Lions Nip Tigers

Story and photos by Mike Gesler

Grant 42   Newaygo 53

The Newaygo Lions are a good team, a really good team. There is a reason they are seventeen and one on the season. Their only loss coming to Grand Rapids Christian in a pre-Christmas tournament. There is also a reason that teams coming up against Newaygo may feel intimidated or even a little scared. But Grant has raised up a bunch of feisty players this year who like to play a very up tempo, high pressure, and aggressive game. The players have bought into Coach Delamater’s system, and Delamater’s team has proven to be no easy push over. So going into tonight’s game, the Tiger’s mantra was, “don’t play scared,” and they certainly lived up to it.

“You know, Grant’s a tough team,” stated Newaygo’s Coach, Nate Thomasma. “Rider and Delamater, they do a good job. Their girls play hard. I mean it was a tough game. We know what we are going to get when we play these guys, and they did some things to hurt us.”

The Lions had a difficult time getting more than six to eight points between them and Grant during the first half. The Tigers ran the Lions ragged. Every time Newaygo would get up, the Tigers would answer back and pull the game within a few. By the end of the half, the Lions were noticeably gassed. Part of that may have been due to the fact that the flu ran through the Lions earlier this week, and part of that was that the Tigers simply did not back down. It was the best scenario that Grant could ask for; to go into the half only down two against Newaygo.

But Newaygo is a good team, a really good team, and they made adjustments. They needed to slow the game down, shorten the court, and put pressure on Grant. Which they did. They frustrated Grant with a half-court trap. That helped shorten the court. They took advantage on turnovers created by the trap which amped up the pressure. And, while not intended, the fifteen third quarter fouls between the two teams certainly played in Newaygo’s favor as it definitely slowed the game down. The Grant faithful have witnessed in the past what a game killer abundant whistles can be. By the end of the third, Newaygo increased their lead to twelve.

The Tigers were not ready to throw in the towel. Not this team. This Tiger team has battled hard for four quarters all season. Grant dug deep, and slowly began to whittle away at Newaygo’s lead bringing it within six with two and half minutes remaining. But, the Lions had two weapons left in their arsenal. One was the ability to burn the clock, and the second was some pretty clutch free-throw shooters in Long and Goodin. Those fouls/free-throws again killed Grant as Newaygo was able to stretch their lead to eleven, and keep their undefeated conference record intact against some mighty gutsy Tigers.

“Good win. Proud of the girls. Conference champs now two years in a row. We’re really proud of that,” shared Thosmama. “I thought it was a good game competed between both teams. Coming in here, we’re just happy to win. I don’t care what the score is to be honest. Really proud of them. Really, really proud of the girl's mental toughness tonight. Unbelievable. It’s been an interesting week for us so glad to get through it hopefully.”

Leading the Lions tonight was Jaxi Long with twenty-one points followed by Emmerson Goodin with fifteen. Lily Swinehart contributed eight, Grace Painter four, Isabella Welch three, and Kayla Fisk two. The Lions will be at home Tuesday evening to face Reed City.

“I’m really proud of the girls tonight, and how they played. That’s a State ranked team. In the preview the point was made that no one in their last three games has been within twenty points of them. Going into those last couple minutes eight points, they made their free-throws down the stretch like they should, and that was the difference in the game,” stated Delamater. “I’m just really proud of the effort we put in tonight. I don’t know, maybe Big Rapids, I don’t know if anyone else in our conference has been within fifteen points of them other than us and Big Rapids all season.”

Chloee Chase had double digits for Grant tonight with fourteen. Julie Ashbaugh shot eight. Sara Arends and Jocee Pleune each had five. Jaycee Rider and Jocelyn Kruithoff each put up four, and Jayci Hance added two. The Tigers stay home Tuesday night to face Big Rapids in what could be the determining game for second place in the CSAA Gold Conference.