By Kevin Lopez
In a win or go home situation for Grand Rapids Community College in Port Huron, the stakes were high as they took on North Central Missouri. Unfortunately, it was time to go home for the Raiders as they lost, 67-78 and were officially eliminated on March 23,.
In the first quarter, it was a back and forth affair as both teams played with intensity and effort, neither one wanting to lose. Still, the Raiders came out shooting 50% from the field and playing great defense, limiting the Lady Pirates to 33% from the field.
Marlene Bussler, a sophomore guard, led the way for the Raiders as she scored five points in the quarter against the Lady Pirates and also knocked down a 3-pointer.
Grace Lodes, a sophomore forward, was a beneficiary of the Raiders moving the ball as she was able to get four points in the quarter and played great defense around the basket as GRCC led, 16-14.
The second quarter was a flip as the Lady Pirates scored 23 points on 42% from the field, while also knocking down two 3-pointers and going 100% from the free throw line.
The Raiders struggled in the second quarter. They couldn’t seem to get it going as they scrambled to rebound and get their offense flowing. Bussler had five points in the quarter and Lodes had four herself as GRCC trailed, 29-37.
Moving into the third quarter, it was the best basketball the Raiders played scoring 25 points, splashing home two 3-pointers and shooting 100% from the free throw line going 11 for 11.
Emerysn Koepke, a sophomore guard, being the spark that she is, had five points in the quarter and made one 3-pointer. While Allison Kellogg was playing aggressive on offense as she shot five free throws and made all of them as she also had a and-one layup that fired up her teammates.
Unfortunately, the Lady Pirates were feeling it as well as they shot nearly 50% from the field and scored 22 points in the quarter. Both offenses were feeling hot,but the Raiders still trailed in the game 54-59.
The fourth quarter, the most important quarter for both teams as one team will advance, while the other goes home and it was the North Central Missouri defense that kept the Raiders at bay.
The Raiders scored 13 points on 36% from the field and missed all their 3-pointers in the quarter and couldn’t box out as the Lady Pirates hustled and out rebounded the Raiders by 9 rebounds.
It was also the turnovers and fouls that hurt the Raiders that gave the Lady Pirates opportunities to build their lead as they scored 19 points in the quarter and put the game out of reach, 67-78.
GRCC’s head coach Dave Glazier was happy with his team despite the loss.
“Today was a tough loss because our kids fought with everything they had which is indicative of how they played all year,” Glazier said. “We played well, just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch.”
With the loss, the women’s basketball season is now over as they achieved so much and with all the success means that for the sophomores on the team their time at GRCC is now done.
“Any loss is always tough to stomach, but this one that ends a great season was a different level of tough because it signaled the last time any of our seven sophomores will play for the program,” Glazier said.
“Alyssa Katerberg, Emersyn Koepke, Karissa Ferry, Allison Kellogg, Marlene Bussler, Sally Merrill, and Grace Lodes have left a tough mark to match on this program,” Glazier said. “We are forever grateful to their efforts and contributions! It is hard to see them move on.”
