Hurons travel to UP for matchup with tough Rudyard

by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor The high-flying Rudyard Bulldogs (16-1) host Rogers City (9-7) Friday riding a 12-game winning streak. That might have reached 13 games if the Bulldogs defeated Pickford, in a game played Wednesday after press time. Onaway hosted Rogers City Wednesday, also after press time. The Hurons defeated Onaway 76-57 the first time around. Rogers City lost to the Bulldogs 71-43 January 22, but is looking to be more competitive this time around. ?We need to sneak up on somebody. We need to get a big win,? said Huron coach Jesse Streich. ?This is a good shot, I think.? LAST FRIDAY the Hurons suffered through a 22-8 Cheboygan third quarter in a 71-55 loss to the Chiefs.

?We came out flat in the third quarter. That was the story of the ball game. We hung with but came out flat in the second half,? Streich said. The Hurons had trouble stopping Trevor Closs who scored 36 points while connecting on six three-pointers in the game. The Hurons took a 33-31 lead at halftime, behind nine points by senior guard Erik Meharg and six from senior guard Chris Vogelheim in the second quarter.

?We had a few mental mistakes but Cheboygan is a good ball team, probably one of the best teams on our schedule,? Strei

ch said. ?We made strides.? Meharg led the team in scoring with 17 points, Vogelheim scored 12, Evan Wagner had 11 and Jordan Bellmore scored 10. Streich said his team is playing much better lately as the district tournament approaches. ?We didn?t play bad, but we struggled on the offensive end in the third quarter and that hurt us,? he said. The Hurons drew a bye in the district playoffs and will face the winner of the Alcona vs. Whittemore-Prescott game. The game will be played in Rogers City March 10. The finals are Friday March 12. Other teams in the district are Oscoda and Indian River-Inland Lakes.

THE HURON junior varsity took a 48-45 win over Cheboygan last Friday. The score was tied 20-20 at halftime and Rogers City led 32-28 after three quarters. Devin Hilla scored 16 points, Chase Grulke had 13 and Chris Peacock added 10 for coach Chris Shay?s team.