There has been a Niekamp playing college basketball in Ohio every year for the past decade. Spencer Niekamp is having the best season of his career as a senior. Capital athletics photo by Andrea Kjerrumgaard

Spencer Niekamp wasn’t born in a gym, but he has spent a good part of his life in one.

He grew up in a basketball family in Ohio. His father, Joe, was his high school basketball coach at small-school power St. Henry and his uncle, Ron, won 500 games during a 26-year career at the University of Findlay, including an NCAA Division II national title during a perfect 36-0 season in 2008-09.

Then there is Niekamp’s older brother, Ross, a former standout at Capital. Spencer is now following in those footsteps as the senior forward has the Crusaders on the brink of a second consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference championship and a return trip to the NCAA tournament.

“I was constantly around the game,” Niekamp said. “My brother and I had some pretty good battles in the driveway back home and I was fortunate enough to see him play some games in college and learn a lot from him. And being coached by my dad was special. We’d come home from practice or a game and then talk about it. Basketball has been a big part of my life.”

Winning has, too, and Niekamp and the Crusaders are in the midst of another successful season. They enter the final week of the regular season at 17-6 overall and in first place by a game in the OAC with a 14-2 record.

The Crusaders have rattled off six consecutive wins and have had their success fueled by Niekamp and the four other seniors on the roster.

“It comes down to our seniors,” Capital coach Damon Goodwin said. “We have put this team in their laps. We always say it’s our program, but it’s their team. They have all been great leaders and have done all of the little things right to be successful.”

Niekamp said he and his veteran teammates owe a lot to last year’s senior class.

“Those guys were great leaders and we learned so much from them,” Niekamp said. “We just want to do what we can to keep the tradition of success going.”

It hasn’t been a problem.

Niekamp has led the way, pouring in 14.7 points per outing and pulling down 5.6 rebounds per game. He has drilled 44 3-pointers and has tallied 34 assists and 10 steals.

The thing is, Niekamp doesn’t have to carry the team on his shoulders. He has plenty of help.

Senior wing Michael Sommer is clicking for 12.5 points per outing and has knocked down 38 treys. Senior guard Tim Congrove is pouring in 8.7 points per game and has nailed 46 treys. Senior point guard Mitch Westerheide is averaging 8.3 points per outing and has racked up 28 steals while senior guard Damon Dillard has scored 80 points, including 45 from beyond the arc.

A total of seven players average at least five points per game and the Crusaders are putting up 70.6 points per outing.

“I’m not one of those players who can create his own shot, so I owe a lot of credit to my teammates for helping to get open for good shots,” Niekamp said. “We definitely trust in each other and we know that anyone is capable of having a big game. It’s nice not having to rely on just one or two players.”

Not every team is willing to buy into an unselfish brand of basketball. Goodwin didn’t need to do much to sell the concept to his players.

“We have a very unselfish basketball team, and all of those guys have bought into playing that way,” Goodwin said. “We have a lot of players capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. We are really starting to play a lot better offensively lately, too, and our really finding our rhythm.”

It didn’t start out that way for Capital. The early-season schedule was downright brutal. The Crusaders lost three of their first four, including an 80-45 setback to a Wheaton team currently ranked No. 21 and a 49-47 loss to St. Mary’s (Md.), which is the No. 6 team in the nation this week.

The other loss was to Wittenberg (66-54) and the only win during that opening stretch was an 83-73 win over Alma.

“We wanted to challenge our team more this year after winning the conference last season,” Goodwin said. “Wheaton face-planted us and the other losses were to very good basketball teams. It was tough for us, but I think it has helped us in the long run.”

While the Crusaders struggled to get going offensively early on, their defense was never an issue. The Crusaders are giving up 64.6 points per outing and six players have at least 10 steals.

“Defense has been a big part of our success,” Niekamp said. “We know that to compete at a high level, you have to play great defense, and we have worked hard to be at our best on that end of the floor.”

If the Crusaders win out their remaining two games – Wednesday vs. Muskingum and Saturday vs. Ohio Northern – they will win the conference championship outright.

“We want to finish strong and be ready for the conference tournament,” Goodwin said. “It’s all about staying focused at this point and understanding that we have to play our style of basketball if we want to be successful and give ourselves a chance to get back to the (NCAA) tournament.”

Indeed. As great as the success has been for the Crusaders, this is not the time of the year where a team can afford to become complacent.

“Having the experience of playing in the NCAA tournament last year was great,” Niekamp said. “We know we have a chance to get there and we’re hoping to get that opportunity. The most important thing is to not be satisfied. We have to be ready for every game we play.”

