District streak ends at five

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

While the Posen boys? basketball program had its streak of five consecutive district titles came to an end Wednesday, fans got a glimpse of the future in the 2009 finale. The Vikings (6-14) lost their first district game in six years Wednesday night, 67-49, to host Joburg.

The last district loss was at Hillman, when a young group of sophomores led by Aaron Hincka and Matt Ponik let a fourth quarter lead get away from them. ?We had a horrible third quarter, that was a killer for us,? said head coach Steve Hentkowski following the final contest of the season. ?We shot only 10 percent.? Hentkowski?s lineup varied throughout the night, with most of the players that have led the charges through the season, but with a heavy sprinkling of underclassman getting lots of playing time.

JOBURG — USED a patient offense in the early minutes of the contest, with lots of passing to set up the best possible shot, and were on top 10-2 before sophomore Shane Hentkowski got involved in the scoring with a field goal and trey in two straight trips down the floor, instantly putting the Vikings back in the contest.

Freshman David Kerr scored moments after checking into his first varsity game and showed he isn?t afraid to take the ball to the hole. He went to the line with shooting fouls several times in the game. After making one of two, Posen was within two, 10-8. Joburg?s Tyler Knapp made a three-point play and led a 10-1 run to end the first quarter.

The Cards were on top by 12 in the second, 27-15, when the Vikings charged back. Hentkowski p

ut in three straights points, to go with his game-high 23, and was followed by Kerr getting a long rebound and taking it coast-to-coast for a layup. The score was 27-20.

The teams sparred back-and-forth until the final five seconds when Hentkowski drained a three to trim the deficit to three at the break, 33-27. THE VIKES could score only six points in the third, while Joburg put in 16. It wasn?t over, though, as junior Scott Couture started a rally with a three ball (49-37) at the 5:48 mark of the fourth and was followed by a field goal by freshman Jerome Ciarkowski to get the red and white within 10.

Coach Hentkowski called for the full court pressure defense. His son Shane picked off a pass and nailed a jumper. Ciarkowski came up with a steal himself and took it all the way for a layup to put the Vikings within six to complete a 10-0 to start the fourth. It would be all Posen would have left in the tank as the Cards took control. Cardinal senior Kris Steil made 10 straight free throws in the second half. Joburg made seven straight free throws to end the contest. Hillman defeated Joburg in the district final last Friday and then lost in the regional tournament Monday, 85-67, to Leland.

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