At the end -- the final 9.1 seconds, actually -- the Montana Grizzlies’ 64-63 nail-biter over Loyola Marymount came down to a missed point-blank Lions’ shot. Or three, or four... before the Grizzlies bobbed and bounced in glee at the final buzzer in the Karl Tyler Montana Grizzly Invitational championship-game win Sunday.
The wild final seconds were preceeded by a bizarre 20 seconds that saw a seemingly safe five-point Montana lead at the 32-second mark disappear when scrambling Marymont defenders intercepted three-straight Montana inbounds passes and converted two of them on quick layups.
The final volley of shots came after the third inbounds steal and a Marymount time out. When play resumed, the Lions
held the ball for five seconds before forward Vernon Teel missed a short baseline jumper that bounced twice off the rim. In the scramble underneath, Lions’ rebounders managed two or three more shots that floated over the rim or bounced off the backboard... but never into the hoop.
The final seconds were in some ways a mirror of the previous 39-plus minutes.The Lions attacked early and often with intense defensive pressure and kept it up throughout, but were never quite able to crack a Montana offense that used a patient passing attack -- directed by senior point guard Anthony Johnson -- that was always good enough to keep the Lions at bay.
Thus, Montana forged a one-point 28-27 halftime lead and so, with each team scoring 36 second half points, that sngle point was enough for the win.
Marymount stopped Montana’s offense early by
shutting down the Griz’ outside game. Three point specialists Ryan Staudacher and Raason Young scored a combined measly five points after pacing Montana with 33 in the previous night’s win over Boise State.
Johnson had an answer, directing his Griz’ offensive flow into the paint that featured a display of post power from junior center Brian Qvale.
In fact, it was Montana’s knack at countering the Lions’ defensive pressure with a passing game that reversed the offensive flow for openings along the baseline, where center Qvale muscled up against his smaller defenders with 12 first-half points.
Montana coach Wayne Tinkle pointed to Qvale’s play as a major factor in all three Montana tourney wins.
“I tell you, he’s playing with so much confidence. The weight of the world is off his shoulders. He knows that we want to get him the ball. He knows that we expect to get results.
“We said it as a staff that it’s just a matter of him early on having that game that just smashes the ice,” said Tink.e
Qvale’s paint power, along with five points from Johnson and four from power forward Jack McGillis, was just enough for a halftime Griz lead.
That was the opening that Johnson needed. Facing a single defensive opponent, Johnson erupted for 17 second half points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc at the tip of the key.
The Grizzlies moved to leads of three or five points, but could not break away from the Lions, who narrowed the margin to 57-55 with 1:36 to play. After a volley of missed shots by both teams, Johnson found freshman guard Will Cherry open in the key for a driving layup, good enough for a four point margin that held up until the final 32 seconds of mayhem.
And the single-digit Montana win.
Tinkle focused on lessons learned.
“We talked about learning too many lessons with some losses in the past,” said Tinkle. “These guys set it up there. We’re building character, we’re learning lessons, but we’re putting check marks in that left hand column.”
But Tinkle said more work is needed on the defensive end of the floor.
“We’ve built (defensive) momentum off of the foundation we laid last year. We led the league in defense but with our increased athleticism and versatility we could step it up a notch...
“Tonight I think we could have stretched it out a little bit if we could have combined a good rebounding effort with that defensive intensity,” said Tinkle.
They’ll get a rematch. The Grizzlies travel to Los Angeles for a home-and-home contest on December 10.
Game statistics reveal a battle waged nearly to a standstill. The Lions shot 44 percent from the field compared to Montana’s 43 percent. The Lions outboarded Montana by 10, 239-29, but Montana converted 12-of-15 free throws compared to Marymount’s 7-of-14 and had five fewer turnovers and two more assists than the Lions.
Forward Drew Viney paced the Lions with 4-of-5 shots from three point range and 22 points. Guard Larry Davis scored 19 and Teel scored 11.
Johnson was named tourney MVP and Qvale was named to the all star team. The Montana duo were joined by Marymount standouts Teel and Davis, North Dakota forward Patrick Mitchell and Boise State guard La’Shard Anderson.
The final volley of shots came after the third inbounds steal and a Marymount time out. When play resumed, the Lions
The final seconds were in some ways a mirror of the previous 39-plus minutes.The Lions attacked early and often with intense defensive pressure and kept it up throughout, but were never quite able to crack a Montana offense that used a patient passing attack -- directed by senior point guard Anthony Johnson -- that was always good enough to keep the Lions at bay.
Thus, Montana forged a one-point 28-27 halftime lead and so, with each team scoring 36 second half points, that sngle point was enough for the win.
Marymount stopped Montana’s offense early by
Johnson had an answer, directing his Griz’ offensive flow into the paint that featured a display of post power from junior center Brian Qvale.
In fact, it was Montana’s knack at countering the Lions’ defensive pressure with a passing game that reversed the offensive flow for openings along the baseline, where center Qvale muscled up against his smaller defenders with 12 first-half points.
Montana coach Wayne Tinkle pointed to Qvale’s play as a major factor in all three Montana tourney wins.
“I tell you, he’s playing with so much confidence. The weight of the world is off his shoulders. He knows that we want to get him the ball. He knows that we expect to get results.
“We said it as a staff that it’s just a matter of him early on having that game that just smashes the ice,” said Tink.e
Qvale’s paint power, along with five points from Johnson and four from power forward Jack McGillis, was just enough for a halftime Griz lead.
Marymount responded in the second half by collapsing around Qvale.
PHOTOS: Brian Qvale (top) scores two of his 12 first half points. Qvale was named to the all-tourney team. Will Cherry (middle) scores on a layup from an assist by Anthony Johnson with 1:36 remaining. Cherry's bucket gave the Griz a four-point lead. Shawn Stockton (bottom) looks for a baseline opening. Stockton played 15 minutes and was credited by Tinkle for playing outstanding defense.
That was the opening that Johnson needed. Facing a single defensive opponent, Johnson erupted for 17 second half points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc at the tip of the key.
The Grizzlies moved to leads of three or five points, but could not break away from the Lions, who narrowed the margin to 57-55 with 1:36 to play. After a volley of missed shots by both teams, Johnson found freshman guard Will Cherry open in the key for a driving layup, good enough for a four point margin that held up until the final 32 seconds of mayhem.
And the single-digit Montana win.
Tinkle focused on lessons learned.
“We talked about learning too many lessons with some losses in the past,” said Tinkle. “These guys set it up there. We’re building character, we’re learning lessons, but we’re putting check marks in that left hand column.”
But Tinkle said more work is needed on the defensive end of the floor.
“We’ve built (defensive) momentum off of the foundation we laid last year. We led the league in defense but with our increased athleticism and versatility we could step it up a notch...
“Tonight I think we could have stretched it out a little bit if we could have combined a good rebounding effort with that defensive intensity,” said Tinkle.
They’ll get a rematch. The Grizzlies travel to Los Angeles for a home-and-home contest on December 10.
Game statistics reveal a battle waged nearly to a standstill. The Lions shot 44 percent from the field compared to Montana’s 43 percent. The Lions outboarded Montana by 10, 239-29, but Montana converted 12-of-15 free throws compared to Marymount’s 7-of-14 and had five fewer turnovers and two more assists than the Lions.
Forward Drew Viney paced the Lions with 4-of-5 shots from three point range and 22 points. Guard Larry Davis scored 19 and Teel scored 11.
Johnson was named tourney MVP and Qvale was named to the all star team. The Montana duo were joined by Marymount standouts Teel and Davis, North Dakota forward Patrick Mitchell and Boise State guard La’Shard Anderson.
