Second Half Fuels Grand Junction

2/17/15

Fruita Monument at Grand Junction

By Michael Chamberlain

Special to www.BasketballColorado.com

On paper Fruita Monument shouldn’t be anywhere close to being in the game against Grand Junction. Fruita coming into the game sat at 5-16, 4-4 on the season, Grand Junction 16-6, 8-1 on the season. On paper this matchup both times seemed to be a blow out. The Fruita Monument Wildcats  dispelled those thoughts in both games, however, losing the first one 59-50 to the Tigers and losing again, 53-48, this time having a shot by Cade Richardson rattle around the rim and out, seeing the Tigers get the rebound and seal it at the free throw line.

The first quarter saw the Wildcats silence the Tigers offense getting them to have the turnover bug early, having two within the first couple minutes of the quarter. The Wildcats executed taking advantage of the turnovers scoring fast-break points for the easy scores. However, the Tigers got the Wildcats to commit to quick team fouls early in the first quarter, getting them to the free throw line. The Tigers found ways to score even though their offense became a question mark early in the game. Even on missed free throws the Tigers fought for the lose balls, as Ridge Droskin did getting the ball and getting a hard fought layup to go down. The free throw line wasn’t the only way the Tigers scored in the first quarter, they got the Wildcats to turn the ball over themselves getting quick points off those. All the turnovers led to a low scoring first quarter as Grand Junction held an 8-6 lead.

The second quarter saw Wildcats big man Javen Gumber step up and hit a huge athletic hook shot over Tigers center D.J. Wells, tieing it at ten. After Gumber’s big two the Wildcats defense turned up the intensity, matching the first quarter, forcing the Tigers into three straight turnovers. The turnovers leading to seven straight points by Dylan Row for Fruita Monument gaining the lead, 20-13, also showing Grand Junction that they are here to play. The mini-run by the Wildcats boosted their cheering section’s confidence, but that became short lived as the Tigers Tyson Zanski hit a three telling the Wildcats that they weren’t done just yet. Fruita, similar to the first got into the bonus nearing halftime shooting free throws on every foul committed till half. The same thing helped the Tigers get back into it getting into the bonus off Fruita fouls. Grand Junction scored seven straight points to close out the half trailing Fruita Monument only by three, 20-17.

The second half started out with a bang for Grand Junction as Fruita’s center Javen Gumber picked up his 3^rd foul it was the perfect recipe for the Tigers to claw back and gain the lead. A couple minutes later the foul trouble bug plagued the Tigers as one of the starters, Stockton Rock, picked up his 3^rd and 4^th fouls within a minute of each other. The Tigers being in the negative foul situation by making 4/4 free throws, including two, three-point plays, off of Wildcat fouls. The Wildcats countered by hitting a couple threes from Cade Richardson and Davis Deussen. The Tigers built the lead to 31-21 starting to take control of the game. Just when everyone thought the rout became apparent, The Wildcats in bounded the ball, five seconds left in the third quarter, to Davis Deussen. Deussen then threw the ball up from 3/4-court nailing it at the buzzer to end the quarter. The buzzer beater by the Wildcats got the crowd back into it and the team, Grand Junction took a 31-27 lead into the 4^th quarter.

Fruita Monument played relaxed on defense allowing Grand Junction to get their mojo on offense under them scoring 14 and 12 points in the final two quarters, doubling their first two quarters scoring. The Wildcats finding their confidence once again saw their center Javen Gumber throw down a break away dunk to open the 4^th quarter. The pace of the game came to a halt, as the 4^th quarter became the battle of free throws. Grand Junction saw the free throw line eight times going perfect from the line for the final quarter. Fruita saw the line twice making both opportunities. The Wildcats two free throws made by Cade Richardson brought the score within 6 under a minute left. The very next possession for the Tigers saw their turnovers creep up again as the Wildcats Tyrelle Peterson without fouling stole the ball, getting a break away layup bringing Fruita within four. Following Peterson’s layup the Tigers found their way to the free throw line seeing Ben Volkmann hit two clutch free throws. The Wildcats saw the ball one last time trying to tie it, the ball landed in Cade Richardson’s hands as he shot a three to tie it. Richardson’s three rattled around the rim and out missing it. The Tigers Ridge Droskin grabbed the rebound off the missed shot getting fouled immediately sending him to the line. Droskin hit 2/2 free throws sealing the win for Grand Junction, 43-38, over Fruita Monument.

Grand Junction goes to 17-6, 9-1 in the SWL following the win, Fruita Monument drops to 5-17, 4-5 in the SWL. Grand Junction’s Ridge Droskin scores 17, D.J. Wells 11 points, and Ben Volklmann 8 points. Fruita Monument’s Dylan Row and Javen Gumber both score 13 points and Cade Richardson adds 5 points from the bench.