Defense, rebounding key Huron win over Cards

A little too much pressure and inside presence made difficult for the Cardinals to keep up with the Huron basketball team Tuesday in Onaway. The Hurons pressed and shot their way to a 56-36 win over the Cardinals to move to 9-7 on the season. Onaway, who honored its seniors and parents before the game, stayed with the Hurons in the early going, tying the game at 6-6 after Jesus Mora stole the ball and went in for a layup. With 2:02 left in the first quarter, the Cardinal faithful saw their team playing the Hurons dead even. Huron coach Karl Grambau called timeout at that point and a more focused team emerged from the huddle. The visitors turned the screws tight on defense while shutting out the Cards nearly the rest of the first half. A 22-0 run ended when Onaway scored the last two points off a rare offensive rebound to make the score 28-8 at the half.

?I?m really happy with the way the defense played, especially in the second half,? Grambau said. ?We played well offensively, but in streaks.?

IN THE run, junior center Scott Kowalewsky and senior forward Andy Tulgestke cleaned the boards while a patient offense worked the ball around for easy shots. Onaway managed a better showing in the third quarter, but could get no closer than17 points at 39-21 as time expired in the third quarter. Junior guard Bret Karsten led the team in scoring with 12 points, adding five rebounds, and two blocks. Kowalewsky scored 11 points, and snared a team-high 18 rebounds and blocked four shots. Tulgetske scored 10 points, had six rebounds and three assists. Jordan Claus, starting in place of injured Scott Grulke, had four rebounds and four assists. Grambau said it is possible Grulke could return as soon as Friday, but is confident of his return for the district tournament.

LAST FRIDAY at St. Ignace, the Saints survived intense pressure from the Hurons in taking a 61-5

5 win Rogers City jumped out to a 10-8 lead after the first quarter, but trailed 29-25 at halftime and 49-38 at the end of the third quarter. Karsten scored 26 while Tulgestke added 11 and Kowalewsky scored nine. The Huron JV continued to roll, notching wins over St. Ignace and Onaway as they improved to 13-3. Against St. Ignace, the Hurons used a tremendous second quarter–scoring 26 points?and coasted to a 73-42 win. Rogers City trailed 17-15 before taking a 41-23 lead into the locker room at halftime and 63-28 at the end of the third quarter. Justin Idalski scored 20 and Jordan Zempel added 12 points.

IN ONAWAY, the Hurons ran out to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter and played consistently well in a 80-41 win. All 14 players suited up for the game scored, led by Devon Ferris with 13 points. The Hurons host Newberry Friday, then play a make-up contest at Rudyard Saturday. They host Cheboygan Tuesday and host Posen March 2 in the regular season finale.