Top 25 Notes

Men: Kenny DeBoer and Doug Thorpe scored 20 points apiece to help No. 9 Wooster knock off rival Wittenberg 75-71 on Saturday and win its 12th consecutive outright North Coast Athletic Conference championship. The Fighting Scots have won 15 championships overall and got the job done by shooting 49 percent from the field. Thorpe hit four 3-pointers in the win….No. 15 Hampden-Sydney jumped all over Bridgewater from the start and rolled to a 95-49 win on Saturday. The Tigers led 51-16 at halftime and got 20 points from Harrison George. Kodie Critzer drilled five treys and finished with 15 as the Tigers extended their win streak to 10 games….For the first time since Dec. 1, No. 19 Calvin lost a game. The Knights were beaten 73-70 by rival Hope on Saturday in the 184th meeting between the schools. Tom Snikkers scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Calvin, which had won its first 11 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association games.

Women: Top-ranked DePauw ran its regular season win streak to 48 games as it rolled to a 71-46 win over Oberlin on Saturday. Eleven players scored in the win, with Alex Gasaway pouring in 16 points to pave the way. Savannah Trees clicked for 13 points and tallied three steals and two assists. The Tigers have now notched four consecutive seasons with at least 23 wins….Calvin is still perfect in the MIAA after topping Olivet 87-61 on Saturday. Carissa Verkaik lit up the scoreboard for 32 points and also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked eight shots. Julia Hilbrands clicked for 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds. The Knights shot 43.2 percent from the field….Liz Ellis pumped in 17 points and paced No. 3 Hope to a 69-43 win over Rochester on Saturday. Ellis also racked up six steals to move into eighth all-time in steals with 188. Brittany Berry knocked down two treys and has hit two or more 3-pointers in seven consecutive games…. No. 4 Ohio Northern secured its first Ohio Athletic Conference championship since the 1987-88 season with a 71-53 win over rival Mount Union on Saturday. Cenzie Yoder pumped in 17 points and the Polar Bears extended their win streak to 21 games. Marissa Clark scored a career-high 11 points and Ohio Northern got 34 points from its bench en route to the win….No. 8 Thomas More earned at least a share of its eighth consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship with an 89-39 win over Thiel on Saturday. The Saints have won 19 consecutive games and Allison Long dropped in 31 points. Devin Beasley and Katie Kitchen scored 16 and 13 points, respectively. Thomas More shot 45.9 percent from the floor and has won all 16 of its conference games. Jacole Hairston scored 19 points and helped lead No. 16 Ferrum to an 85-78 win over Piedmont on Sunday. Shea Smith scored 17,  Tesla Akers clicked for 16 points and Kylene Culler dropped in 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Panthers, who have won rattled off seven consecutive wins….No. 18 Louisiana College was outrebounded 60-30 by Texas-Dallas in a 74-72 loss on Saturday. It was the first American Southwest Conference loss of the year for the Wildcats, who have already clinched the East Division title. Natosha Gottlieb scored 24 points to go along with five rebounds and six steals….Camry Green came through with her 11th double-double of the season and helped No. 22 Christopher Newport knock off Methodist 78-35 on Sunday. Green scored 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds while Jordan Miller scored a career-high 13 points. Tia Perry pumped in 15 point and Nicole Mitchell scored 10 as the Captains shot 56.6 percent from the field and stretched their win streak to eight games.

American Southwest Conference

Concordia’s men’s basketball team continued its best season in the D-III era of the program with a 115-92 win over Schreiner on Saturday. The Tornados are now 18-5 overall and assured of second place in the West Divisions standings with a 13-4 record.

Terry Corprew drilled five treys and scored a career-high 30 points to pace the Tornados. AJ Myres dropped in 38 points for the Mountaineers.

Ozarks’ women’s basketball team saw its hopes for a conference tournament berth fade away on Monday in a 64-44 loss to Texas-Dallas.

The Eagles needed to win their last two games to stay in the hunt but had to take the floor without point guard Chelsea Glasscock, who leads the conference in 3-pointers (54).

Ashley Hipps filled in and scored 16 points, including 12 from long range, and Ozarks trailed 35-25 at the half. Morgan Kilgore dropped in 18 points to pace Texas-Dallas, which shot 48.3 percent from the field.

Great South Athletic Conference

Agnes Scott capped off the home portion of its schedule with a 73-26 win over Wesleyan on Saturday.

Genefine Sapateh recorded a double-double to pace the Scotties. She scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Arielle Register clicked for 13 points. Tiffany Jones added 11 points.

