Oct. 14, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Fan fun and close scrimmages were the hallmark of Friday's Redbird HoopFest in Redbird Arena, the official start of men's and women's basketball practice by the IIllinois State Redbird basketball teams.
Athletics director Sheahon Zenger welcomed a crowd of about 1,500 and others viewing the first live stream video event presented on GoRedbirds.com, the Redbird web site.
Veteran public address announcers Steve Adams (men) and Dave Colee (women) introduced the men's and women's players alternately, including five new women's players and seven newcomers to the men's team, along with head coaches Porter Moser and Robin Pingeton.
Pingeton thought it was a great start of what could be a season-opening tradition at Redbird Arena.
"I think we can build on this and fill this place for this event next year," said Pingeton, who led the women's team to the 2005 NCAA Tournament. "I think this is a good way to kick off our season with energy and enthusiasm. We appreciate our fans and how they are the sixth man for both of these teams."
Moser addressed the large groups of students on hand.
"Students, you truly make a difference," said Moser, starting his third year as Redbird head coach. "This isn't just our team. It's your team. These young men and women have worked very hard all summer. (Redbird Arena) is no doubt the best arena in our state and in the Midwest. And our fans, especially you students, make this such a great place to play."
The three-point shooting contest started the on-court events. After preliminaries, sharp-shooting junior Megan McCracken edged freshman Brandon Holtz 11-6 in the finals.
The men's team had a slam dunk contest judged by a panel of four student fans plus Bloomington Pantagraph Sports Editor Bryan Bloodworth. Senior Nedu Onyeuku matched-up with freshman Eric Vianney in the finals. Onyeuku winning with a soaring dunk over teammate Travis Wallace, who was seated on a bench chair half-way up the free throw lane.
The women's scrimmage was a basket-trading affair until freshman Brea Banks hit a baseline jumper to put the White team ahead 10-8 with 4:20 left. Defense dominated from that point, with the only basket in the final four minutes an Amber Shelton layup just ahead of the buzzer on the running clock to give White a 12-8 win over Red. Megan McCracken scored three of the six White team buckets, two on nifty assists by Tiffany Hudson.
The Red team took a 17-9 lead into the final two minutes of the men's scrimmage, but freshman Roberto Fortes hit back-to-back three-pointers to slice that lead to 17-15. The White team had a shot to tie, but junior Greg Dilligard, one of the Missouri Valley's top shot blockers in 2004-05, swatted freshman Mike Vandello's attempt under the basket to preserve the win. Vianney led the Red team with six points on a pair of three-pointers.
Veteran Redbird fans Gary and Sue Blakeney have been watching Redbird men's and women's basketball for more than 20 years. They thought the event was exciting.
"I'm anxious to see how things shape up for the men with so many new faces. Porter will be enthusiastic with them and they will improve," said Gary Blakeney. "Looking at the women's team on the floor, you can see that they are young, but they have good athletic ability, good height and good potential."
The women play their first exhibition game Nov. 5 vs. Odyssey. First up for the men's team is a Nov. 9 engagement against Augustana of South Dakota. Both games are in Redbird Arena.
