FOREST CITY, Iowa — The Vikings would travel to Forest City for the first time since 2020, where the Vikings left victorious in a big way 100-80. This evening's contest to open the 2023-24 season would result in another victory for the Vikings after a second-half surge with a score of 75-68. 

The Vikings held a balanced scoring attack with four in double digits, with three being starters for Grand View, Noah Hart, Jacob Koontz, and Connor Robertson. Markell Hood would optimize his time for the Vikings. Hood finished with 23 total points in twenty minutes, going 8-15 from the field and 4-7 from beyond the arc. 

Grand View would open things up with a 3-pointer from Connor Robertson and wouldn't trail until five minutes into the contest at 5-4. The Vikings would have as large of a lead as 8 points around the media timeout following a jump shot by Kino Thompson. 

A five-possession run by the Warriors would give them a 35-30 lead entering halftime after the Vikings led most of the first half. 

Grand View decreased the deficit immediately to open up the second half of play. Jacob Koontz would find the charity stripe to trim the Waldorf lead to three points, 35-32. The two teams would even at 39, all after sophomore Jaxson Young tallied a lay-in. 

Another layup from Thompson would give the Vikings their largest lead of the contest at 10 points. Grand View would get another bucket from leading scorer Markell Hood and hold the Warriors scoreless for over two minutes as they secured their first win on the road, 75-68. 

Grand View returns to the court for the season's second game next Tuesday and their first home game contest in Sisam Arena against the Faith Baptist Eagles at 7:00 PM on November 7th. 

Team Notes

• The Vikings move to 1-0, last season, the Vikings dropped their home opener. 
• Grand View had 40 total bench points to Waldorfs' 19, over half from the Viking's Markell Hood. 

• The Vikings and the Warriors saw four lead changes and three ties during the contest. 
• GVU hit 17-of-20 (.85.0%) from the free throw line during the contest.
• Jacob Koontz finished with a game high rebounds.