February 27, 2013
Hope hopes to extend its season
Hope secured its place in the field with a battle worthy of the national semifinals, at least.

February 20, 2013
Centre looking for redemption
Centre doesn’t bring up last year’s conference title game loss to Trinity (Texas) too often. But forgetting it is impossible. More in Around the Region.

February 12, 2013
Niekamp in the family business
Spencer Niekamp wasn’t born in a gym, but he has spent a good part of his life in one, with a brother ahead of him at Capital and his father and uncle coaches.

February 5, 2013
Juggling it all at Louisiana College
Life as a student-athlete isn’t easy. It can get crazy trying to juggle life on and off the court, and Natosha Gottlieb, destined to go down as one of the greatest players in Wildcats history, will be the first to admit it.

January 30, 2013
Don't talk about last year
Thomas More's men's basketball team was just five points from the NCAA Tournament in 2012, but they never have to even talk about it. The memory is motivation enough.

January 22, 2013
For ONU, signs of success are everywhere
Winning isn’t new to Ohio Northern. But the Polar Bears' 15-game win streak and No. 8 ranking are turning heads.

January 15, 2013
Letting his actions speak
If you are looking for an indication of the type of player Tra Benefield is for Christopher Newport, look past the flashy stats and his ability to take over a game on any given night.

January 8, 2013
DePauw breezing at No. 1
DePauw's Kate Walker is having a lot of fun being point guard for the No. 1 women's basketball team in the country.

December 18, 2012
Looking to get back
Jake Mays got a little more than a taste of the Final Four when Wooster reached Salem in 2011. He's looking to get the Scots back there.

December 5, 2012
This looks familiar
It appears the Calvin College women’s basketball team has picked up where it’s left off from last season: two wins over nationally ranked teams and a No. 3 ranking. More in Around the Region.

November 27, 2012
Back, and even better
Hampden-Sydney standout Harrison George tested himself in the offseason and may have come back to campus an even better shooter.

March 1, 2012
From Texas to Oregon
It has been a crazy week for Shamika Singleton and her Concordia (Texas) teammates. The Tornados swept through the ASC tournament and are headed to Oregon for the NCAA Tournament.

February 23, 2012
Bethany on the rise
Men's basketball has been played at Bethany for more than 100 years. And yet, in that time, no team has ever been nationally ranked. That ended this week. More in Around the Great Lakes/South.

February 16, 2012
Defense has Ferrum rolling
The Panthers are hitting their stride after making some changes on the defensive side of the ball. More in Around the Great Lakes/South.

February 9, 2012
Getting known for winning
Schreiner's contribution to the Division III national consciousness is a record women's basketball losing streak and the men have only been slightly better. Until this year, that is. Hard work pays off for the Mountaineers.

February 2, 2012
Learning from the tough time
Everything is coming up roses (or tulips, perhaps) for Hope men's basketball these days. Our debut Around the Great Lakes/South column looks at the Flying Dutchmen and lessons learned in their lone loss.



Brian Lester

Brian Lester

Brian Lester is a reporter in Findlay, Ohio. He has 14 years of experience at newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio, spending the last 10 at The Courier in Findlay. The highlight of his career was covering the University of Findlay men's basketball team's perfect 36-0 run to an NCAA Division II national championship in 2009. During his career, has covered all three levels of the NCAA tourney and has done freelance work for newspapers and web sites. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois and lives in Ottawa with his wife and daughter.

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