Date: November 10, 2008
Contact: Yancey Walker, Head Coach
Grizzly Basketball Office
417-255-7993

    WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Ozarks Medical Center Tip-Off Tournament didn’t turn out as Yancey Walker and his Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team had hoped.  The Grizzlies lost two of their three games in the three-day event at the West Plains Civic Center and now stand at 2-3 for year.
    “We didn’t win as many games as we would have liked and that’s a bit disappointing, but I’m not disappointed in the players.  They gave good effort,” Walker, the team’s head coach, said today.
    Thursday, Nov. 6, the Grizzlies fell to Olney Central College of Olney, Ill., 93-82 in the tournament’s opening round.  They bounced back Friday, Nov. 7, to defeat Mid-America Nazarene University’s junior varsity squad 111-68, but they faltered again Saturday, Nov. 8, and lost to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) of Miami 69-57.
    “We keep taking the steps forward we need to take to peak in February, but we also want to win some games this fall.  Our only focus is on getting better.  We need to get some things squared away so we can experience that happy feeling that comes along with winning,” the coach said.
    The Grizzlies started the tournament off strong against the Olney Blue Knights, building a 13-point lead in the first half of that contest.  But the Blue Knights went on an 11-0 run to cut the Grizzly lead to two, and the teams battled back and forth to end the half tied at 45.  Olney took charge of the game in the second half, going up by as many as 15 before finally scoring the 11-point victory.
    The Grizzlies rebounded Friday night and established control of the contest early, going on a 9-0 run to start the contest.  At halftime, the Grizzlies led the Mid-America Pioneers 60-21.  They continued to dominate the second half, thanks to six treys by freshman guard Taylor Jones, and coasted to the 43-point win.
    “We got out of that game what we wanted,” Walker said.  “We shot the ball well, and we got people going.  Doing well in practice is one thing, but playing well in a game situation and accomplishing your goals gives you another level of confidence.”
    They put that new-found confidence to good use Saturday, Nov. 8, against NEO’s Golden Norsemen.  After drawing first blood on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Devon Peltier, the Grizzlies and NEO played a close first half and went into the break with just a two-point differential, 33-31 in NEO’S favor.  The Golden Norsemen, however, began pulling away in the second half when the Grizzlies were unable to convert on their trips to the charity stripe.  The Grizzlies shot nine of 15 free throws for 60 percent while NEO hit 14 of 17 for 82 percent.
    “It’s easier to come back and completely cinch things in because of a loss, and that’s what NEO did Saturday,” Walker said, referring to NEO’s 76-74 loss to Olney on Friday night in a 5 p.m. contest.  “You have to be ready to play whether you win or lose.”
    Saturday’s early game saw Olney defeat Mid-America 108-68.  There wasn’t a 5 p.m. game on Thursday.
    No team trophies were handed out, but tournament most valuable player and all-tournament team honors were bestowed.  The MVP award went to Olney’s Jared Rehmel.  All-Tournament team selections included NEO’s Chase Elliott and Rapheal Brown, Barry Robinson from Mid-America Nazarene, and the Grizzlies’ sophomore guard Anthony Allison, who had 45 points, six rebounds and nine assists for the tournament.
    “We’re very happy that Anthony was named to the all-tournament team.  He played very well all weekend, especially against Olney when he had 20 points,” Walker said.  “I thought Taylor had a great game against Mid-America.  He was six of eight from the three-point line.  Logan Nutt also had a great effort against Mid-America.  He was three of three from three-point range, and he had seven assists.  I also thought Terrell Bruce did a good job hitting the open shots and making the right plays all weekend.  Chris Williams also did a good job for us.  There were obviously others who contributed, but these were the ones who, statistically, had good weekends.”
    Allison was the leading scorer for the Grizzlies Thursday with 20 points.  He was followed by Bruce with 15, Peltier and Williams each with 12 and Rae-Vonn Banks with 10.  Taylor Jones was the team’s leading scorer on Friday with 18 points, all off threes.  Allison had 15, Nutt 13, Xavier Jones 12, Youri Anissovets 11 and Peltier 10.  Anissovets recorded a double-double Saturday by adding 10 rebounds to his 12 points.  Peltier led the offensive charge Saturday against NEO with 16 points.  Williams followed with 15, and Allison had 10.
    Walker said he would like to give a “huge thank you” to Ozarks Medical Center for their sponsorship of the tournament.  “Tournaments like this are not possible without our sponsors.  We’re very appreciative of OMC and of everyone who came to the games this weekend and showed their support,” the coach said.
    The Grizzlies will spend much of this week on the road, as they leave Wednesday for an 8 p.m. contest against Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Okla.  They will then head north to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they will participate in the Iowa Western Community College Classic Friday and Saturday.  They will play Northeast Community College of Norfolk, Neb., at 3 p.m. Friday and the host team at 7 p.m. Saturday.
    “We’ve definitely got our work cut out for us this week,” Walker said.  “Carl Albert is a tough place to play, and Iowa Western has a tradition of fielding tough players, so they will be a challenge for us, as well.  We’ll give our best effort and try to come away 3-0.”
    For more information about the Grizzly Basketball team or for complete game statistics, visit the Grizzly Basketball Web site at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/bb.htm.