Hurons lose squeaker to Inland Lakes in elimination duel 42-38
The Rogers City Hurons were determined to give the district run their best shot after eliminating Onaway 54-31, with Ashley Fleming scoring a game-high 36 points.
The Inland Lakes matchup took place November 19, with the team entering the contest with a bit of trepidation after a lambasting the previous Friday from the Bulldogs, 73-43. It was the second time the Inland Lakes team had bested the Hurons in the season.
THE GAME BEGAN slowly for the Hurons, who seemed to be shut out at the net and in their passing early on, scoring only four points after one quarter to the Bulldogs? 10.
Things evened out somewhat in the second segment when the Hurons got into gear, leaving at the half with only a three point deficit, 17-14.
Inland Lakes pushed forward in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 28-23.
By the final segment of the game, it still seemed like the possibility of a Huron victory with hard playing and a little luck, but Bulldog player Katie Kolb scored immediately with a two pointer, 30-23.
A minute later Ashley Fleming got fouled and sent one in at the line to make it 30-24. Within 15 seconds, Kolb responded again off a quick handoff from Ashley Smith, 32-24.
Lindsey Fleming took the ball out to Ashley who passed off to Sara Dove, then Lindsey to Ashley to Becky Bruning who fed Ashley the ball under the hoop for two more, 32-26.
A series of floor scrambles and desperate play began with both teams missing easy shots, until Jill Rutledge connected at the hoop on a recovery play (34-26) followed by a Kolb steal and nice layup under the net for two more, (36-26).
THEN THE HURONS took the Dawgs to task as Ashley brought out the ball, bounce-passed to Jenna Vogelheim, who relayed the sphere to Lindsey, then an Ashley up and under goal, (36-28).
Lindsey spiked a long two-pointer at 4:02 to pull the Hurons within six (36-30).
In a frantic effort to score again, the Hurons moments later ran the court with Lindsey, Tiffiny Krueger, C.J. Calabrese and Ashley, who on her third attempt under the basket succeeded with another two pointer, 36-32.
Kolb answered with two freebies from the line with only 1:46 on the clock, (38-32).
The Hurons responded within seconds as Calabrese drove the ball downcourt to Lindsey, to Ashley and back to Lindsey for two (38-34).
As the seconds ticked down, the Hurons? desperation began to show with missed shots and fouls that brought the Bulldogs two more easy points from the free throw line when Jenny Whitman sank both attempts, 40-34, and 46 seconds on the clock.
But Ashley Fleming was not buying it, as she ran the court with 19 seconds to play and plopped two in, getting fouled in the process and very carefully adding two more at the free throw line with only 14 seconds to play, 41-38.
Now the crowd saw the meaning of a light at the end of the tunnel, when it became apparent that a quick three-pointer from Lindsey Fleming could tie the game.
But it wasn?t meant to be, as Kolb went to the free throw line on a Huron foul and sank one on the second attempt, 42-38 with only 11 seconds left to tick away the season and Huron hopes.
?IT WAS a great game, actually,? said Bulldog coach Scott Swanso
The Huron disappointment was evident as the locker room time following the game was a long one, with players coming out with tearful faces.
?I think we came back, and we fought hard,? Coach Karl Grambau said of the effort. ?We just turned the ball over too many times…we?ve had that problem all year. But we have a lot of girls coming back next year and we have to learn to play better collectively. I think we?ll be OK.?