Notre Dame College men's basketball coach Mark Richmond gives last-minute instructions to players before the start of the second half Feb. 7 against Concord. (David S. Glaser – for the News Herald)
It's a challenge to navigate the ups and downs of a college basketball season even in stable times.
These times are not set in stone at Notre Dame College for women's basketball coach Lauren Maker, men's coach Mark Richmond and their players.
The future of the four-year liberal arts school hangs in the balance after 102 years. Various published reports have indicated that the Tadweer Center Board of Trustees is about to cease work at the end of the current semester.
Other reports indicate that the South Euclid campus and NDC infrastructure are being absorbed by Cleveland State or nearby John Carroll University.
Against this backdrop shrouded in uncertainty, Foxy and Richmond have NCAA Division II teams holding strong in the rugged Mountain East Conference.
The NDC women showed their determination on Feb. 7 at Murphy Gymnasium, ralliing in the fourth quarter to pull out an 83-81 win over Concord.
Junior guard Carrie Anker hit a 3-pointer from the right wing, beating the final buzzer by fractions of a second, to lead the Falcons to a victory that sparked a wild celebration on the court.
“The game wasn't designed for me, but the ball came to me and I had to get it out on time. Fortunately, it went in,” Anker said with a smile. She finished with 11 points.
Sophomore forward Noel Weathers tallied game-high totals of 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots as NDC raised its records to 7-14 overall and 4-10 in the MEC.
Concord fell to 11-10 overall and 7-7 in the MEC.
Weathers leads her team with averages of 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds.
“We all know what's going on,” she said of the school's precarious situation. “We come together as a team and play every game like it's our last.”
Messer said her players were not distracted by outside noise.
“They're focused now,” Maker said. “Nothing is certain. Nothing is known. They compete every game, then move on to the next game.”
The NDC men fell short to Concord 87-79 in a fast-paced game that took the visitors by storm in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Trent Williams scored a team-high 20 points as the Falcons fell to 10-10 overall and 5-9 in the MEC.
“We're sticking together and staying positive,” Williams said. “I'm not thinking about the possibility of closing school. I'm focusing on taking things day by day, going to classes and practices.
Richmond said there was no escape from the uncertainty of the NDC's future.
“Obviously we have a distraction. It's our job as a team to control what we can control,” he said.
Concord improved to 15-4 overall and 10-4 in the MEC.
The NDC women and men will next play on February 10 at Glenville State (West Virginia). Reports will be at 1pm and 3pm respectively.
