Grind Session: Day Two Recap from the St. Louis Event at Missouri Baptist University

Ft. Erie Holds Off Balboa in a Thrilling Finish
In a Power Conference showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Ft. Erie narrowly edged out Balboa 68-65. The game featured dramatic swings, with Ft. Erie building a commanding 12-point lead in the third quarter before Balboa turned up the defensive intensity to stage an impressive comeback. Tied with under a minute left, it came down to key plays in the closing seconds.

Arkansas State commit Tristan Beckford delivered a stellar performance for Ft. Erie, scoring 32 points and pulling down 9 rebounds, just shy of a double-double. Eli Jolin provided crucial support with 16 points.

Balboa’s balanced attack was led by Travis Musonda, who scored 17 points. Benjamin Habziabdic and BwaBwa Josue each added 12 points, with Josue recording an impressive double-double by also grabbing 13 rebounds.

Iowa United Secures Victory Over West Oaks in Gritty Rematch
Iowa United continued its strong form, defeating West Oaks 51-47 in a rematch of their October play-in game in Hopkinsville. From the opening tip, Iowa took control, maintaining their lead throughout despite West Oaks’ relentless attempts to close the gap.

Kaleel Sutton-White paced Iowa United with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Arafan Diane came close to a double-double, contributing 12 points and 9 rebounds.

West Oaks showcased their depth, led by Willie Burnett III’s 17-point effort. Justin Smith and Paulo Bala added 10 points each in a hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful comeback attempt.

More to Come
The action at Missouri Baptist University is over, the competition is heating up as the Grind Session heads to Hawaii after Christmas. Stay tuned for more recaps and highlights from the Grind Session when we get to Hawaii after Christmas. Merry Christmas!