Tigers Rule the Red

Grant owns the glass in win over BR

Photos by Amanda Louck-Booth
Story by Ken DeLaat

Grant 61 Big Rapids 47
Make no mistake about it. The CSAA Red title runs through Grant.
This one came with a lot of expectations as the top two teams in the Red faced off with both undefeated in division play and Grant undefeated on the season. 
Aiden Booth opened the scoring with a bucket and BR answered. Then the Tigers took charge with a 9-0 run taking advantage of missed shots and turnovers by the visitors as Ethan DeLong tripled followed by two Sincere Hatch buckets and another by Blake Rider. BR stopped the bleeding with a couple of baskets before Hatch fired one from long range to make it 14-5. The Cards fought back to end the quarter down 17-13.
The second saw another Tiger run, taking advantage of their smothering defense and control of the glass to run off 8 straight and it was a 12 point lead with a couple minutes left in the half. Jack Swanson and Rider connected while BR put up a pair of threes and a basket and the teams hit intermission with Grant up 29-21.
The second half saw more of the Tiger dominance on the boards allowing Swanson, Booth, DeLong and Phillips to push the lead to 13 heading into the 4th. A Hatch basket opened the quarter giving Grant a 15 point lead but the Tigers got teed up for celebrating the basket too overtly for the referees so BR went to the line for 2 and the ball. They split at the line and could not convert on the possession and the Tigers kept the pressure on building a 21 point lead. The Cards went on a small run but it was too little too late and the Tigers took sole possession of first while running their winning streak to 10.
Coach Dan George: “I was pleased with our rebounding and defensive efforts tonight.We still have some things to work on but I'm very proud of my guys."
And proud he should be. Coach George has done a masterful job with his team and the Tigers are tearing up their schedule behind well balanced scoring and a lengthy bench. They have a couple of tough non conference opponents this week but there does not seem to be anyone in the Red who might stand in their way of a title. That is until the final game of the regular season when they cap off Division play in a rematch with the Cardinals. 
In Big Rapids.
Hatch led the Tiger scoring attack with 16 points. DeLong hit for 15 and Swanson came off the bench to tally 10 while playing some wicked defense.
Grant (4-0, 10-0) will host Sparta on Monday.