(Griswold) Freshman Peyton Cook led three Griswold players in double figures with 16 points in a Tiger 62-53 overtime decision on Friday over Heartland Christian. Landon Pelzer scored 14 points and Kamron Brownlee added 12.
Griswold made 17/28 from the free-throw line compared to Heartland Christian’s 11/23. Four of the game’s seven lead changes came in the first quarter. Heartland Christian broke a 12-all tie with a 6-2 finish to the opening frame to lead 18-14.
Griswold outscored the Eagles 12-3 in the 2nd quarter. They shifted to a box and one defense on Anthony Roush who had scored 10 points in the game’s first ten minutes. “Roush is a really, really solid basketball player.” Griswold coach Matt Spunaugle said after the game. “That was the first time we had gone into a box and one all year and to be able to step it up like that and play as a team and play help defense that was something special to watch. I couldn’t be more proud of our boys. We played such a wonderful game tonight.” Griswold scored the final ten points of the first half to turn a five point deficit into a five point lead at 26-21. Heartland Christian got within one or two points on three different occasions in the 3rd, but couldn’t get the lead back until late in the 4th.
A pair of Anthony Roush free-throws with 3:30 remaining tied the game at 40. Roush hit four 3-pointers on the night and led the visitors with 17 points. An Aiden Kennedy basket for Griswold tied the game at 42, but it was immediately followed by a 3-point goal from Luke Anderson. Anderson’s clutch bucket put Heartland Christian in front 45-42 with 2:08 to play. It was their first lead since they had a 21-19 advantage midway through the 2nd quarter. Griswold hit a free-throw to snug things up and with 1:16 left Kamron Brownlee came up with a key 3-point play, giving the home team a 46-45 edge. Griswold pushed the lead to 50-47 in the final minute, but Colt Brennen drilled a deep three with :13 to go that forced overtime.
Brennan suffered an injury in overtime plus Roush fouled out which hindered Heartland Christian’s chances. The duo combined for 27 points and Matt Stile scored 15. Griswold started the extra session on a 6-1 stretch and never looked back. The Eagles end their season at 8-12. Griswold improves to 4-16 on the year and will play AHSTW on Monday.
Griswold coach Matt Spunaugle:
