Calvin, 12-68-5.7.

1997-98 Assist Leaders:   1. Joel Holstege, Hope, 12-80-6.7; 2. Eddie Lampton, Albion, 12-43-3.6; 3. Mike Gotfredson, Calvin, 12-38-3.2; 4. Doug Shepherd, Albion, 12-36-3.0; 4. Derric Paige, Olivet, 11-33-3.0; 6. Mike Gunderson, Olivet, 12-35-2.9; 7. Jason Couisnard, Adrian, 12-33-2.8; 8. Sam Hargraves, Calvin, 12-31-2.6; 8. Ben Kitzrow, Calvin, 11-29-2.6; 10. Dan Van Hekken, Hope, 12-30-2.5.

1997-98 Blocked Shot Leaders:   1. Kris Merritt, Hope, 12-33-2.8; 2. Jeremy Hyler, Alma, 12-17-1.4; 3. Ben Geerling, Albion, 12-15-1.3; 3. Ryan Palmer, Olivet, 11-14-1.3; 5. Adam Nies, Adrian, 12-12-1.0.

1997-98 Steal Leaders:  1. Joel Holstege, Hope, 12-36-3.0; 2. Eddie Lampton, Albion, 12-32-2.7; 3. Antonio Robinson, Olivet, 12-31-2.6; 4. Hollis Edwards, Adrian, 12-28-2.3; 4. Dan Van Hekken, Hope, 12-28-2.3; 6. Jason Gubernath, Adrian, 12-24-2.0; 7. Russ Iwema, Calvin, 12-23-1.9; 7. Steve Jett, Kalamazoo, 12-23-1.9; 9. Aaron Winkle, Calvin, 12-21-1.8; 9. Brian Elison, Kalamazoo, 12-21-1.8.

All-MIAA Honors

Most Valuable Player
Joel Holstege, Hope (senior from Grandville/Covenant Christian HS)

All-MIAA First Team
Jeff Bell, Olivet** (junior from Quincy/Quincy HS)
Tim Czarnecki, Albion* (sophomore from Rochester Hills/Adams HS)
Hollis Edwards, Adrian** (senior from Michigan City, Ind./Elston)
Brian Ellison, Kalamazoo* (senior from LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte HS)
Ben Geerling, Albion* (senior from Grand Rapids/Catholic Central HS)
Joel Holstege, Hope*** (senior from Grandville/Covenant Christian HS)
Kris Merritt, Hope** (senior from Hudsonville/Jenison HS)
Aaron Winkle, Calvin* (sophomore from Laske City/McBain Christ. HS)

* denotes number of years All-MIAA

All-MIAA Second Team
Sanm Hargraves, Calvin (senior from Adamson/Adamson HS)
Russ Iwema, Calvin (senior from Grand Rapids/GR Christian HS)
Antonio Robinson, Olivet (junior from Memphis, Tenn./Horn Lake)
Dan VanHekken, Hope (senior from Holland/Holland HS)
Rob Velthouse, Calvin (senior from Grand Rapids/Calvin Christian HS)

1997-98 Players of the Week

Player of the Week Honor Roll
Jeff Bell, Olivet
David Meulenberg, Hope
Hollis Edwards, Adrian
Sam Hargraves, Calvin
Ben Geerling, Albion
David Meulenberg, Hope and Joel Holstege, Hope
Russ Iwema, Calvin
David Meulenberg, Hope
Aaron Winkle, Calvin
Tim Czarnecki, Albion
Eric Spielhaupter, Alma
Aaron Winkle, Calvin
Joel Holstege, Hope
Jason Klein and Tim Czarnecki of Albion (3/1, last of the season)