SPORTS COLUMNIST PETER JAKEY:Coach Karl optimistic about remaining games
It?s been a bumpy ride for the Huron basketball team as it enters the final couple of weeks of the regular season three games below .500. Last week may have been the roughest ride of the 2002-2003 trip. The team suffered a disheartening loss at Posen, and then dropped a game they led most of the way against Newberry. RCHS IS coming off one of its most successful campaigns in boys basketball, advancing all the way to the regional championship game last year before losing to eventual state champ McBain. Grambau was expecting to usher three new starters into the lineup after last year?s super run, but his job as coach became more difficult when senior Cody Hurst went down with a knee injury in the Whittemore-Prescott football game. ?I don?t think you can ever anticipate an injury such as the one Cody Hurst suffered,? said Grambau. ?Cody was our vocal leader last year, and our best defensive player. This year he would have been out of this world.? Hurst had a solid summer playing basketball as well. ?We were anticipating great things out of him. Personally I think if Cody would have played all year, our record would be closer to what last year?s record was,? said Grambau. The injury left Kyle Greene as the only returning starter. AT THIS point in the season, the Hurons are starting three juniors and two sophomores. ?We?ve had to put people into situations to play lots of minutes,? said Grambau. ?I think our young kids have responded well. I think that they?ve improved from the beginning of the year to where they are now.? Looking in that crystal ball to the 2003-2004 season, one can?t help thinking the future is bright. There?s no question next year, and maybe the next several seasons with the younger kids coming up from the JV, junior high and Presque Isle Basketball Association, could bring the basketball program plenty of success. But don?t think ?Mr. Optimism? is going to back down from one more chance at making a statement down the stretch. ?I hoping to finish strong and defend our district title,? said Grambau. ?It?s going to be a tough chore in Alcona. They really blasted us twice, so we probably have to beat them at some point in the district to win it. ?As far as our program, as a whole, the community support for our basketball program has been good,? Grambau continued. ?I?ve had a lot of positive comments from people in the community. I think they understand that we took quite a hit when we lost Cody. I think that they see we are trying.? *** *** *** THE DAYS of pole vaulting at the high school level may be numbered. New rules and regulations from the Michigan High School Athletic Association have forced school districts to purchase safer equipment. If schools don?t make the upgrade, the track and field teams won?t be able to participate in the event. The timing couldn?t have been worse for st ?The cost of refurbishing the pit that we have right now, the minimal cost would be $3,200,? said RCHS athletic director Pat Lamb, at a recent school board meeting. In Posen, principal/athletic director Cliff Kelly received authorization from the school board to purchase the new equipment, but sent it back to the company when it was learned the $8,400 may be needed for something other than sports. *** *** *** THE ADVANCE is assisting the Huron Sports Boosters in selling raffle tickets for a 29-inch by 19-inch Red Wings stained glass sign. The drawing is February 25 at 8 p.m. at the high school. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. I don?t know any true Red Wing fan who wouldn?t want it. It?s really nice. Second, third, and fourth prizes of $50 each also will be awarded.