SPORTSBEAT BY PETER JAKEY:Tournament trail winter award winners

It is early Wednesday morning and another trip down the tournament trail to Brimley awaits. Posen is heading to the upper peninsula with a date in the regional semifinals against Superior Central High School. Anything can happen with these guys. The three-time district champs have had their ups and downs this season, but regardless of the outcome at regionals, they should be solid next season with a talented group of juniors and some sophomores that have all-state potential. I?ll have more on that journey next week, but this week I?m handing out tournament trail awards for the winter sports season:

?Attitude award. That goes to two-time state wrestling champ Dylan Centala. He had the strength and the technique, but it was probably attitude that won him a state title last Saturday in overtime at The Palace of Auburn Hills. It appeared as if Centala had the match wrapped up in regulation but gave up three crucial points very late in the third period. There were some nervous moments for fans, family, and coaches with the score tied at 10. For Dylan, he was agitated that the match ended in regulation tied. He went out and took it to his opponent in overtime in about 20 seconds.

?Best defensive performance: The Posen basketball team?s tenacious play against Johannesburg-Lewiston in last Thursday?s district championship game. The Vikes held the Cardinals scoreless for the first quarter-and-a-half of the game.

?Worst offensive output by a basketball team: the Joburg Cardinals. They couldn?t hit the broad side of a barn with a shot or pass.

?Best upset: The Huron basketball team bringing an end to Mio?s string of district championships with a stunning first round knock out on the home floor. The magic continued throughout the week as the boys went on to win a district title. They turned in a respectable performance against much-heralded Charlevoix. That late season surge by Rogers City should be a preview of more good things to come next season.

?Best comeback: the heart-thumping performance of the Huron volleyball team in the district semifinals against an Onaway club that could smell an upset brewing. Perennial doormats, Onaway had one of their teams ever, and were up 23-20 and needed two points to put the match away. The Hurons, which were made up of mostly juniors and sophomores, stormed back to tie the match. The key play was a spike by Elly Plath that went into the hands of an Onaway blocker, but out of bounds on the Rogers City side. That gave the Hurons a 24-23 lead.

?Worst performance by a game crew: That was in Indian River at the district volleyball tournament when a ball was hit under the stands and nobody could find it for several minutes. It was the craziest thing I had seen all year. A hitting error deflected off a player and went between the two sets of stands. The line judge looked but could not find the ball and the officials would not put another one in play. That miffed Huron coach Mary Fairbanks because the time spent looking for the ball sucked all-important momentum from her girls.

?Best smile: Viking junior Craig Niedbala had the biggest smile on his face after scoring his first points of the season. It was a coast-to-coast smile, lasting until he got on the other side of the floor to play defense.

?Best reaction: Senior Brian Krueger?s putting away his opponent in overtime in the state semifinals. He pumped his fist.

I felt really good for Brian that he could do that well at the state finals, and get so close to a state title. Other than winning it all, there was only one way to go out, and Krueger was able to accomplish that as a runner-up.

?Best popcorn: Atlanta High School, when it was available. The first night of the district tournament, concession stand workers were not prepared and people were waiting around for bags of popcorn, including yours truly. I gave them $1 and told them I would be back after the game for my corn. They forgot. Upon returning a few days later, the folks were plenty ready for the popcorn crunch.

?Nimrod award: that goes to me. Not only did I leave a DVD in Indian River and had to pay $10 in late fees, but at The Palace I ran out in the parking lot to get some new batteries, went back in to the arena for another hour and a half of wrestling, to only return and find that I had left the side van door wide open. There was a DVD player on the back seat and cash on the front passenger seat. Luckily, that had a happy outcome.

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