Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Unselfish and experienced, the 2007-08 Heidelberg Men’s Basketball team was the first and, to date, only squad in program history to win an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title. Heidelberg went 23-6 overall, 14-4 in OAC play -- the second team to eclipse the 20-win plateau.
Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Duane Sheldon, the Student Princes boasted a starting lineup of veteran players who had grown together on the hardwood inside Seiberling Gymnasium. Five players averaged more than 10 points per game, but none averaged more than 15.
The team won seven of its first eight games, then capped the 2007 calendar year off by splitting a pair of games in San Diego, California. The Berg went 6-2 in January, falling to No. 13 Capital and Ohio Northern, but avenging an early-season loss to Wilmington.
By mid-February, the Student Princes were rolling. They ended the regular season winners of five straight, including an upset of No. 8 Capital and a double-overtime triumph at Muskingum.
In the tournament as the No. 2 seed, Heidelberg walloped John Carroll, 104-74, in the quarterfinals. A large contingent of ‘Berg fans traveled to Columbus to cheer the team onto a neutral-site victory over Baldwin Wallace, 99-80.
The Tricolor rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat host Capital, 83-75, to the claim OAC Championship and win the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
A loss in the opening round of the tournament did little to tarnish the remarkable accomplishments of the team. Three players -- Shawn Shriver, Brian Schmidt, and Andrew Lemmon -- were members of the 1,000-point club, with another -- Ron Higgins -- on the bench as an assistant coach. Lemmon averaged 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and was an All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Lemmon, a First Team All-OAC selection, was joined by Chad Szalay (Second Team) and Brian Schmidt (Honorable Mention) on the league’s postseason honor roll.
Off the court, Lemmon and Jake Hessey earned NABC Honors Court commendations for their academic prowess.
The 2007-08 team remains as the gold standard against which all other Heidelberg Men’s Basketball teams are measured -- a true testament to their well-earned success.
ROSTER:
1 Greg Tyson, Jr. G Sr. 6-5 Lima, Ohio / Lima Senior
2 Shawn Shriver G Sr. 6-0 Bellevue, Ohio / Western Reserve
3 Tyson Depinet G Sr. 6-2 New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel
5 Matt Eberle G Sr. 6-2 Grove City, Ohio / Central Crossing
10 Josh Calver G So. 6-1 Shelby, Ohio / Shelby
11 Jake Hessey G Jr. 5-11 Crestline, Ohio / Colonel Crawford
12 Seth Robertson G Fr. 6-2 Burton, Ohio / Newbury
15 Kyle Brubaker G Fr. 6-1 Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry
21 Chad Szalay G Jr. 6-0 Lorain, Ohio / Clearview
22 Travis Kinn F So. 6-5 Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel
23 Jim Smalley G So. 6-2 Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark
24 Cory Timbs C Fr. 6-9 Vermilion, Ohio / Vermilion
25 Andrew Stanchak F Jr. 6-2 Lorain, Ohio / Clearview
30 Chance Farnsworth F So. 6-6 Wadsworth, Ohio / Highland
32 Drew McClellan F Fr. 6-6 Upper Sandusky, Ohio / Upper Sandusky
33 Andrew Lemmon G Sr. 6-5 Port Clinton, Ohio / Port Clinton
40 Brian Schmidt C Sr. 6-6 Hinckley, Ohio / Brunswick
44 Shane Johnston F So. 6-4 Norwalk, Ohio / Norwal
Head Coach: Duane Sheldon (6th Season)
Assistant Coaches: Zach Robertson, Ron Higgins, Larry Kisabeth
Student Assistant: Rob Hawn