Agnes Scott shot 38 percent from the floor and limited Wesleyan to 28 percent shooting as it finished 11-1 at home this year and maintained its hold on first place in the conference. The Scotties are 7-1 in conference play and 13-8 overall.

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Olivet’s men’s basketball team made senior day memorable with an 84-79 win over Trine on Saturday.

The Comets shot 50 percent from the field and Blake Krum fueled the offense with 20 points. DaunTrell Hill clicked for 17 points and Dakotah Ellis pumped in 16 points. Olivet knocked down 10 3-pointers.

Ian Jackson had a remarkable game despite the loss, lighting up the scoreboard for 44 points as the Thunder also shot 50 percent from the field.

Rachael Walker scored 18 points, knocking down three treys along the way, to propel Adrian to a 66-63 win over Kalamazoo.

The Bulldogs led 36-32 at the half as they shot 61.9 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play and never trailed in the second half to hold on for the close win.

TraeVie Shelton dropped in 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Bulldogs while Antoinea McElroy and LaQwana Dockery pumped in 10 points apiece off the bench.

Emily Lindsay led Kalamazoo with 20 points. The Hornets shot 37.5 percent from the floor.

North Coast Athletic Conference

Ohio Wesleyan is still in second place in the conference standings after Anjuwon Spence drilled a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds to play to lift the Bishops to a 63-61 win over Hiram on Saturday.

The Bishops trailed 61-57 with 58 seconds to go before rallying for the crucial win. Marshall Morris became the 28th player in program history to get to 1,000 points as he scored 13 to push his career total to 1,007. Andy Winters led Ohio Wesleyan with 18 points and five assists.

Hiram was in front 35-33 at halftime and got 19 points from Aaron Stefanov. Alan Sheppard added 17 points for the Terriers are still in conference tournament contention despite the loss.

Kayla Ernst is having quite a season for Kenyon. She scored 26 points on Wednesday in a 70-57 win over Oberlin and has 449 points on the year, the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. Ernst has 1,419 points in her career and needs only 24 to move into third all-time.

Lauren Kriete scored 11 points for the Ladies and Maureen Hirt pumped in 13 points. The Ladies, who have won two consecutive games, were 12-of-13 from the free-throw line and are ranked first nationally in free-throw percentage (78.6).

Ohio Athletic Conference

Drama wasn’t in short supply for Marietta’s men’s basketball team on Saturday as Jacob Owens hit a trey with 3.4 seconds to play to lift the Pioneers to a 72-70 win over Baldwin Wallace.

J.J. Martin and Garrett Stephenson scored 12 points apiece to Pace Marietta, which is in second place in the conference, one game behind Capital.

Tyler Hammond clicked for 11 points and Owens scored 10 as the Pioneers shot 45 percent from the field and have won four of their last five games.

Kevin Krakowiak led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points. Chris Ameen scored 12 points.

Audrey Smolik came through with her first career double-double and helped Baldwin Wallace knock off Marietta 79-67 on Saturday.

Smolik poured in 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to tie her career high in boards as the Yellow Jackets completed a season sweep of the Pioneers.

Jessica Lairson stepped up as well for Baldwin Wallace, scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds. Lexi Rohrbach finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds as she recorded a double-double as well.

Krissy Rowe and Tori Dixon led Marietta with 14 points apiece on a day when Marietta shot 54.9 percent from the field.

Old Dominion Athletic Conference

Virginia Wesleyan’s men’s basketball team connected on five 3-pointers in the first seven minutes of action and went on to earn 70-62 win over Guilford on Saturday.

Chris Astorga was in a zone as he scored 22 points, marking the sixth time this year he has scored at least 20 in a game. Astorga also got the job done on the boards as he grabbed nine rebounds.

DJ Woodmore finished with 16 points and has been in double figures 17 times this season. Chris Teasley and Colby Heard added 16 and 11 points, respectively, as the Marlins surged to their fourth consecutive win and stayed within a game of first-place Hampden-Sydney in the conference standings.

Lynchburg’s women’s basketball team turned in one of its best shooting performances of the season in a 72-62 win over Emory & Henry on Saturday.

The Hornets shot 47.2 percent from the floor and got a big lift from Shannon Allan, who poured in 13 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds. Chaney Forbush notched the second double-double of her career as she scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Katie Reeves stepped up as well, scoring 11 points while tallying five assists and four rebounds. Sarah Toliver was also in double figures as she clicked for a career-high 10 points.

Presidents’ Athletic Conference

Grove City men’s head coach Steve Lamie won his 200th game on Saturday as the Wolverines knocked off Geneva 80-75 in overtime.

