Grizzlies capture tourney spot despite loss

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By Matt Muncy, February 16, 2010

The Grizzlies (8-15, 6-8 HCAC) earned their bid into the tournament when Mount St. Josephs lost to Defiance 83-64 the same day. The Spartans (15-8, 9-5 HCAC) also have a spot in the six-team tournament which takes place from February 22-28. The winner will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

 

Grizzlies’ head coach Kerry Prather knows the team has some work to do, but feels like they have all the pieces to make a run.

 

“We have this week to try and pull those pieces together and go into the tournament feeling like we have them together.”

 

Franklin started off the game with a small lead and pushed it to six after a three-pointer by sophomore Clay Starrett.

 

Manchester fought back and took a two point lead off a jumper by Matt Morris with 11 minutes remaining in the half.

 

The Grizzlies retook the lead for a little over two minutes before the Spartans stormed back and led 29-23 at halftime.

 

The game didn’t get any easier for the Grizzlies as they went down 11 only a 1:48 into the second half. Franklin made a run and was down four with 13:02 left, but the Spartans were too much.

 

Three three-pointers later the lead was back to 11 for the Spartans.

 

“We defended reasonably well other than the fury of threes which was a backbreaker,” said Prather.

 

Manchester’s lead grew to 16 with 6:04 left and they finished with a 14 point victory.

Franklin shot 30.8% in the first half, but regrouped to shoot 47.8% in the second half. Manchester shot 42.9% and 46.2% respectively.

 

18 turnovers and five assists doomed the Grizzlies as did their lack of an inside presence.

Sophomore Will Conoley scored eight points and sophomore Zach Merschbrock had seven. They combined for a total of seven rebounds, including one offensive rebound.

 

“We did not do a good enough job on rebounding on our own end,” said Prather.

 

Starrett led Franklin with 14 points and freshman Gunner Erwin had eight.

 

The Spartans were led by Mitch Shaefer who scored 17 off the bench and Nathan Ferch who finished with 10 points.

 

The Grizzlies return home for their final two regular season games. They will take on Mount St. Joseph, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Spurlock Center.