Hurons shock Hale to take championship away from hosts
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
It didn?t matter that nobody gave them a chance to win. It didn?t matter that they had suffered through an eight-game losing streak near the end of the season. It didn?t matter that Hale had lost only one game all season. It didn?t matter that Hale hosted the district championship game in a gym packed with Eagle crazies. None of that mattered to coach Tom Adrian?s scrappy Huron boys? basketball team as they stung the Eagles with a bitter 59-56 loss in the district championship game last Friday.
The lead changed an incredible 13 times before the Hurons finally prevailed, sparked by a gritty performance by senior guard Justin Idalski with 28 points, and timely baskets by his mates down the stretch.
Coach Adrian, a district winner in his first season as coach, had trouble putting his thoughts into words after the out-numbered, but vocal Huron fans stormed the court for the trophy presentation. ?It was a great game for the fans. I?m really proud of these guys,? he said before a swarm of well-wishers shared his tears of joy.
AS DID THE first round game with Alcona, this game came down to the final critical minutes of the fourth quarter. Trailing by a basket, Idalski drove to the hoop to give the Hurons a 49-48 lead with 4:25 left in the game. Hale (21-2), which needed one more win to set the all-time school record for wins in a season, drained a three and a rebound shot to lead 53-49 with 2:40 left. Junior guard Erik Meharg drove the left baseline and hit Devon Ferris for a short jumper. Meharg followed that with a three, set up by a drive by Pat Quaine. Rogers City led 54-53 with 1:51 showing.
Hale senior Lane Self hit on a driving shot, was fouled by Ferris, and drained the free throw for a 56-53 lead for the home team. After a Huron timeout, the Hurons broke a press and Kevin Fairbanks hit one-of-two from the line. Hale turned the ball over with 1:11 on the clock, setting up an exciting finish.
Ferris, snatched a rebound off Meharg?s miss, and nailed the put back. He capped that by taking a charge right under the Hale basket to give the Hurons the ball with a 57-56 lead and 42 ticks left on the clock. But a turnover gave the ball back to the Eagles moments later.
A TIMEOUT gave each team a chance to catch their breath, and gave the fans time to get ready for a loud finish. Meharg had a Hale guard trapped in the corner and tipped the ball out of bounds with 22 seconds left. Then, with only eight seconds left to play he dove and slapped the ball away and into the hands of Idalski. Forced to foul, Hale put Meharg on the line, where he sunk one-of-two.
In the opening half, each team attacked the basket from the inside. Hale pounded the ball to the low post where junior center Christian Mudry scored 18 points in the shadow of the basket. Rogers City attacked the basket with speed and hard drives to the hoop. The lead changed hands three times in the first quarter, which ended with the score tied at 17-17. Hale led 32-29 at halftime and 44-40 at the end of the third quarter. Idalski led the team with 28, while Meharg added 13, and Ferris scored 10.
THE HURONS responded to the pressure of
Whatever the case, winning the districts was a great cap to the season. ?We had a little adversity in the season. We were playing some of the top teams in northern Michigan like Cheboygan, Rudyard, Cedarville, St. Ignace and all those good teams. But I am happy for the boys and the community that we got a district,? Adrian said.
Rogers City made it to the district finals with a 67-38 win over Whittemore-Prescott March 11. Ferris scored 16, Idalski had 14 and Wagner added 10 points in the convincing Huron win. Quaine and Meharg each added seven points in the win as 10 players made the scoring column.