Grove City trailed 69-66 but Brian Giesler hit a 3-pointer to send the game into OT. Giesler finished his day with 17 points. Mitch Marmelstein also hit for 17 points while J.T. Schwartz scored 14. Grove City turned the ball over only six times and shot 45 percent from the field.

Matt Lorello scored 16 points to pace Geneva, which was swept in the season series against Grove City. The Wolverines have won two consecutive games.

It was a milestone night for Washington & Jefferson women’s coach Jina DeRubbo on Wednesday. DeRubbo won her 300th career game as the Presidents topped Grove City 69-50.

DeRubbo has won 169 of her games while coaching at Washington & Jefferson and her latest win was fueled by the play of Alexa Burzese, who drained five treys and scored 17 points.

Valerie Dunlap added 16 points and 13 rebounds. She also blocked six shots. Chelsea Apke (14) and Emily Abraham (12) also scored in double figures for the Presidents.

The Wolverines shot only 33 percent from the field and got 13 points from Annie Wells.

Southern Athletic Association

Rhodes’ men’s basketball team stayed in first place in the conference by knocking off Oglethorpe in thrilling fashion on Sunday.

Andrew Galow went from one end of the floor to the other with nine seconds remaining and drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Lynx to a 52-49 win.

Galow tried to get inside but was forced back out and had to take a 3-pointer. He finished with 15 points and also dished out four assists. Theo Hartwell and Drew Miller scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. The Lynx shot only 39 percent from the field and held the Stormy Petrels to 35 percent shooting.

Rhodes is 15-8 overall and 10-2 in league play heading into the final week of action. Tyler Courson came off the bench to pace Oglethorpe with 15 points.

Millsaps had an opportunity to grab control of second place in the league standings but was beaten 66-55 by Centre on Sunday.

The Majors trailed 30-28 at halftime but allowed Centre to shoot 47.8 percent from the floor in the win. The two teams are now tied for second at 10-2 and one game behind Rhodes in the standings.

Shante Morton led the Majors with 17 points and Makayla Roberson scored 15 points to go along with five rebounds.

The Colonels scored 25 points off turnovers and Paige Baechle dropped in 17 points and 13 rebounds to pace Centre to the win.

University Athletic Association

This past weekend with a sweep of Brandeis and NYU, the Carnegie Mellon women secured their first winning season since 2002-03 and it also is the most wins in UAA play since then as well. Jacquie Hullah’s Tartans are 13-9, with more wins than the team had in the past two seasons combined.

USA South Athletic Conference

Christopher Newport is still in first place in the conference, but it is still looking to get back on track after losing its third consecutive game on Sunday.

The Captains were upset 73-68 by La Grange and is now 8-3 and tied with Ferrum for first place.

Tra Benefield scored 25 points for the Captains and Nik Biberaj added 10 points and 10 rebounds

La Grange trailed 34-32 at halftime in a game where the lead changed hands 11 times.

Mark Wagner dropped in 24 points to pace La Grange while Dustin Baxter (15) and Kyron Anderson (14) scored in double figures as well to help the Panthers nail down the win at home.

Maryville’s women’s basketball team earned its 20th win of the year on Sunday as it defeated La Grange 78-55.

The Scots are 20-3 overall and 14-2 in the conference, good enough to put them in a tie for second place in the standings with Christopher Newport.

Kiera Payne helped pave the way as she scored 12 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. She also dished out four assists and blocked two shots.

Janell Menard pumped in 22 points for the Scots while Mackenzie Puckett came off the bench and clicked for 17 points. Tayler Smith added 11 points as Maryville has won six of its last seven games.

Katie Covington poured in 23 points for La Grange, which shot only 27.9 percent from the floor.

Southern Collegiate Athletic Association

Trinity’s men’s basketball team maintained its hope for hosting the conference tournament after earning a split with Southwestern last week. The Tigers knocked off the Pirates 68-49 last Wednesday but were beaten 70-63 on Saturday.

The Tigers are tied with Colorado College at 10-3.

In the loss to Southwestern on Saturday, David Lacey scored 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Robert Kitzinger was the only other player in double figures for Trinity, dropping in 12 points.

Chase Kocher and Sean Myers led the way for Southwestern, scoring 17 points apiece. Nicholas Atiee added 14 points.

Trinity’s women’s basketball team is still unbeaten in conference play after knocking off Southwestern 101-89 on Saturday. It is the second time this season the Tigers have hit the century mark.

Hannah Coley came off the bench and drained five treys en route to pouring in 33 points. Murphy Burns pumped in 28 points while Anecia Richardson (19) and Libby Kruse (15) also scored in double figures.

Chelsea Leader and Madison Eschle scored 18 points apiece for Southwestern.