A Roller Coaster Ride: Lions Crest Past Bulldogs

A Roller Coaster Ride: Lions Crest Past Bulldogs
Story and photos by Alexis Mercer

Most roller coasters start at the bottom, take forever to get to the top and then whip down the first hill at lightning speed. Not this roller coaster ride.

Tuesday night’s game featuring the Lions of Newaygo and the Bulldogs of Ravenna was the exact opposite. Within seconds the fun was happening. No waiting for the action. Instead, the Lions started off with 5 3-point baskets in the opening minutes. Ravenna had two of their own in that time. Add one free throw point for the Lions and they were up 16-6 in a hurry.

Josiah Long drilled another 3 and Ravenna’s coach looked at his assistant and threw his hands in the air. 

Add to all the 3s that Newaygo was playing solid defense, and the game was quite one sided. The Lions finished the first quarter with a 22-13 lead.

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But alas, every roller coaster has to have a low spot. Physics and all.

Remington Wells started the quarter off with a nice 2 point shot from just outside the key. That’s when the click-click-clicking of the machine trying to get the coaster back up the hill started. 

Everything Newaygo had going slowed to a crawl and Ravenna creeped their way back in. With only 11 points in the 2nd quarter, the Lions found themselves with only a 33-27 lead at the half. 

The third quarter the Lions fared the same. Slower feet than the first quarter, some turnovers, and less defensive stands. At the end of the 3rd quarter it was tied at 44. 

On to the 4th. Somehow, some way the Lions worked themselves back on the exciting side of the ride. The points were back and forth, back and forth. Wells drained a 3 followed shortly after by Jarryn Schmidt making a shot inside.

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Josiah Long crushed a 3 point shot from deep and Newaygo was up by 2. Not to be left out of the 3 point game, Grant Harkness nailed another 3 and it was all Lions after that. 

Newaygo ended the 4th quarter with another 22 point effort, and beat the Bulldogs 66-55.

From Coach Long: “Newaygo was led by Josiah Long with 16 points and 6 rebounds followed by Caris Nelson with 12 points and 9 assists and Bryce Decker with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Newaygo had a great team effort tonight.”

Newaygo moves to 4-3 overall.

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