Grizzlies show size in win

BOB MARTINSON/ Frontiersman reporter

HOUSTON - Houston's young boys' basketball team had a hard time matching up to the size and experience of the Grace Christian Grizzlies, losing 50-27 Saturday at Houston High School.

The Hawks, with no seniors returning this year, started five sophomores who fought hard, but were outsized and blind-sided by some quick steals by the more experienced Grizzlies.

"We play really well together, but tonight they just struggled, we missed a lot of opportunities tonight and it kept the momentum on their side," said a disappointed Thad Schumacher, head coach of the Hawks. "Every time we got the ball and it looked like we could make a play and gain some momentum for ourselves, we'd cough it up and watch it go back the other way."

Several shot attempts were solidly blocked, or at least tipped, by the larger Grizzlies and several Grizzly steals led to breakaway layups.

Grace led just 11-9 after the first period, but used a 9-3 second quarter run to take a 20-12 halftime lead. An 18-7 advantage for Grace in the fourth quarter was the icing on the cake.

A stingy Grace defense held the Hawks to just 22 percent shooting from the field.

Lou Karlberg led Grace Christian with 19 points and Morgan Wynne added 19. Wynne shot 9-of-10 from the field. Karlberg finished 3-of-7 from three-point land.

Kaden Shumway and Donovan Parker each finished with eight points to the Hawks.

Parker grabbed 11 rebounds.