Grane/Houser Part 1 was as good as advertised. No, better.

The matchup between the Northside Eagles and Warner Robins Demons, whether on Green Street, like it was Saturday or on South Davis Drive, is always a must-see affair. The battles within the games however can be up and down considering what year we are talking about. This year’s head-to-head meeting between Demons senior guard Keshun Houser and Eagles junior guard Tre Grane, the first of the season, the rematch will take place Jan. 18, was as good as advertised. No, better. 

The guards are familiar with each other,They both play their AAU ball for local program Warner Robins All-Stars, Houser referred to Grane as “my little brother” during a postgame interview, but that does little to take away from how heated the game was and how physical the dual got late in the game. The Demons won the game 60-45, Houser scored 12 points, Grane finished 15 points, both had their moments throughout. “I played Ok, could have played better on defense and my free throws just weren’t falling,” said Houser who missed three of four free throws late in the game. To his credit they all came after taking a tumble after getting fouled on a drive to the basket during the fourth quarter. On the matchup with Grane Houser said, “It was really fun.”

His counterpart agrees. “It’s always fun playing against him,” said Grane about Houser. “It’s a challenge I love taking on.”

The Demons first basket of the game came on a baseline dunk from Houser. Grane drove the lane a minute later to give Northside a 6-4 lead, the Eagles first and last of the game. A Houser drive and bucket made the score 13-10 towards the end of the first quarter and a Grane floater tied the score at 17 early in the second quarter. “It’s always fun playing against one of the best guards in the county, especially when you know him,” said Grane. 

Defensively both players put forth equally as impressive efforts with each picking up a couple of steals during the game. They also had late turnovers. Grane turned over two separate inbounds passes during the second half and Houser missed a dunk that could have easily been a layup during the fourth quarter. 

Houser may have finished with less points but his six second half points (Grane scored six points during the fourth quarter) were big for the Demons who move to 12-1. The Eagles are now 9-4 overall. 

“Those two guys are tremendously gifted at what they do, they both push each other to be the best, particularly on this day,” said Demons head coach Jamaal Garman after the game. 

“Tre and Houser are two elite players who embrace the challenge of playing [against] each other,” said Northside head coach Matt Simon. 

About those free throws Houser missed he says he’s going to get that taken care of soon enough. “I’m going to get in the gym and work on them.” Good thing too, the rematch with Grane and the Eagles is just two weeks away.