Lions Hold Court in Rivalry Game

Tigers never get traction in Red Division loss

Story and photos by Ken DeLaat

Newaygo 42 Grant 20
Make it 4 in a row for the Lions.
Grant came to town coming off a pair of wins but a swarming Newaygo defense produced a number of turnovers while making it hard for the Tigers to find many good shots at the hoop.
Naomi Schillman canned a triple to start the game and the Tigers answered with Alexa Obenauf sending a pass to Emma Thompson for 2. It was the closest Grant would get for the remainder of the game.
The Lions took control as Kija Schultz banged a couple  in and added a free throw, Ruby Hughes grabbed a steal and scored and Lillian Holmes rejected a couple of shots on the defensive end and added a basket.The 10-0 run was finally stopped by a Jocee Pleune basket and when Reese Gragg scored for the visitors to keep the Lions within single figures with the first quarter winding down, Morgan Andres fired in a three at the buzzer  and the 1st ended at 17-6 for the hosts.
The second saw Andres scorch a couple more from distance with Hughes, Schultz and Gabi Arney getting in the book as well. By halftime the Lions held a 29-10 lead. 
The teams played even in the third and the fourth was more than halfway finished before Schultz moved the scoreboard with a basket. Lillian Gee hit a couple of late buckets for Grant and Kaelyn Stephens popped one in from distance to finish off the Lion scoring.
Coach Thomasma: “I thought it was a good effort by the girls tonight. We handled their press really well and took care of the ball  better than we did Tuesday. We talked about how if we could just not turn it over and make them earn it on defense we were going to be tough to beat.”
Andres and Schultz led the Lions with 10 points apiece with Andres picking up 5 steals and Schultz getting 5 steals and 7 rebounds. Hughes added 8 points, 5 steals and 5 boards and Holmes took 8 off the glass and rejected 4 Tiger attempts to go with her 4 points.
Newaygo (2-0, 4-1) stays at home Tuesday for a game against Lakeview.
Grant (1-1, 2-2) will host Kent City.