The Grizzlies Rollercoaster Season Continues

After grabbing three big wins against Malad, Aberdeen and Bear Lake, the Grizzlies had hoped that they had turned a corner in the season.  Last week the Grizzlies faced another tough three game stretch.  This time, they faced Soda Springs, a rematch with Malad, and a road trip to Raft River.  In their three previous wins the Grizzlies looked to be at full strength and really clicking as a group, but following some personnel issues Grace once again was missing weapons and seemed out of sync.

In the first game of the week Grace took on cross county rival Soda Springs in a home game.  Right out of the gates, Soda Springs were the aggressors.  Despite a couple of early baskets for Grace the Soda Springs press, combined with an attack-offense, quickly had the Grizzlies playing catchup.  The Grizzlies who had gameplanned to shut down the Cardinals’ outside shooters gave up ground inside.  By the end of the first, Grace had nearly pulled back even but still felt as though they were reeling.  The next two periods were devastating for the Grizzlies.  In the second Grace only managed four points and fell further behind.  They followed the dismal scoring second quarter with a third quarter where they managed to score fourteen points but gave up a staggering twenty-two.  In the fourth period a trio of three’s would assist in getting the Grizzlies back close in the game but they eventually ran out of time losing to the Cardinals by five points.

Just one day later, the Grizzlies once again played host this time to Malad.  Just one week prior the Grizzlies had handed the Dragons a loss in Malad.  Despite that game ending in a very close three point victory for Grace, the Grizzlies felt confident in their ability to sweep the season series with the Dragons.  The Dragons had other plans.  Malad came out shooting well from outside and made three first quarter three point shots.  The Dragons tacked on several other shots as well as a handful of foul shots earning them an eight point first quarter lead.  Over the next two periods the Grizzlies clawed their way back into the game.  Eight different Grizzlies scored in the stretch with senior Derek Hill leading the way with eight points.  In the fourth quarter the Dragons struck first and extended the lead to three.  The score stalled there over the next several minutes.  In the last four minutes of the game the Dragons turned it back on, outscoring the Grizzlies twelve to four handing Grace their second loss in a row.

In their final game of last week the Grizzlies finally faced their first 2A opponent of the season.  Grace traveled to Raft River on Saturday for an early afternoon game.  The Grizzlies appeared to have the athletic edge in this game as they looked faster than the Trojans.  Grace put up a respectable fourteen points in the first but gave up a pair of three point shots to allow the Trojans to keep it close.  In the second period the Grizzlies would falter and be outscored by one point but still hold a five point lead.  Senior Carson Reeves kept the Grizzlies on top in the period with six of his team high fifteen points.  In the third the Grizzlies took off and widened the lead before taking off the accelerator in the fourth.  The Grizzlies stopped their two game skid by defeating the Trojans by sixteen. 

The Grizzlies face another tough week this week traveling to West Side on Wednesday and then hosting American Falls on Friday.

Grizzlies 15 4 14 16 49

Cardinals 17 9 22 6 54

D.Hill 5, J.Smith 11, B.Kimball 9, C.Smith 7, C.Reeves 4, P.Yost 2, B.Smith 3, L.Moss 8

Grizzlies 13 10 14 4 41

Dragons 21 8 9 14 52

D.Hill 12, J.Smith 7, B.Kimball 8, G.Draper 2, C.Smith 2, C.Reeves 2, C.Welch 2, P.Yost 4, L.Moss 2

Grizzlies 14 8 21 19 63

Trojans 8 9 9 21 47

D.Hill 1, B.Kimball 13, G.Draper 2, C.Andersen 5, C.Smith 13, C.Reeves 15, P.Yost 6, B.Smith 3, L.Moss 5