Panthers roll to 13th Collier championship

Four players reached double figures to help propel Hanover College's men's basketball team to a 79-62 victory against Shawnee State University (Ohio) in the championship of the 15th-annual John R. Collier tournament. The title game was played Sunday, Nov. 25, in Collier Arena.

Clint Parker

Senior guard Clint Parker (Brownstown, Ind), who was named the tournament's most valuable player, scored 15 points and dished out four assists to lead the Panthers to the program's 13th Collier crown.

Senior swingman Marc O'Leary (Terre Haute, Ind.) and sophomore guard Jake Inman (North Vernon, Ind.) were each named to the all-tournament squad. O'Leary scored 15 points, while Inman added 11 points for Hanover (4-1).

Freshman forward Mitchell Meyer (New Albany, Ind.) added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Dan O'Leary (Terre Haute, Ind.), named the event's top defensive player, added eight points and four boards for the Panthers.

Senior guard Josh Reed led Shawnee State with 16 points. Reed represented the Bears (4-2) on the all-tournament squad.

Hanover canned 15 three-pointers in the outing and shot 50 percent from long range (15-of-30). The Panthers earned a 28-24 advantage on the glass and forced 16 turnovers.

In the consolation game, Olivet College (Mich.) outlasted Brescia University (Ky.), 90-85, to win the third-place contest.

Freshman center Michael McClary scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high 15 boards to lead Olivet (2-3). Senior guard Brandon Way, who was named to the all-tournament squad, added 17 points for the Comets.

Sophomore guard Andrew Howard netted 31 points to pace Brescia. Junior guard Anthony McNeal, a member of the all-tourney team, added 27 points and seven rebounds for the Bearcats (2-5).

Hanover vs. Shawnee State stats available here.

Brescia vs. Olivet stats available here.

Hanover thumps Simmons in home debut

Hanover College's women's basketball team coasted to a 71-48 victory against Simmons College (Ky.) in its 2007 home debut. The contest was played Sunday, Nov. 25, in Collier Arena.

Lacey Hornaday

Freshman guard Lacey Hornaday (Rushville, Ind.) made 8-of-9 field goals and scored 18 points to spark Hanover to a win in the program's first meeting with Simmons.

Senior forward Kim Byrdwell (Danville, Ind.) netted 13 points off the bench and junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers (2-1).

Sophomore guard LaQuisha Wharton scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to pace Simmons (4-5). Freshman guard Donisha Richardson added 13 points and four assists for the Lady Panthers.

Hornday scored 13 points to help Hanover jump out to a 36-13 lead at the intermission. Byrdwell scored seven quick points early in the second half as the Panthers opened a 33-point lead (58-25) with 10 minutes to play.

Hanover vs. Simmons stats available here.

Panthers put 10 on conference football team

Ten members of the Hanover College football squad have been named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's all-league team. The honorees were selected by the conference's eight head coaches.

Corey Fogle

Senior running back Corey Fogle (St. Joe, Ind.), junior receiver/quarterback Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) and senior defensive lineman Luke Keller (Jasper, Ind.) were each named to the Heartland Conference's first team.

Fogle led the Panthers in both receiving and rushing during the 2007 campaign. He caught 76 passes for 559 yards with two touchdowns. He rushed 142 times for 471 yards and five touchdowns.

Thiems split time at receiver and quarterback through Hanover's 10 games. He had 29 receptions for 534 yards with four touchdowns. In a stint as the Panthers' signalcaller, he completed 61-of-113 passes for 623 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Keller led the Panthers' defensive linemen with 51 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Tyler Thiems

Linebackers Daniel Cornely (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) and Michael Spillmann (Franklin, Ind.), along with defensive end/punter Andrew Houtsch (Otwell, Ind.) and placekicker Matt Herron (Greenwood, Ind.) were second-team honorees.

Cornely and Spillmann each started the season on the bench and earned increased playing time as the season progressed.

Cornely, a sophomore, led Hanover with 114 tackles. He posted 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Spillmann had 82 tackles and led the Panthers with 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Houtsch, a former receiver, shifted to the defensive line at the start of the season. He collected 27 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. As the Panthers' punter, he booted a school-record 71 times with an average of 36.5 yards per punt.

Herron, who also was an all-conference selection last season, totaled a team-high 42 points. He converted 7-of-11 field goals and made all 21 point-after-touchdown attempts.

Senior linebacker Alex Middendorf (Hamilton, Ohio), senior defensive back Chan Nelson (Louisville, Ky.) and senior offensive lineman Clarke Hall (Cincinnati, Ohio) were honorable mention selections.

Hanover capped its season with a 2-8 record. The Panthers placed sixth in the Heartland Conference with a 2-5 mark.

Youth hoops tourney slated for Jan. 5

The Hanover College men's basketball program will host its 11th annual Little Panther Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 5, in Collier Arena.

The event features both boys' and girls' tournaments for third/fourth grade teams, fifth/sixth grade teams, seventh grade teams and eighth grade teams. Participating teams are guaranteed a minimum of two games in the event.

Registration for the Little Panther Youth Basketball Tournament can be completed by CLICKING HERE. Please be sure to select your appropriate age bracket.

Please note, registration will not be complete until payment is received ($100/team). Please make checks payable to "Hanover College Men's Basketball Program." Send check to: Joe Neuman, Hanover College, P.O. Box 108, Hanover, IN 47243-0108.