The Missouri State West Plains Grizzly Basketball team faced the State Fair Roadrunners on Saturday, March 1st to determine which team will have home-court advantage in the Game coming up tonight, Tuesday, March 4th.
Summary:
1st Half: First bucket of the game by #2, Alex Gunnels for the Roadrunners. #5, Shaun Glass & #1, Ryan Richardson get two looks at a bucket but are forced into two turnovers. Finally Glass is able to make one easy drive in, but eventually a foul call and #25, Sam Bradford is sent to the line to shoot two. Rebound Roadrunners and another bucket by Gunnels. Grizzlies get two time outs to realign their offense and pays off as #1, Ryan Richardson pulls in for an easy bucket. Rebound by the Roadrunners and several passes before two three pointers by #13, Jon Bradtner. The Roadrunners work it back out, Richardson for the Grizzlies with another drive in but taken back for another easy shot by #3, Malick Ndiaye. Another posession for the Grizzlies allow Richardson to score another easy two-hander, but are still down by twelve (22-10) Rebound Roadrunners and another drive in by #13, Bradtner who now has thirteen points on the night. Grizzlies continue to stay locked in at ten points as now the Roadrunners are up by as many as seventeen. A foul call on Gunnels for the Roadrunners allow two free throws for Richardson. But a steal and a three by Bradtner and another baseline drive by Gunnels, this puts Roadrunners. Grizzlies finally get a three by #20, Blayne Harris but once again turnover the loose ball. Alex Gunnels fouls #10, Jake Sage in the act of shooting, this gives him two more free throws as they now go up 34-15. #1, Ryan Richardson makes two after one goes close enough to make it in, he shoots the second from the line.
In the last minute; A pass from #33, Lionel Kiumwimba to #12, Ergie Kougnami is good. Grizzlies were able to cause some fouls and tie ups at the end of the Quarter and this success allows them to trail at the Half with the Halftime Score: 39-26.
2nd Half: State Fair will play man to man defense to start the second half. #2, Riley Whitacker tries for a three but stolen by Bradtner for the Roadrunners who makes his eighteenth point on the night. A foul call on the Grizzlies and two free throws by #23, Chin Hanson for the Grizzlies cut the lead back to fifteen. First free throw try for the Grizzlies in the second half as he shoots one and makes it, now a fourteen point Roadrunner lead. Grizzlies get a steal and another shot a tough one, but made by #5, Shaun Glass. But another foul as Bradtner fouls in the act of shooting upon the next Roadrunner rebound, and makes two as Grizzly lead hangs out at twelve. A close shot by #13, Ethan Smith, tries to make a bucket but it’s late passed the shot clock. Rebound and another three pointer by #25 Sam Bradford; so what was briefly a ten point lead is now back to thirteen. Grizzlies try to turn out a few more passes but they turn it over again and yet another three by Bradford. Roadrunners keep it and a pass and a shot is up and good by #13, Jon Bradtner.
The first bucket and drive by #15, Daniel Garza. A blocked shot as #3, Nidaye tries to make two but is fouled and goes to the line where he can’t shoot it out and the Roadrunners stay up by eighteen, 57-39. Jonathan White makes it in for the Grizzlies and shoots a good three, rebound and a easy lay in by #15, Garza for the Roadrunners who are now up by nineteen. A steal as Grizzlies are trying to find some more offensive steals and #1, Ryan Richardson goes to the line making two after fouling #5, Mobley for the Roadrunners. Now #15, Garza fouls Jonathan White and makes two more free throws. The lead narrowed back to nineteen. With 7:48 to go; two free throws by #14, Jayden Roach are good. Grizzlies with yet another chance a for two from the line after another foul, 1-2 line after this by 0, Jaylon Hyson. Hyson also scores again on an easy two hander on the rebound.
So far in the Game; The Roadrunners only threw away the ball once in the First Half and four in the Second but are not detoured by this at all. Two field goals are made with under 4:00 to go. A drive into the paint and score by #13, Ethan Smith for the Grizzlies followed by an unguarded #3, Mallick Nidaye with another three for the Roadrunners. Another three out of the corner by #5, Shaun Glass is good, as Grizzlies trail by. Grizzlies continue to get a few more offensive rebounds as now #10, Jake Sage makes a three. Right hand layup made by Shaun Glass at the buzzer but to no avail.
FINAL SCORE- State Fair Roadrunners: 73/ MSU-WP Grizzlies: 60
State Fair will host The Grizzlies again on Tuesday, March 4th. Start Time @ 7 PM with the Broadcast on 102.5, Hot Country KDY
