Lions Bit By 4th Quarter Blues

Lions Bit By 4th Quarter Blues
Initial conference playoff title goes to the Cardinals

Photos by Alexis Mercer
Story by Ken DeLaat

Big Rapids 60 Newaygo 45
Just 2 weeks ago these teams went at it on the Newaygo home court and the Cardinals pulled out a win to claim the CSAA title. This time it was to be in the Cardinal home gym where the BR team had not lost a game all season. And this time a different title was on the line. It was the inaugural CSAA playoffs and the 2 teams were the finalists in the top tier of the conference matchups.
It was a heck of a game for 3 quarters.

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The Lions and Cards put on an epic show of basketball for about 25 minutes. They battled back and forth with the lead exchanging hands several times. The first half proved to be opportunistic basketball. A furious first quarter saw the teams take measure of each other and when the dust settled the hosts held a 12-11 lead.
The second started with a 6-0 run by the Lions courtesy of buckets by Caris Nelson, Dyllan Bazzett and Blake Kerr. The Cards answered with a three by Zander Prince but Logan Klomp and Bryce Decker baskets sandwiched another Prince bucket then Bazzett rifled a half court pass to Klopm who converted and the Lions were up 6. Karlito McKinney split a pair at the line and Decker slid a shot in from down under and the half ended with Newaygo on top 25-20.
The third saw the Cards begin to unleash some triples while Decker and Josiah Long handled much of the Lion scoring. By the time they entered the final frame BR was clutching a 41-40 lead, neither team had players in foul trouble and both teams wanted this one badly.
Then came the fourth. Prince began the scoring with a basket and Long was fouled and responded by converting both shots. It was still a 1 point game.

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The Cards took over. They went on an 11-0 run that saw the Lions hit by turnovers and ice cold shooting. Nelson finally broke the drought with a 2 pointer but it was too little too late and the Cardinals prevailed.
Nelson finished with 12 points and 6 assists while Decker put in 11 and took down 7 boards. Long hit for 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds and Bazzett finished with 7 points.
Newaygo will head to Comstock Park Monday for a third game against Grant in their District opener, white Big Rapids hosts their own District facing off with another state ranked team when Ludington comes to town also on Monday.