By Greg Gielczyk
GRAYLING — Grayling’s girls basketball team saw its two-game winning streak snapped with a narrow 46-45 loss to Manton in an MHSAA Division 3 district semifinal on its home court Wednesday night.
It came down the last shot, and an official’s call. With time ticking down in the fourth quarter, the Vikings managed to get off a shot that went down as the clock wound down to eight tenths of a second left. But, there was a problem. As the Vikings began celebrating what they thought was an electrifying victory, an official was waving it off and calling a double dribble.
“It’s tough enough to lose a game by one point in the district, but to have the last shot disallowed because of a violation and a turnover gave it a little more sting … We missed a couple free throws down the stretch that we wish we could get back,” Grayling head coach Daniel Brandt said.
“The girls played the game plan that I asked them to play. I was proud of them. I graduate three, but I bring back seven. We’ll get back after it again here soon, and start getting ready for next season,” Brandt added.
The Vikings started off the game with a 6-4 lead after the first quarter. Grayling outscored the Rangers, 19-10 in the second period for an 11-point lead, 25-14 at the half.Grayling outscored the Rangers, 9-8 in the third quarter and headed into the fourth maintaining an 11-point lead, 34-22.
But the Rangers exploded for a 23-11 advantage in the final eight minutes to pull the game out.Rylan Finstrom, a sophomore, paced the Vikings in scoring with 15 points. Makenzie Castle added 11 and Lauren Hartman chipped in with six.Lauren Wilder scored 34 points for the Rangers.
Grayling finished the season with a 7-15 record.
