Cards take 79-28 win over Hurons

by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor

A tall and talented Onaway Cardinal boys’ basketball team used their height and shooting skills to dominate the Hurons in a 79-28 win last Friday.

Huron coach Jesse Streich couldn’t find anything good to say about the way his team played.

“We got manhandled from the opening tip until the end. We had nobody who could compete with them. (Onaway) is bigger, better, stronger and wanted it more,” a disappointed Streich said after the game.

He didn’t think his team gave its best effort against its longtime rival.

“If you get beat playing hard, I can handle that. But if you don’t even show up in your home gym against Onaway—there was zero effort, zero emotion the whole night,” Streich said.

Onaway's Joe O'Bradovich launches one of his game-high 25 points over a swarm of Huron defenders. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

Onaway coach Eddie Szymoniak said this group of Cardinals has been playing at a high level all season.

“We have been waiting for this group for the last three or four years. It is coming around and that is why we are excited. It is one of the biggest teams, one of the most athletic teams that has probably come through the school,” Szymoniak said.

Onaway controlled the boards in building a big first-quarter lead. The Cardinals got the first six points and the last seven points of the quarter in building a 24-7 lead.

A basket by Adam Belusar and an inside shot by Alex Hincka came around a 3-pointer by Onaway’s Joe O’Bradovich early in the second quarter.

But the Hurons’ could not keep up with the Cards on the boards as Onaway had several second-chance baskets in the quarter.

After a bucket from Hincka on an inside banker at the 4:24 mark, the Cards went on a 13-0 run to close the second quarter with a 47-17 lead.

Buckets by Quintin Kelly at the 6:33 mark of the third quarter and Alex Darga at the 3:21 point of the third quarter were the only points of the quarter. Onaway took

a 70-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A running clock in the fourth quarter slowed down the Cardinals.

Chris Lopez had nine points while Hincka scored eight for the Hurons. Rogers City connected on 4-of-15 from the free-throw line.

O’Bradovich paced the scoring attack for Onaway with 25 points while Carlos Bautista and Andrew Prow had 18 points each.

Rogers City took an exciting 44-42 win over Onaway in the junior varsity contest. The Hurons led 23-17 at halftime and held on for the win.

Brendan Koss paced the scoring attack with 11 points while Jacob Hein added eight.

Rogers City plays in Posen Dec. 30.