Does the Slipper Fit?

Valpo Faces Bradley

(St. Louis, MO) – With eleventh seeded Valparaiso in the Saturday semifinals of Arch Madness, the big question is ‘does the slipper fit?’ Every March there are Cinderella stories and Roger Powell Jr’s Beacons hope to write the next chapter.

But they must face the big, bad Bradley Braves to keep this novel’s pages turning.

Valpo reaches the semifinals after wins over Illinois Chicago and Friday’s thrilling 64-63 win over Northern Iowa. The Beacons built a 19-point, second half lead behind the explosive play of All Wright (29 points) and Cooper Schwieger (18 points, ten rebounds and five blocks), but then watched it evaporate under the full-court Panther pressure.

Powell’s gritty Beacons responded, regaining the lead and holding off the equally gritty Panthers.

Second seeded Bradley defeated Murray State (70-62). The Braves (25-7) have won four straight games and are playing in their third consecutive semifinal game and their sixth in the last eight years.

Four Bradley players reached double figures in scoring. Darius Hannah (17 points), Duke Deen (16), Jaquan Johnson (11) and Zek Montgomery (10) sparked the offense and turned a one-point half-time deficit into the eight-point final decision.

Does the Slipper Fit Saturday?

Valpo dropped both of its regular season encounters with Bradley, but the Beacons (15-18) have grown all season long. They have won four of their last six games. The two losses were to Bradley and to UIC. They immediately avenged that UIC defeat. Can they do the same to Bradley today.

This will be Cinderella’s third game in three days, so fatigue could be a factor, but Schwieger has become a physical force, blocking shots, rebounding and scoring and Wright may be the most exciting player in the Valley. His scoring ability and swagger ignite friend and foe.

Bradley’s veteran bunch has stayed together to play this weekend in St. Louis. All season long these all conference players have pointed to Arch Madness. First-teamer Duke Deen, second-teamer Darius Hannah and third-teamer Zek Montgomery all average double digits in scorring. Fellow senior Christian Davis averages 9.6 points. Each of the veterans believe this is their year.

Davis sustained an ankle injury and is listed as questionable.

The Braves should win this game, but it is March. Does the slipper fit?

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