Hurons save their best for last; Posen hopes to build on moral victory
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The Huron boys’ basketball team needed every ounce of its energy to fend off hoop rival, Posen, who had the upset in their cross-hares, but Rogers City came through with its best four minutes of the night to win their first game.
Following a long jumper by Posen sophomore Shane Hentkowski, the Vikings were up by four points, 53-49, at the midway point of the fourth quarter. Rogers City fought back with a 9-0 run to give head coach Tom Adrian his first victory off his varsity coaching career.
Huron senior Justin Idalski led all scorers with 19 points and sparked the comeback with the first basket in the run.
Posen did a nice job of neutralizing Rogers City’s clear height advantage with hustle and defense, but couldn’t stop the Hurons from getting all the rebounds and put-back shots.
Rogers City’s big man, Devon Ferris, used his size to knock down a shot from the low post to tie the game at 53-all, and with one minute left he was going for another jumper down low, and was fouled. Ferris went to the charity stripe and made both ends. Idalski scored a pair of baskets to finish the deal.
Adrian said his team had some opening jitters, but gave Posen a lot of credit for disrupting their offensive flow. “Posen played their hearts out and left everything on the floor, and so did we,” said Adrian.
” I believe we outhustled Rogers City,” said Posen coach Steve Hentkowski, who brought in a team with no starting experience. “They were bigger than us and kept getting the boards. In the end, I wanted only lay ups. I knew our arms were going to be tired and those three pointers weren’t going to fall.” A couple of three tries by Posen in the closing minutes, missed the mark.
The Vikings cut down on their turnovers in the second half, going from 15 to three. “I am really proud of the way they took care of the ball in the second half,” said Hentkowski.
THE TEAMS played even through the first quarter with five lead changes. Kevin Fairbanks’ breakaway lay up put the Hurons up 10-8 near the end of the first quarter. The Hurons widened the gap in the second quarter with an 11-0 run, getting it started with a jumper by Evan Wagner.
Erik Meharg heated up from all areas of the court. He made a lay up on a nice pass from Justin LaLonde; hit a trey from the corner; a lay up off a steal; and a put back, to give Rogers City a 13 point lead, 21-8.
The teams would go toe-to-toe, trading baskets and some chippy play, but the Vikings weren’t deterred by their opponent or the deficit. They continued to scrap for loose balls and rebounds.
With 1:10 left in the second quarter, Tyson Klecha’s three pointer helped Posen chip into that lead. Hentkowski carved his way through the Rogers City defense for a lay up to get it to six, 29-23.
Huron junior Pat Quaine answered with a “J”, but Nathan Street scored on a weak side lay up for two of his 12 points. The halftime score was 31-25. ROGERS CITY started off the second half impressively with a nice looking play to Ferris in the paint. He got the ball, and before another double team could converge on him, he put it down.
Scott Couture’s jumper, and free throws by Hentkowski, cut the lead to four. Ferris answered with a low post jumper.
At the five minute mark, Posen would take command with Street cutting to the basket for a lay up and putting down a shot on a break away. He was fouled for a five-point swing to make the score, 40-36 with 4:42 left.
Hentkowski followed with a “J” to get PHS within two, but Klecha was clutch with another three pointer at the 3:31 mark to give the Vikes their first lead of the second half, 41-40.
There were three lead changes to close out the third, and anyone who thought the rivalry of the last few seasons would be quiet this year, was misled. The score at the end of three was 45-43 Rogers City.
THE LEAD didn’t last long as Hentkowski tied it at 45 and made one-of-two at the free throw line when the Hurons were called for a technical foul. The Viking lead was 46-45. Idalski put Rogers City back on top by dribbling the length of the court and going in for a lay up for yet another lead change.
Posen would get it back on a follow up rebound try by Klecha. That was followed by Hentkowski’s three pointer to make it 51-47. Rogers City’s defensive stand and scoring flourish sent the hometown fans with a smile, while Posen was disappointed but will build on their moral victory.
“The defense came through,” said Adrian. “We had a lot of kids down with the flu. We have to work on making free throws and puppy shots around the basket.” Ferris finished with 16, while Hentkowski led the Posen attack with 17.
The J.V. game was equally as entertaining, as Jordan Bellmore scored for Rogers City to send the game into overtime. For the Vikings, David Kerr went two-for-two from the free throw line, Nathan Lenard went two-for-four and Kohl Stowe scored three field goals to win the game for Posen, 62-56.
Huron Jesse Wilbert had a game-high 15, while Bellmore had 13. Devin Hilla added 12. Travis Hirschman had 14 for Posen, Stowe had 12, while Kerr finished with 12.