WEST PLAINS, Mo. — For the first time this season, the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team will have a whole week between games.
The Grizzlies (4-7) just finished a three-week stretch that saw them play 11 games against some of the toughest teams in the nation.
“It’s been a grueling November for our group,” Head Coach Chris Popp said. “We survived it, unfortunately not with the record we wanted.”
Popp knew the schedule he compiled to start this season contained a lot of risks, but if they could navigate it, the rewards would be great.
“It was the kind of stretch where, if we played great, it reaps top 10 rankings, recognition and possibly sets you up for an at-large bid to Hutch,” he said.
“It can also bury a team if you don’t play well,” he added. “It hasn’t buried us. The guys haven’t folded. They’ve improved in the areas that were most needed, and they played their best basketball this past weekend.”
The Grizzlies hosted the Mega Motorsports Grizzly Classic Friday and Saturday at the West Plains Civic Center and came away from the event with a 1-1 record. They fell to Cowley College 122-116 Friday but bounced back and defeated Neosho County Community College 93-80 Saturday.
Several Grizzlies made positive contributions in both games. Redshirt sophomore forward Quentin Jones turned in a career high 32-point performance against Cowley, and freshman Zavien Smith-Morales stepped in for an injured Taevon Horton Saturday to guide the team from the point and score 15 points.
The Grizzlies’ next game will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, against the 4-1 St. Louis Community College Archers in St. Louis.
On Dec. 3, the Grizzlies return home to host Link Year Prep from Branson in the annual Toy Toss game sponsored by Holiday Inn Express and Suites. Fans who bring a new or gently used soft toy to toss onto the court when the Grizzlies score their first points will receive free admission. The toys will be given to the Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots campaign.
The Grizzlies will close out the fall semester Dec. 13-14 at the Hy-Vee Classic hosted by Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.
