Fremont Grit Overtakes Grant

Photos and Story by Mike Gesler

Grant 64  Fremont 71

Newaygo County rivals clashed as Fremont traveled to Grant in a CSAA Gold Conference showdown. Both Grant and Fremont came into tonight’s game with similar records. The only shared opponent between the two was Sparta in which Fremont lost by ten and Grant lost by two. And despite the final score, the game actually went down to the last minute of play,

The story of the first half slightly favored Grant. While Grant played their typical man-to-man coverage, and made it tough on Fremont to hit anything from any distance, Fremont took advantage of Grant’s defensive Achilles’ heel, and patiently waited out the open lane. However, Fremont played more of a press style defense especially against Seth Schuitema which previous Grant opponents have learned you cannot do. Guard Schuitema and another Tiger will score on you. Tonight that honor belonged to Austin Whitney and Lucas Swanson. Of Grant’s eighteen first quarter points, Whitney had sixteen; twelve of those points on threes. In the second quarter, Swanson picked up the tab. In fact, of the Tiger’s thirty-six first half points, Schuitema only accounted for two while Whitney and Swanson shared twenty-nine. This helped to give Grant a narrow halftime lead 36-34.

The second half, well mainly the fourth quarter, however favored Fremont. Grant adjusted their defense so Schuitema played more of an inside zone role while still continuing their man-to-man coverage. At first this frustrated Fremont as the Tigers shut down the inside lane and made a quick six point run to start the second. But the Packers were not about to give this game up quite yet. Up stepped Fremont’s Josh McDonald and Chaz Miller. McDonald would almost single handedly keep the Packers within striking distance by the end of the third, and Miller had a couple perfectly timed threes that were dagger blows to the Tigers. So while the Tigers edged a four point lead going into fourth, they suddenly went cold only putting up eight total for the fourth. 

Again, the game came down to about the last minute of play. With the Packers and the Tigers tied up, and Fremont in double bonus, the difference was Grant’s intentional fouls to force Fremont to the line and conserve the clock. Four times Fremont went to the line hitting seven of eight. And with Grant unable to answer back, Fremont’s grit and never-say-die determination got the Packers a tough fought victory.

“That was a gutsy, gutsy win from us,” stated Fremont’s Coach, Adam Bowen. “We couldn’t get shots to fall. They came out red hot in the first half making threes, but we kept fighting and Jordan came up huge for us, I think he had twenty-nine. I think he kind of showed that he is definitely one of the best players in our conference, and stepped up huge for us. We were able to just keep fighting, and to come back and get the win. Good win for us.”

​For Fremont, Jordan McDonald led with thirty-one points. Logan Nelson and Gavin Richards both had ten. Joey DeLong and Chaz Miller put up nine each, and Chase Rasmussen added two. Fremont will travel to Tri County on Friday before returning home to face Chippewa Hills next Tuesday.

“That was a very disappointing loss. When we’re up eight, and then up ten, and sustained a couple of their runs, and still had a nice lead, I was pretty confident that we were playing a good brand of basketball that would have resulted in a victory,” shared Grant’s Coach, Joe Schuitema. “We can give Fremont credit for never giving up on it. The whole time they played hard, and did what they needed to do so the credit goes to them. Obviously, in our locker room, we’re very disappointed that we didn’t take care of the ball, and get ourselves excellent shots to close out the deal. So this one’s going to sting for a while.”

​Leading in Grant’s effort tonight was Austin Whitney with twenty-one. Lucas Swanson finished with seventeen, and Seth Schuitema shot for fifteen. Zach Barnhart added five, Giovanni Fallador shot four, and Chase Geers had two. Grant will travel to near north rival Newaygo on Friday before returning home to face Big Rapids next Tuesday.