WEST PLAINS, Mo. – A lack of intensity Tuesday night, Jan. 22, cost the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team its second loss in Region 16 action this season.
The Grizzlies, 13-9 overall, fell to Region 16 rival State Fair Community College 98-67 at the West Plains Civic Center, dropping their Region 16 record to 1-2. State Fair, 15-6 overall, is now 2-1 in Region 16.
“We didn’t come out with the fire and intensity we needed to win this game, and they did,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said. “We didn’t score through contact, so we stopped attacking the basket. We made them make some tough shots from the outside, but the difference in the score was such that those shots didn’t have any repercussions if they missed.”
The Grizzlies struggled from the field, hitting only 23 of 60 shots for 38.3 percent. Behind the arc, they hit only three of 13 attempts for 23.1 percent. They fared better at the free throw line, connecting on 18 of 25 attempts for 72 percent, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the accuracy of State Fair on the court.
The Roadrunners hit 38 of 70 shots from the field for 54.3 percent and 12 of 23 shots from 3-point rage for 52.2 percent. At the free throw line, they hit eight of 17 for 47.1 percent.
Freshman guards Jonathan Tshibuy and Arroyo Edwards led the Grizzlies in scoring with 18 and 14 points, respectively. The Roadrunners were led by Kenny Chery with 28, Ayo Ojo with 15, Kevin Punter 13, Jacob Williams 11 and Deron Hill 10.
The Roadrunners also outrebounded the Grizzlies 46 to 34 and committed fewer turnovers than the Grizzlies, 11 to 16. The Grizzlies had four steals and one block, while the Roadrunners had six steals and three blocks.
“We don’t have time to sulk,” Walker said of his team’s loss while pointing to Friday’s 7 p.m. game against Quakerdale Prep of New Providence, Iowa. “Quakerdale Prep gave us everything we wanted at Coffeyville in November, so we have to be ready to go on Friday.”
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website at http://wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993.