On this week of Ferris Sports Update, Rob Bentley is joined by Ferris Hockey Head Coach Bob Daniels, Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach La’Karis Salter, and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Andy Bronkema.
Men’s Hockey
First up on Ferris Sports Update, Rob sits down with Ferris Hockey head coach Bob Daniels to
talk about the team’s recent road trip to Bemidji State for the first round of CCHA tournament
play in a best of 3 series against the Beavers.
The first game was Friday, March 8, and it was a very competitive game. Ferris struck first and
second in the game, getting out to a 2-goal lead in the first 10 minutes of the game before the
Beavers scored late in the first period. The score was 2-1 at the first intermission. The Beavers
scored first in the second period to Je the game, but Ferris answered right back to take the lead
back, and would score once more to extend the lead to 4-2. However, the Beavers would score a goal on the power play with less than a minute left in the period to make the score 4-3 going into the second intermission. Ferris held the lead throughout the third period up until the final minute where the Beavers scored a goal to Je the game and send it to overtime. Unfortunately, the Beavers would score the game winning goal in the first minute of overtime to secure a victory in game one.
In game two the next day, the game stayed scoreless through the first period, with Bemidji State
scoring first in the second period and would score two more times to take a 3-0 lead going into
the second intermission. The Beavers would score once more to extend the lead to 4-0, and it
would stay that way until the final buzzer, as the Beavers secured the two-game sweep of the
Bulldogs to move on in the CCHA tournament.
Daniels also reflects on the development of some of the younger players on the team as they
project to take bigger roles on the team next year.
Women’s Basketball
Next Bentley talked to Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach La’Karis Salter, Bentley started the conversation congratulating Salter on the regular season in which they ended up going 15-3 in the conference and 22-5 overall. They then talked about their first game of the tournament in which they were able to win against Saginaw Valley State, they then talked about the semifinal game against Northern Michigan. Salter mentioned how minor errors were the things that they needed to fix in order to win the game, but sadly ended up losing 63-56.
Next, they talked about their future regional quarter final match down in Allendale, MI against Lewis University. When asked what it will take for the bulldogs to get the win, Salter answered “Toughness and grit, sticking to our game plan, sticking to our scout, and being the best we can be.” Lastly, they talked about the players that make the team and how the work ethic and focus that they have made the team as strong as it was this year.
Men’s Basketball
The last guest on this episode of Ferris Sports Update is Andy Bronkema, Head Coach of the men’s basketball team. Andy and Rob discuss how the GLIAC Tournament Championship went this past weekend.
The first game in the GLIAC Tournament Championship was against Wisconsin Parkside at home. This game was an insanely close game with Parkside only needing to make a 3 pointer to win, but they didn’t make it and Ferris took home the win. Andy, however, took the time to praise Parkside and how they played during the game.
against Wayne State, which was an away game. Wayne State initially had the lead going into the first half of the game. Ferris was able to pull through and make some great plays to eventually win the game with a 10-point lead.
Ferris took on Grand Valley State at Marquette for the last game of the GLIAC Tournament Championship. This game, just like the last two, started out with the opposing side in the lead during the first half. However, Ferris was able to settle in and make some great plays in the second half to snatch the win.
After winning all three games, Ferris State University became the 2024 winners of the GLIAC Tournament Championship. Next week, Ferris moves on to the NCAA Tournament first facing Northern Michigan University