NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Ryan Brant drives to the basket against Grinnell.

The STC boys basketball team and Grinnell came into their game on Friday night, Jan. 16, with very similar resumes. Both teams came into the night with a record of 1-9 and each were desperately looking for a second win on the season. The game proved to be a contest of very similar teams, with a back-and-forth score throughout. In the end, Grinnell pulled away to take a 71-62 victory.

The Tigers jumped out to a sizable lead at the end of the first quarter, 23-12, thanks to two early three-pointers by senior Jase Koester. But the Trojans outscored the Tigers 18-12 in the second quarter to get right back in the game. All of STC’s scoring in the second quarter was by seniors Cyrell Etzen (12 points) and Tanner Large (6 points). The Trojans never took the lead, however, and Grinnell went into the halftime locker room with a slim 35-30 advantage.

STC owned the third quarter–though it took some time for them to develop. Grinnell extended their lead to eleven, 45-34, at about the midway point of the quarter. But the Trojans went on a 15-2 run fueled by 8 points by Etzen and three-point baskets by both sophomore Corbin Shuckahosee and senior Marion Harris. With Harris’ bucket, STC took their first lead of the game, 49-47, to end the third quarter.

However, momentum quickly shifted back to the Tigers at the beginning of the fourth quarter, as Koester hit another 3-pointer to give Grinnell the 50-49 lead. After Shuckahosee’s second three-pointer of the game, the Trojans tied the game at 52-52. But it was the closest STC would get, as Grinnell closed out the game on a 19-10 run. Two late 3-pointers by senior Barrett Jesina helped the Trojans stay in the game but the Tigers went on to seal the victory, 71-62.

On the night, the Trojans were led in scoring by Etzen, who had 26 points. STC also received scoring from: Large (12 points), Jesina (8 points), Shuckahosee (6 points), sophomore Ryan Brant (4 points), Harris (3 points), and junior Michael Henry (3 points).

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC senior Wes Hanus positions himself for a rebound against Grinnell.

Up next for the Trojans (1-10) is a game on Friday, Jan. 23 at Williamsburg. STC’s next home game will be Friday, February 6, against Clear Creek Amana.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Michael Henry defends against Grinnell.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Corbin Shuckahosee sets up the offense against Grinnell.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC senior Cyrell Etzen looks for his shot against Grinnell.