The Missouri State West Plains Grizzlies faced the Northeastern Oklahoma Norsemen this past Wednesday night at The West Plains Civic Center inside The Joe Paul Evans Arena. This off the heels of an incredible, 116-115 matchup over the Butler County, Kansas Grizzlies.
1st Half: Tip controlled by #24, Damario Adams for the NEO Norsemen but lost out of bounds and picked up by #11, Makai Lindsey for the Grizzlies who makes the first two pointer to put the Grizzlies on the Board first. But to follow; Three three pointers by #12, Kenye Costa for NEO.
NEO starts wide but eventually moves to a zone defense as the Grizzlies have a pretty slow start on the offense. This move allows NEO to get a ten point lead. A good cut in by #14, Blaudenfeldt and #5 Shaun Glass cuts the lead a few more. But NEO attacks back as Costa adds three more and # 4 guard, Jaylin Faison adds two more. With 13:08 to, NEO leads the Grizzlies, 20-11.
#5, Shaun Glass and #4 Ace Evans scored two three pointers cutting it to a 23-14 ballgame as the start matching up against the NEO zone. Make it another three as #24, Dassiah Green with the next three pointer for The Grizzlies.
Evans tries for another three but doesn’t make it as #15, Javian Barbee gets it back and tries for a two. Ball taken back by NEO.
Grizzlies pick up their first team foul and this sends #12, Kenye Costa to the foul line to shoot two which he makes. This makes it a twelve point game, 29-17.
Grizzlies who had yet to not have a free-throw attempt doesn’t get a chance at the line until 6:51 in the Game as #11, Makai Lindsey goes to the line. Makai only making one which sets the game back to a 20 point trail, 37-17.
NEO has now stretched out to a zone. But as the Grizzlies intensify on defense, #11, Lindsey & #2, Alonso Easterling score two beautiful passes in for two which makes it a 37-23 game with just under five minutes to go in the first half.
NEO ups several more three off the hands of #12, Costa. Finally a small break as #14, Gustav Blaudnfeldt lays in two for the Grizzlies. NEO has a 54-32 lead with under 25.2 seconds to go in the First half.
A three at the horn by #4 Evans. Makes it a twenty point game.
2nd Half: Though the NEO Norsemen run into their first bit of foul trouble as #24 Dassiah Green scores the first two for the Grizzlies in the second half.
NEO comes back on the second half as the the game is cut back as #12, Costa brings the game back to a twenty one point lead for the Norsemen.
Intensity revs up even more as Grizzlies get it back with a good three by #4, Ace Evans and #24, Dassiah Green.
NEO loses the next offensive stretch out of bound and the game gets cut nearly to ten with two lay-ins for #20, Freshman Guard Damani Barley for the Grizzlies.
Now it’s officially a ten point game, 67-57 with NEO carrying the lead.
Another two pointer by #2, Alonso Easterling gets the chance to bring the game down to single digits.
Game nearly taken up from nine as #2, Kelton Williams for NEO gets close as he gets a dunk and a free throw. But stolen back for three by #20, Damani Barley for The Grizzlies.
NEO begins a slow attack back to the end as Williams, Costa, and Faison dominate on threes and free throw shooting,
Grizzlies fall to the NEO Norseman by a Final Score of 97-79.
Grizzlies will be back on the road this Saturday as they travel to face the team the beat by one point on Monday night, The Butler County Grizzlies @ The Power-Plant in El Dorado, Kansas.
Catch the action @ 1 PM Saturday Afternoon live on 102.5 Hot Country KDY.
