Although the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks fell a point short when Montana's Jack McGillis scored the go-ahead free throw with 6.8 seconds remaining in the Grizzlies' 62-61 win, these young NAU fans did all they possibly could to cheer-on their team.
The young fans (top photo, from left) are Jack Burns, Brendan Thompson and Charles Burns, and they had a lot to cheer for early on as the Lumberjacks jumped the Griz from the opening tip and surged to 37-24 first-half lead that swelled to 16 at one point early in the second half.
Montana coaches made two changes at halftime that eventually turned the tide for the Grizzlies. A stingy, trapping 1-3-1 Montana zone slowed NAU down and – on several possessions – forced the Jacks to take hurried shots as the game clock wound down.
But just as importantly, the Griz unleashed junior guard Anthony Johnson, who scored 20 points and repeatedly slashed past Jacks defenders on quick drible-enter drives where he scored, or was fouled. Johnson sank 18-of-19 free throws and dished an assist to forward Jack McGillis for the game-tying trey with 1:04 remaining.
Saturday Northern Arizona travels to Bozeman to face the MSU Bobcats, who beat the Sacramento State Hornets 61-42 Thursday.
Montana hosts the Hornets Saturday in Dahlberg Arena at 7:05. A Montana win against the Hornets could move the Griz as high as second place in the Big Standings after two weeks of conference action.
Bottom photo: Another young Jacks fan, Will Burns (younger brother of Jack and Charles) cheers-on his team in first-half action.
Will is supported by his father, former Florence H. S. standout Brian Burns, who played basketball for the Lumberjacks under coach Ben Howland in the 1990s.
"All of my siblings are Griz grads and my youngest brother is currently attending UM," said Brian Burns.
"It’s not easy holding the NAU flag up here in Missoula, but as you can see I’m giving it my best shot," said Burns.
Considering how the young Burns men love basketball, It's a likelihood Missoula (or Florence) fans may someday soon see a Burns playing basketball for a local high school.
I certainly hope so.
