Newaygo Falls to Big Rapids Despite Solid Play
Story and Photos by Alexis Mercer It’s no secret the Lions are struggling as of late to get a win. Some of the losses have been close, others not nearly as competitive. But you wouldn’t know they are a team struggling by watching them play in the first half at Big Rapids. Crisp passing, aggressive defense, solid rebounding and smart offensive decisions were the name of the game. Newaygo looked like they were ready to break out a win. Bryce Decker put the first points on the board for Newaygo with a 2 under the basket. Cardinal Mason Dunn answered with a 3 point shot that excited the large Snowcoming crowd for the home team. But Remy Wells quickly quieted them with a 3 of his own to keep it tied early at 5. The score went back and forth like this for a while. At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 10 and then both teams felt a scoring drought until Big Rapids found the net with 3:10 left in the half. And then came Decker. Three 3 point shots in a row. Big Rapids’s Dawson Dunn hit a 3 to end the bleeding for the home team but Decker got fouled and made his free throws to keep the Lions with a lead. Just before the end of the first half, Mason Dunn drained a 3 to tie it back up and keeping both sides quiet at the half. While the 2nd half did not fall apart for the Lions, the shots just did not fall like they did in the first. What didn’t decrease was the effort with which the Lions played. They were all in. Grant Harkness found his groove after an offensive rebound by the Lions, putting down a 3 point shot with finesse. But Big Rapids was hitting every shot they put up and were up 32-26. Brothers Dyllan and Kody Bazzett both hit 2 point shots of their own to pull a little closer. A few turnovers plagued the Lions at this point, but Decker helped the Lions’ cause by pulling down a rebound and answering with a bucket. Long hit 4 free throws to bring the Lions within 1 and Harkness hit another 3 to give the Lions a 1 point lead. Cardinal Jack Ruggles wasn’t about to let Harkness have all the fun from behind the arc, nailing a 3 of his own to regain the lead. And what was perfect timing for Big Rapids, Dawson Dunn drained a 3, bringing the home crowd to a roar, the Cardinal lead to 6, and ending the chance for a Lions win. Newaygo 44 Big Rapids 51 Coach Long delivered the stat leaders: “Newaygo was led by Bryce Decker with 18 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Grant Harkness with 11 points, and Josiah Long with 7 rebounds.”
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