Tigers Eviscerate Vikings

Story and photos by Mike Gesler

Grant 85   Tri County 65
With the winter break rust knocked off of them from Tuesday’s close loss against Sparta, the Tigers were almost back up to form tonight against conference rival Tri County. The Vikings came in with a .500 record, similar win/loss record to conference opponents, and hopes of stifling the Tiger’s roar. However, Grant had plans of their own which did not include losing against a team of scrappy Vikings.

Two aspects of the Tiger’s game worked for them tonight. First, Grant established right from the beginning of play that they were by far the dominant team. Offensively the Tigers came out strong, and looked like the team that Coach Joe Schuitema has been hyping all season. If you double team Seth Schuitema, then you leave another Tiger open. That open Tiger will score. Each player can pull the trigger, and make it count. Second, they didn’t go cold as a team. Schuitema controlled the first half, but went cold in the second. That didn’t matter. So much so that Schuitema sat out most of the fourth. Honestly, the Tiger’s didn’t need him. Austin Whitney, Giovanni Fallador, and Sawyer Carr took the helm, and proved that Grant is a multidimensional team and not just one player.

“I’m glad that we got that win, and found our rhythm offensively,” stated Coach Schuitema. “I think we had lots of guys score, and score in the ways that we have anticipated. And they did it under kind of a weird vibe in the game overall. They were able to mentally get over some of the silliness that was happening in the game. I’m really proud of them for that.”

If you don’t know what “silliness” was happening in tonight’s game, read my article on the Grant v Tri County Girls game.

Defensively, Grant still has some work to do. If there is a chink in the Tiger’s armor, this is it. In a game where Tri County should not have put up sixty-five points – props to Blake Nelson who shot thirty-two alone – the Tigers left too many open looks and lanes. “As we talked in the locker room defensively, we did not bring our A game, stated Coach Schuitema. “We did not defend shooters, and cuts, and we didn’t get in help side or help the helper; things that we’re going to have to do like I think we can do and have been doing. We got to get that back. We can’t have lapses in defense. We’ll get back to work on that.”

Overall, the Tigers needed this game as they will have a tough stretch against conference foes Fremont, Newaygo, Big Rapids, and Reed City who they have already dropped one too.

Leading in tonight’s victory was Seth Schuitema with twenty-two. Austin Whitney, Giovanni Fallador, and Sawyer Carr also put up double digits with seventeen, fourteen, and eleven respectively. Zach Barnhart shot eight. Mason Woodard hit four. Lucas Swanson shot three. And Gage Cronk, Jaxon Gragg, and Chase Geers each added two. The Tigers will stay home to face Fremont on Tuesday.

For those following, Seth Schuitema’s career scoring is now at 1053 points. The Tiger record is 1581 held by his father, Joe Schuitema. There are thirteen minimum games remaining.