Game Audio Below:
Video Stream link: MSU WP vs. Link Year Prep – YouTube
The Missouri State West Plains Grizzlies resumed their season after the Holiday break on Saturday, January 5th 2025. Grizzlies faced the Link Year Prep Lions for the second time in the 2024-2025 season and won the game by a Score of 74-65.
1st Quarter: Grizzlies make three forced turnovers and a 12-5 lead. Shots taken by #10, Jake Sage, #5, Shaun Glass, & #13 Ethan Smith, & #1, Ryan Richardson. Link Year Prep manages to make a few three pointers; two by Issac Vickers in the early going and later made by Ethan Dillinger. Jayden Roach also making it into some open spots and scoring midway through the Half on the two. Link Year manages to reduce down to nine point game with an easy bucket by Caleb Cronn. Grizzlies seem to have narrowed the lead to nearly a same ratio towards the end of the Quarter as they lead by seven (30-24), with 5:00 to go. The 6”5 guard, Richardson manages to set several of the three pointers scored by the Grizzlies in the first half. Grizzly lead comes back within sixteen as Jake Sage shoots a three pointer about 35 seconds before the buzzer.
HALFTIME- Missouri State West Plains: 45/ Link Year Prep: 29
*Grizzlies make 8-9 free throws in the first half which is a major improvement from free-throw shooting in some of the games before the break.
2nd Quarter: Ryan Richardson manages to make about four points in the early going of the second half, one of these is a three pointer. Link Year Prep continues to play some good defense but still not managing to cause as many turnovers. Caleb Cronn gets a stop for Link Year and does manage to score one easy layup midway through the half, however Richardson continues to stand within a close enough distance to keep getting the ball back for the Grizzlies. Link Year also manages to see some more action from the Free-throw line in the Half. Two free throws from Isidore Ba for Link year bring Link Year Prep within fourteen. With about 11:15 to go, Grizzlies have now made twelve turnovers, but still keeping a steady 58-44 lead. Grizzlies unlike Link Year are having more trouble at the free throw line in this half. To their advantage, after a failed free throw by Ethan Dillinger. Link Year manages to fight back in the back portion of the second half. Both turnovers and the cold free throw shooting seem to catch up with the Grizzlies as they near the last ten minutes of the ballgame. The lead is cut all the way to five points as at least three of Link’s starters have scored at the throw line in the second half. Luckily, The Grizzlies are able to hang onto the ball to finish out the ballgame. Shaun Glass is able to pull the Grizzlies out of their cold free throw spell. This secures the final score as Grizzlies take the victory, 74-65.
SCORING:
# 5, Shaun Glass- 21 points
# 1, Ryan Richardson- 16 points
# 10, Jake Sage- 8 points
# 12, Ergie Kougnami- 6 points
# 13, Ethan Smith- 5 points
# 33, Lionel Kiumwimba- 5 points
# 3, Jonathan White- 3 points
# 14,Jayden Roach- 2 points
0 Jaylon Hyson- 1 point
-Leading scorer for Link Year Prep, Isidore Ba with 21 points.
Grizzlies will begin regional play this coming Wednesday, January 8th when they face the Cardinals from Mineral Area College with the Game Time @ 7PM and Broadcast on Hot Country, 102.5 KDY & Facebook & YouTube livestreams.
