Loyalist Drops Close Battle To The Grizzlies

Despite a spirited effort, the Loyalist Lancers fell short in a tightly contested game, losing 99-90 to the Georgian Grizzlies on Friday night at Michele McConney Court in Barrie. The Lancers demonstrated remarkable resilience and offensive efficiency, keeping the game competitive until the final buzzer.

Loyalist matched Georgian point-for-point in the opening quarter, ending it tied at 24, and continued to put pressure on the home team throughout the game. However, Georgian capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities to pull ahead in the second half.

Jayden Jack led the Lancers with 23 points, including three three-pointers, and showcased his playmaking skills with five assists and two steals while teammate Francesco Pelusi contributed an impressive double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds. His consistent effort on the boards was a key factor in keeping Loyalist in the game. Matthew Iacono added 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while also recording a game-high four steals. Kobe Tablate provided efficient scoring off the bench, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and adding seven points.

Loyalist outscored Georgian in points in the paint (44-38) and showed strong ball movement with 20 assists as a team. However, Georgian's ability to convert turnovers into points (40 to Loyalist's 28) and their bench production (38 points) proved decisive.

This loss moves Loyalist to 5-4 on the season as the team heads into a long break before they return to regular season in January.