Quick start by Chiefs too much for Hurons to handle

The New Year started for the Hurons the same way the old one ended–with a loss to Cheboygan. The Chiefs came away with a 62-42 win at RCHS Tuesday. A horrible start proved too much for the home team to overcome in the first game after the Christmas break.

Cheboygan scored the first 14 points of the game before Chris Paschke’s two free throws parted the net with two minutes left in the first quarter. Then the Hurons went on a run of their own to close the gap to 16-10 at the end of the quarter.

Isaac Momrik hit a three-pointer after Chris Santini came up with a steal on the defensive end. Moments later, Santini lit up a three from the right corner and the Hurons were back in the game. Cheboygan was able to run the court effectively and shut down the Hurons’ inside game. The Hurons played well in spurts, with a good run coming midway through the second quarter. Paschke hit a runner and then a free throw, which was followed by a pretty drive by Charley Smolinski to cut the lead to 20-16 with 4:21 left in the first half. But a 13-4 Chief run to end the first half made it 32-20 at halftime.

THE HURONS greeted the Chiefs with a full court press to start the second half, then dropped back into a zone. This combination held down the Chiefs’ scoring in the opening minutes, but the Hurons couldn’t capitalize on the offensive end as the first three possessions ended with Huron turnovers. Cheboygan extended its lead to 40-20 before a Paschke hoop broke the run. Cheboygan answered with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes. Free throws by Derek McLennan and Jeff Cornett ended the Hurons’ scoring in the third quarter as they trailed 51-25 heading into the final frame. Rogers City could gain no ground on the visitors in the fourth.

PASCHKE PACED the Hurons with 12 points. Smolinski scored nine and Santini added eight as nine Hurons made the scoring column. “We got things going for a while at the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, but it’s the same old thing we’ve had all season,” said coach Karl Grambau. “We have got to put together an entire ball game.” The Hurons fell to 0-6 on the season and will take on winless Sault Ste.

Marie at RCHS Friday.

Junior center Justin Senff is expected to return to the lineup after missing some games with an injury. Freshman Bret Karsten, who left Tuesday’s game with an injury to his chin after a hard foul, also is expected back in the lineup Friday.

THE JV improved to 4-2 with a 41-37 win over the Chiefs. Coach Nick Rethman’s squad took charge of a low scoring game and held on to the lead through the second half. Rogers City led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and 11-10 at halftime. The Hurons took a 28-21 lead into the final eight minutes and finished strong to earn the win.

The Hurons had no free throws until the fourth quarter, when they connected on 7 of 12. Scott Kowalewsky had 11 points while Nick Kowalski added seven.

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