FIELD TWP- The stands were packed to the rafters on Friday at North Woods for the battle between the Grizzlies boys and rival Deer River, with both pride and second seed in the Section 7A tourney on the line. The hometown lads didn’t disappoint, pulling out a rough-and-tumble 78-75 thriller over the Warrirors.
This one lived up to its billing from the outset, with the lead changing hands a dozen times in the first half. An 8-0 Deer River run midway through the half gave the Warriors their largest lead at 26-19, but a three-ball and a pair of charities by T.J. Chiabotti and a bucket and one by Sean Morrison got North Woods back to within two, 29-27. Deer River again stretched the lead to seven, but a basket and two free throws by Jonah Burnett and a fast break and free throw by Chiabotti knotted the score at 34-34.
The Grizzlies were up by five, 39-34, after Morrison scored in the paint and Chiabotti dropped in a trey, but the Warriors rebounded the final two minutes of the half to take a 42-39 lead into the locker room.
Trouble threatened when Sean Morrison headed to the bench with his fourth personal foul just a minute-and-a-half into the second period with the Grizzlies trailing 47-41, but Chiabotti canned three-pointers on consecutive possessions to tie the score 47-47.
The Grizzlies weathered Morrison’s absence with three-balls from Brenden Chiabotti and Jared Chiabotti and a putback by Alex Hartway, and North Woods trailed by only four when Morrison re-entered at the 9:44 mark.
Jared Chiabotti hit a rainbow three from the left corner to tie the score at 61-61 with 6:25 to play, and Morrison was fouled as he bulled his way for a bucket at the 5:32 mark. The score and free throw gave North Woods a 64-61 lead.
The Grizzlies had the ball and a slim 71-69 lead when Grizzlies Head Coach Will Kleppe called time out with 1:49 remaining on the clock. Deer River committed two quick fouls to put T.J. Chiabotti on the line for a one-and-one, and the North Woods senior hit both charities.
The Grizzlies were up 76-73 when T.J. Chiabotti went to the line again with 22 seconds left. He made the first and missed the second, but Hartway slipped in to grab the rebound and shovel it to Chiabotti, who was fouled again. Now in the double bonus, Chiabotti missed both, but Hartway was there again for the rebound. Jared Chiabotti hit one of two attempts to put North Woods ahead, 78-73.
Deer River scored on a fast break with 11 seconds left, then got the ball right back when they forced a jump ball on the inbounds play and had the possession arrow. The Warriors had eight seconds to manufacture a tying three to send the game to overtime, but Sam Rahier’s shot failed to connect as the Grizzlies escaped with the 78-75 win.
“Alex Hartway coming in there and getting those two rebounds on the missed free throws were really the difference in the game,” Kleppe said. “He limited their opportunities and I couldn’t be more proud of his hustle out there. I’ve said the last couple of games that these tight games are going to come down to a guard rebound. I certainly give him the proverbial game ball.”
T.J. Chiabotti was determined not to lose in his regular-season finale for the Grizzlies, pouring in 30 points to lead all scorers. Despite sitting with foul trouble for much of the game, Morrison scored 17 for the Grizzlies, and Brenden Chiabotti hit for 12.
With the win the Grizzlies took over Deer River’s spot as the second seed in the Section 7A tournament, and Kleppe said this game was good preparation to go up against a tough field.
“I’m just proud the boys battled all the way to the buzzer, and we won kind of ugly, but that’s what’s going to happen,” Kleppe said. “There are seven or eight good teams in the tournament this year. It’s going to be ultra-competitive. The quarterfinals are going to have some incredible matchups. But you know, the guys proved tonight that they can get it done.”
North Woods was scheduled to play its first tourney game at home on Thursday against 18th-seed Cook County, who won Monday in a mild upset over 15th-seed Silver Bay, 67-31. The Grizzlies and the Vikings, who came into Thursday’s game with a 3-17 record, did not play in the regular season.
Provided the Grizzlies win, their quarterfinal opponent could be Ely if the 10th-seeded Wolves, 15-5, can get past seventh-seed Northland, 20-6. The quarterfinal game is scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. on Saturday at UMD’s Romano Gym in Duluth.