Rewatch Livestream Here: MSU WP vs. Mineral Area College
The Missouri State West Plains Boys Basketball team took on the Mineral Area Cardinals this past Wednesday night from the Joe-Paul Evans Arena @ The West Plains Civic Center. This was the Grizzlies first game in regionals play this year. After a very intense, jolting double-overtime game; Grizzlies defeated the Cardinals by a one point score, 82-81.
1st Half: #20 Blayne Harris is able to get a nice steal and three point play for the Grizzlies to start the game. Another turnover and Grizzlies hold steady with a nice 3-0 lead. Mineral Area Cardinals goes on the board with a score by #10, Joseph Scott. Mineral Area tries to score some easy shots but ends up racking up three team fouls in the early going. The Grizzlies struggle in the first half so far is blocking. Mineral area comes to trail by one, 8-7 as #0, Preston Turner is able to pull off one three for mineral area. Another three for #3, Jonathan White and a few two pointers #20, Riley Whitacker for the Grizzlies. #1, Ryan Richardson travels to the line and shoots two. A score from underneath by #11, Antoine Thomas Jr. for Mineral Area and suddenly Mineral Area now trails by four. #13, Ethan Smith travels to the line after yet another foul on Mineral Area. Mineral Area continues to be the more dominant team in fouls during the first half. Rebound and a three Smith brings Grizzlies out of the trail and increases the lead to a nine point lead. Richardson scores his sixth point after another score by Mineral Area. #10, Joseph Scott holds 1-2 at the line as he shoots two giving him six points on the night for Mineral Area. On the rebound, another turnover and score brings Mineral Area to suddenly overtake the Grizzlies, 22-21.A Spin move by Richardson and Grizzlies are able to tie up the game, 23-23. So far Grizzlies are 6-9 from the free-throw line.#42,DeAri Duncan scores two at the line for Mineral Area. Rebound Grizzlies who pass to Richardson who tries a three but it falls short and is called for a shot-clock violation. Grizzlies are able to pull forward by five more and lead at the half by a Score of 34-25.
2nd Half: Another foul on the Cardinals brings #33, Lionel Kiumwimba to the line to score his first points of the night. He makes 1-2 and brings the Grizzlies back out to a ten point lead. Blayne Harris also gets another trip to the line after another bucket and a foul by Scott for Mineral Area, Harris making both free throws. A trip to the line by Scott cuts the lead to seven, Scott is seemingly having luck with causing the Grizzlies to foul during a good portion of the game thus far. A three by Harris now brings the Grizzlies back out to 13. Mineral Area has now taken at least two trips down the floor due to technical fouls. Mineral Area is seeming to make good progress from the throw line. #1, Ryan Richardson for the Grizzlies tries for a three right before they are once again blown out of the water by the shot clock, Grizzlies now trailing by seven 47-41. Shaun Glass with three more extending the game back out to an eleven point lead. Mineral area is still playing a pretty hefty zone defense. #4, Jordyn Richard travels to the line scoring his fourteenth point of the night as seemingly the leading scorer for the Cardinals. Richard makes another trip to the line after causing the Grizzlies to foul once again, this cuts the Grizzly lead down to four. Finally a bucket by Smith brings Grizzlies back up to eight, 62-54 after some intense trips down the floors from Mineral Area. This intensity continued through the next seven to five minutes or so and ultimately, the two teams ended up tied at 63 by the end of the Half, sending the game to Overtime with Richardson trying to pull off a shot at the buzzer but going out of bounds.
1st Overtime: Shaun Glass shoots and scores on a jumper, breaking the 63-63 tie. Jonathan White also gets a good jumper after Mineral Area tries to get off a steal. Joseph Scott with a bucket for Mineral Area after briefly stealing it back for the Cardinals. Rebound Grizzlies, shot up and good by Ryan Richardson. After a time out, Scott continues to score once more for the Cardinals. Richardson tries for another jumper on rebound, but a foul call on #4,Richard for Mineral Area and Richardon will shoot two. Richardson manages to score on both free throws as Grizzlies go back up by two. A foul call on the Grizzlies as Scott for Mineral Area is tripped up coming down the floor, this will send #0, Turner to shoot two more for the Mineral Area Cardinals. Turner makes one out of two at the line as Grizzlies hang on by one point, 69-68. With 13.2 to go, Grizzlies try to work it down the floor and are called by a travel. Mineral Area continues to deny Grizzlies room to pass. Richardson goes back to the line as another foul is called on the Cardinals, this time makes 1-2 at the line and time now at 9.3 seconds. Rebound Mineral area as they try to take the last shot to tie up the game once more, which they do as #5, Doling for Mineral Area scores just before the buzzer to tie up the game 70-70.
2nd Overtime: Two shots by both teams bring the tie to 72-72. First by Grizzlies as Ethan Smith passes to Ryan Richardson. Rebound Mineral Area and #10 Scott has the ball and shoots on an easy layup. After another trip down the floor and a foul on #20, Blayne Harris for the Grizzlies; #0, Turner is able to shoot one to bring up a one point lead for Mineral Area. Grizzlies take it back, Mineral Area looks to steal it back but shot up and good by #13, Ethan Smith gives the lead back to the Grizzlies. Grizzlies travel once again with the basketball as Richardson tries to look at a three pointer, but still trying not to foul. Another one point lead once more by Turner for Mineral Area as they foul Richardson for the Grizzlies. #10 Jake Sage looks to shoot a three on rebound, instead a foul and Sage will shoot three free throws instead. Sage is able to extend the lead to two as now the lead is 77-75 with 1:45 to go. A spin move by Scott coming down the floor. Richardson looks for a three but is fouled and #5 Doling for shoot two for Mineral Area. Doling makes one free throw and the ball is Rebounded by the Grizzlies. #20 Riley Whitacker shoots and scores on a three as the Grizzlies have now needed a three pointer at least since the start of overtime. Another free throw by Blayne Harris puts them up by one more. Mineral Area has the ball to try for one last shot to either tie up the game for a third time or cause another foul. Ergie Kougnami is able to block out this first attempt as Turner tries to shoot a long three with 2.5 seconds to go. Shot fake and Mineral Area scores by two
-This gives Grizzlies the win, 82-81 in *Double overtime play.
Grizzlies will continue regional play (*Weather permitting) this Saturday night as they travel to Poplar Bluff to take on the Raiders from Three Rivers College. You can hear the Broadcast of this game on 102.5, Hot Country KDY
