Saints nip Hurons; RC blasts Inland Lakes
The Hurons got back on the winning track with a 65-45 win Tuesday at Inland Lakes. Rogers City maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game, after a fast start. The Hurons led 17-3 after the opening quarter and 33-16 at halftime. The visitors stretched their lead to 48-21 after three quarters. Kyle Greene paced the scoring attack with 25 points. Adam LaLonde scored 19 and Tim Cercone added 11. That sets up a home contest with Alcona Friday and a trip to Hillman Tuesday before a face-off with Straits Area Conference leader Rudyard January 30.
LAST FRIDAY in Rogers City, the Hurons lost a very entertaining run-and-gun battle with the St. Ignace Saints, 78-75. Always quick to press and quick to fast-break, the Saints? style of play got several Hurons in foul trouble. To make matters worse, while the Saints were hitting free throws, the Hurons struggled at the line down the stretch.
The lead swung back and forth throughout the game, with the Saints leading 12-6 in the early going of the first quarter, before settling on a 24-18 lead. Isaac Momrik?s opening shot three-pointer gave the Hurons a brief lead, cut quickly by a fast-breaking Saint team. The Saints would use full-court pressure and always run a fast-break off a made basket. Greene?s dunk opened the second quarter, but the Saints were able to maintain at least a three-point lead up until the final three minutes of the half. Greene nearly brought the house down on a break-away jam later in the quarter, picking up a loose ball at half court, then thundering at the basket from the left side, tucking the ball down low, then throwing it down. That closed the gap to two points at 37-35 with 2:10 left in the half.
Clay Hilla scored on an inbounds play to tie the score, then Tim Cercone hit a short shot to give the Hurons their first lead since the opening seconds of the game.
IN THE third quarter St. Ignace used the three-pointer to draw close at 49-48 at the 3:22 mark. A three-pointer by Chris Paschke answered the surge, and the Hurons led 56-55 heading into the final frame. St. Ignace tied the score at 62-62 with 5:02 left in the game, then took the lead for good 30 seconds later. Rogers City hit just three-of-12 from the free throw line in the final quarter, including just 1-for-8 in the final six minutes. Greene scored 29 points, and was supported by Hilla with 12, Paschke with 11 and Cercone who scored 10.
THE JUNIOR varsity won both of its games last week, a 67-51 win over St. Ignace Friday and a win at Inland Lakes Tuesday. The Friday contest saw the Hurons jump out to a 19-13 first quarter lead and never lose control. Rogers City led 31-24 at halftime and 49-31 at the end of the third quarter. The JV took a 63-49 win over Inland Lakes. Justin Senff had 23 points, while Justin Wilbert and Derek McLennan each scored 12. Chris Santini added eight points for the Huron JV.