Grace seizes fourth straight CL tourney title
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball made Crossroads League history on Monday night in the 2025 CL Tournament championship game.
The Lancers beat Huntington 78-72, winning their fourth straight tournament title. It marks the first time in Crossroads League history that a team has won four tournaments in a row.
Grace has now won every conference trophy since March 2022, a dynasty that includes four tournaments and three consecutive regular season crowns.
Grace (26-5) used a fierce second-half defensive effort on Monday, recovering from a halftime deficit to beat the Foresters.
The game lived up to the hype from the opening tipoff. The standing-room-only crowd was electric, fueling the charged atmosphere throughout the contest.
Huntington struck first, hitting a trio of 3-pointers over the first 4:06 to grab a quick 13-8 lead.
Grace countered with 10 unanswered points. Brett Sickafoose and Gage Sefton hit triples, and Ian Scott scored four as Grace pulled in front 18-15.
The score remained virtually deadlocked throughout the middle portions of the half until HU caught fire late. The Foresters scored in a flurry, taking a 40-35 lead as the game reached halftime.
Grace shot 46 percent from the floor compared to HU’s 56 percent. Scott and Ian Raasch had eight points to lead Grace at the intermission.
Just over three minutes into the second half, Grace had cut the deficit to one on a basket from Brycen Graber.
The Foresters clung to the lead, however, for the next seven minutes, holding off the Lancers.
But as the second half continued, Grace began to assert itself on offense. The Lancers turned defensive stops into transition baskets.
Grace also attacked the post, finding height advantages to score at the rim.
A layup from Hunter Walston put the Lancers on top 57-56. The crowd exploded one play later as Raasch converted an and-1 to push Grace’s lead to four with 8:50 remaining.
The Foresters battled back, recovering to grab a 63-62 advantage with six minutes to play.
Grace then scored on its next two possessions, taking the lead for good. Sickafoose and Carter Stoltzfus scored inside, and the Foresters never tasted the lead again.
Grace’s size advantage began to wear down the Foresters, and the Lancers repeatedly earned trips to the foul line.
The Lancers were lethal at the free throw stripe, making a sizzling 23 of 25 (92 percent) for the game.
Grace did not miss a free throw until 39 seconds remaining in regulation, connecting on 21 straight free throws to start the game.
The Lancers scored on six of their final seven possessions, extending their lead as the clock wore down.
Grace held HU to just two made field goals over the final 6:14 of regulation, allowing the Lancers to celebrate another net-cutting ceremony in front of a euphoric home crowd.
In the second half, Grace shot 69 percent from the floor despite not making a 3-pointer. Huntington was muted to 32 points after halftime on 37 percent shooting.
Scott produced 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Lancers. Sefton poured in 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals, and Raasch added 17 points, 6 boards and 2 assists.
Graber and Sickafoose each scored seven, Justin DeGraaf had four points and five rebounds, and Stoltzfus added 4 points, 3 assists and 3 turnovers.
In three tournament games, Stoltzfus racked up 19 assists with just one turnover.
The Lancers will await the announcement of the 2025 NAIA national tournament bracket on Thursday at 8 p.m. Grace is already guaranteed a host bid, meaning the Lancers will host three other teams to Winona Lake for the NAIA First and Second Rounds.
The opening two rounds will be held on March 14-15. The winner of each host site will advance to Kansas City beginning March 20 for the remainder of the national tournament.