Muskegon Big Reds fall to Grand Blanc in Saturday hoops action

LocalSportsJournal.com

GRAND BLANC–The Muskegon Big Reds game against the Grand Blanc Bobcats on Saturday evening lived up to its billing.

The No. 3-ranked Bobcats hung on for a 70-62 overtime win over the fourth-ranked the Big Reds. Both schools are in Division 1.

Grand Blanc went 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the overtime session and outscored Muskegon 15-7 to secure the win.

Both teams started out slowly in the first half as Muskegon built an 11-8 lead after the first quarter. The Bobcats went into the halftime break with a 24-22 lead after a 16-11 scoring edge.

As it has done so many times during the regular season, the Muskegon offense got rolling in the third quarter with a 24-17 scoring advantage. During the quarter, Muskegon senior Jordan Briggs knocked down four shots from beyond the arc while his senior Anthony Sydnor III hit two three-point shots. The Big Reds carried a 46-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

Grand Blanc came from behind with a 14-9 fourth-quarter scoring edge to tie things up at 55-all at the end of regulation.

Photo courtesy of photographer Craig Smith

Grand Blanc hit 10 shots from 3-point land and hit 13-of-18 free throws.

The Bobcats were led by all-stater R.J. Taylor with 18 points. Bryce O’Mara scored 12 points while Aldomavin contributed nine points and Tae Boyd had eight points for the Bobcats.

Muskegon finished with 12 3-pointers, but hurt themselves at the free throw line by making only 6-of-14.

Briggs led the Big Reds attack with 26 points, including six 3-pointers. Sydnor III tossed in 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. James Martin also hit double digits with 10 points.

Muskegon (17-2, 12-0) will travel to Holland on Tuesday.