Too Little Too Late

Tigers hold off late Lion charge, Schuitema hits for 36
 
Photos by Brittlyn Rose Photography
 Story by Ken DeLaat
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Grant 66 Newaygo 59
Bryce Decker fired in a triple to start the game and Seth Schuitema answered with a bucket and a 3. Remy Wells tied it at 5 with a basket before a Gage Cronk score would give the Tigers the lead they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
The visitors staked a 19-10 lead after one and by the time Cronk hit a bucket at the buzzer to end the half Schuitema already had hung 20 on the hosts and the Tigers held a 36-15 lead.
​With only 8 players suited up for the Lions it would be an uphill battle to get back into the game and the situation became worse when Decker went down before the half with an injury that would take him out of the game.

But the Lions showed a lot of grit in the second half. Grant Harkness hit from distance to start the second half and with Josiah Long, Dillon Bazzett and Wells finding the bottom of the net they fought back. When Long hit a three to pull them within 10 the Tigers answered Sawyer Carr knocking one down and splitting a pair from the free throw line and Zach Barnett converting a pair the third came to an end with Grant still in control at 43-30.
Long caught fire and the Lion defense stood tall pulling the team within 5 at one point, but between too much ground to make up and too much Schuitema they fell short
Coach Schuitema: “I’m really glad to come out of here with a victory. This gym has been difficult for us in the last few years and we knew Newaygo was going to have good energy. They play a competitive brand of basketball particularly in their home gym. We wanted to be mentally ready for that and we started out that way but that second half was a little too close to call for me. Of course they made great shots but on our end it looked like we lost composure and I don’t want to see that and they know that so that's what we’re still working on.”
Coach Long:”I thought the kids stepped up in the second half and played to the buzzer after the challenge was put out there and they responded well.  I thought they showed character tonight and found something we can build on.”

Schuitema finished with 36 points on the night Cronk hit for 14 and Chase Geers added 6.
Long led the Lions with 25 points, Wells canned 9 while playing some rugged defense while Dillon Bazzett and Harkness each hit for 8 points. Before the injury Decker soundly rejected a pair of Tiger shots in the paint.
Newaygo (1-4, 3-5) will host conference co-leader Reed City Tuesday while Grant (3-2, 4-4) will welcome in the other conference leader when Big Rapids rolls into town Tuesday.