Huge fourth quarter for Hurons in win

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

A torrid flurry of defense and scoring in the final eight minutes propelled the Hurons boys? basketball team (4-1) to a 61-56 at Sault Ste. Marie Friday in the last game before the Christmas break. Trailing 42-32 after three quarters of play, coach Karl Grambau?s squad came out of the huddle in a full-court press, bent on taking away the Soo?s running game. The Soo scored the last five points of the third quarter, and had momentum going, as the outside shot kept falling on their home court. The press slowed down the Blue Devils and fired up the Hurons.

PLAYING WITH more intensity in the fourth quarter than they had showed most of the game, the Hurons put up 29 points in the final frame, nearly equaling their entire output up until then. Baskets by Justin Idalski, Scott Kowalewsky, and two hoops from Cody Wirgau cut the lead to six points with six minutes left in the game. The up-tempo game was just what coach Karl Grambau wanted. Blessed with a deep bench, the Hurons are able to interchange players with great success. ?We like playing that fast style, we have just got to work to get bet

ter at it,? Grambau said.

Once the Soo broke the press, they had trouble getting inside baskets. With the Hurons trailing by four at 46-42, Kowalewsky blocked a shot, one of seven blocks in the game, and scored on the other end, off a pass from Scott Grulke. Kowalewsky tied the game with a bucket off an inbound play with 3:45 left, and Wirgau?s tip-in gave the Hurons the lead 30 seconds later. Soo tied the score with a quick press-breaking bucket moments before Karsten answered with a lay-up. Karsten followed that with a steal and a three-point bomb as the Hurons went up for good, 53-48 with 2:29 on the clock.

KARSTEN AND Kowalewsky each scored 20 points in the game with all Karsten?s coming in the second half. Kowalewsky scored 10 in the fourth quarter and Wirgau added six of his eight points in the Hurons? best quarter of the season. Kowalewsky added 14 rebounds while Karsten had six assists. Idalski had nine points in the game.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.