Dec. 7, 2024, PETOSKEY, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College basketball teams faced off against North Central Michigan College on Saturday, with mixed results. The men's team continued their winning streak with a 99-90 victory, while the women's team narrowly lost 59-56 in a nail-biting finish.

Women's Game: Late Struggles Cost Raiders

The women's game was a story of momentum swings and missed opportunities. NCMC opened the scoring with the first three points, but the Raiders responded emphatically with a 17-0 run to go ahead 17-3 late in the first quarter. That would be their largest lead of the game.

However, the Timberwolves clawed their way back, finishing the first half on a 25-12 run to trail by just one point, 29-28, at halftime. GRCC maintained a slim lead for most of the second half and appeared poised for victory when they led 56-52 with just over two minutes remaining. Unfortunately, the Raiders couldn't score again, allowing NCMC to rally.

The Timberwolves took the lead with 32 seconds left on a layup, and GRCC missed three consecutive shots in the final moments. NCMC iced the game with two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, the Raiders won the rebounding battle 58-43 but were hampered by 20 turnovers compared to NCMC's 12. La' Anna Griffin stood out with a double-double, recording 12 points and 13 rebounds. Tianna Daye added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ava Schultz contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high four steals.

Men's Game: Defense Propels Raiders to Victory

The GRCC men's team extended their winning streak to six games, improving their record to 9-2 with a hard-fought 99-90 victory. The Raiders led from the start, but the Timberwolves stayed within striking distance, never allowing the margin to exceed 10 points for most of the game.

NCMC made two pushes to cut the deficit to four points in the second half, but GRCC's defense stood firm. A key factor was the Raiders' ability to force turnovers. They tallied 20 takeaways, 17 of which were steals, compared to just four steals for NCMC. This defensive effort led to a 17-6 advantage in fast-break points.

Freshman Marshaun Flakes delivered a career performance, nearly achieving a triple-double. He scored a career-high 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded seven steals. Sophomore Bashir Neely also shone with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Freshmen Benjamin Koubek and Zeekeal Jackson chipped in 13 points each to round out a balanced offensive effort.

Looking Ahead

The GRCC men will return home to face Alma College JV on December 10 at 6:30 p.m., while the women will look to bounce back on December 14 at 1:00 p.m. in an away game against Muskegon Community College.

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