WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team opened up the new year with a dominant performance on Saturday.
The No. 16 Lancers (12-3, 4-1 Crossroads League) defeated Goshen 111-67, controlling nearly every statistical category to record the team's fifth-straight win.
Grace finished the game shooting 61 percent as a team and 39 percent from the 3-point line. Goshen was held to 40 percent shooting (27 percent on 3s).
Grace amassed 30 assists on 46 made field goals, all while committing just seven turnovers.
The Lancers had five players finish with double-digit scoring, and 12 players registered a point overall. Grace also had 47 rebounds, more than doubling up Goshen.
Brett Sickafoose helped the Lancers gain an early advantage. Sickafoose opened the game's scoring with a 3-pointer. Before nine minutes had expired, Sickafoose had four triples, and Grace had a 10-point lead.
The Lancers passed the ball well, resulting in a pair of early dunks by Ian Scott.
Goshen did its best to keep within range, but Grace's offense was too potent. The Lancers led 48-33 as the game reached halftime.
Grace shot 54 percent from the floor led by Sickafoose's 14 points.
The Maple Leafs (5-10, 0-5 CL) were outscored 30-8 in the paint and 14-2 in points off turnovers.
The Lancers continued to sizzle offensively to begin the second half. Grace made seven of its first eight field goals after halftime.
Gage Sefton canned back-to-back 3-pointers as Grace led by 21. At the midway mark of the half, Grace's lead blossomed to 29.
As the half continued, Grace's transition game worked to perfection. The Lancers had 17 fastbreak points after halftime, turning defensive stops into quick layups.
Grace racked up 18 unanswered points midway into the half, doing most of its damage with bench scoring.
The Lancers eclipsed the century mark with 5:25 remaining on a layup from Cole Hayworth, and the Lancers strolled to the 44-point win.
Sickafoose scored a team-high 23 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the 3-point line. Sefton had 20 points, shooting 7 of 10 overall and 3 of 3 from downtown.
Scott tallied 13 points, 7 boards and 5 assists, Ian Raasch had 13 points with seven points, and Hunter Walston had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Brycen Graber handed out nine assists with a 3-pointer, and Carter Stoltzfus had 6 assists, 4 points and 4 boards.
Justin DeGraaf finished with seven points and five rebounds, Isaac Schultz collected four points with six rebounds, Hayworth scored five, Marcus Davidson had seven points in seven minutes, and Cannen Houser notched two points with an assist.
The Lancers will battle a pair of ranked opponents next week. On Wednesday, Grace will travel to No. 17 Huntington (7:30 p.m.). On Saturday, Grace will host rival No. 10 Bethel at 3 p.m., following the women's matchup at 1 p.m.
