Spartans Edge Out Tigers

Story and photos by Mike Gesler

Grant 55   Sparta 57

There is an old song by Jerry Reed that goes, “when you’re hot, you’re hot. And when you’re not…” Well even if you don’t know the song, you at least know the saying. For Grant, the momentum of their win over Chippewa Hills prior to the winter break came to a chilling halt. To be fair, that chill also extended to Sparta. Tonight’s game may have been more about breaking free the rust that set in over break than anything else.

It was a slow start by both Grant and Sparta as each struggled to find the net. Grant defensively played a strong half making it very difficult on Sparta to even get a look. They held the Spartans to just six first quarter points, and nineteen first half points. Sparta appeared disoriented and confused as Seth Schuitema looked like he may become a one man show for Grant putting up twelve of Grant’s thirteen first quarter points before going cold and only adding two in the second. At the half Grant would lead by ten, 29-19.

Sparta came out of the half a different team. Whatever rust they needed to shake off was finally breaking free. Grant, on the other hand, was as cold as ice. And while the Tigers managed to keep the Spartans at bay, Sparta brought the game within three twice before closing the third quarter down only by five.

​At this point it was like watching a snail over take a slug. Deep down you knew the snail was probably going to win, but if the slug could just get to the finish line there might be a chance. Three times Sparta tied up the game, and three times Grant would take it back. Then, with a minute twenty-three on the clock, Sparta took the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter. Grant would answer and tie the game up yet again before Schuitema hit a three and put Grant on top once more with only a minute remaining. Sparta however was not finished, and answered with three of their own. With the game tied and thirty-three ticks remaining on the clock, the Spartans got a steal and a foul sending Jax Wilson to the line for two. Normally a clutch shooter, Wilson missed both but Grant failed to rebound and Sparta hit two to retake the lead by as many. It would also prove to be the final basket of the game as the Spartans eked out a victory over the Tigers.

“Obviously we are very disappointed in the result,” stated Grant’s coach, Joe Schuitema. “We felt like we played a really, really good defensive half, but also noticed that Wilson wasn’t in the game for the majority of the first half and he’s a real good player. I thought we were in good position and playing hard, but we didn’t get rewarded for it. Obviously we gave up too many opportunities for them. And then once again, we had this happen too many times this year already in the four games, we’ve had cold spells where we can’t find the bucket. I thought we had good chances down the stretch to still win the game. The guys are really disappointed ... but I haven’t lost confidence in them. They are a great group of young guys. They work hard. They’re learning and growing, and this is one of those things that they’ll grow from.”

​Seth Schuitema led tonight’s effort for the Tigers with twenty-eight points. Lucas Swanson also had double digits with eleven points. Gage Cronk had five. Austin Whitney and Zak Barnhart each shot three. Sawyer Carr and Giovanni Follador added two each, and Chase Geers put up one. The Tigers enter into a seven game Conference stretch starting at home against Tri County on Friday.