Two Vikings named as AP all state playes; Ponik is NSL MVP

It was a season to remember for the Posen Viking boys? basketball team. There was a regional championship game, a 16-game winning streak, and one of the best North Star League records in years, if not the best ever. Now that the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs are over and state championships have been awarded, post season accolades are starting to roll in. As a team, Posen didn?t receive much recognition in the statewide polls, but some of its top players were not overlooked.

Juniors Aaron Hincka and Matt Ponik were named as honorable mentions to the Associated Press Class D all state team, which is voted on by selected Michigan sports writers and broadcasters.

THE DETROIT NEWS released its all state and dream team squads last Sunday. Hincka, who led the Vikings with 18.6 points a game and total points (371), was named to the third team, while Ponik was an honorable mention. On the local front, Ponik was named as the North Star League?s most valuable player. He was second on the team in points per game (17.4), and total points (347), rebounds (202). He also had 50 steals, 63 assists and a 73.3 percent free throw average.

The junior forward also edged senior Ron Kroll with 72 points scored in the tournament. Kroll had 71. Hincka made first team all-conference, while Kroll earned second team honors.

KROLL LED the Vikings with 75 assists, 63 steals, and had the best field goal shooting percentage (60 percent). Ron Misiak, who was named the Alpena News? all-region coach of the year, will have Ponik and Hincka back for one more season, but his toughest task will be replacing five seniors, who were very much part of the Vikings? incredible 20-4 run. Every one of them played an important role. Graduating will be Russ Kamyszek (135 points), Noah Schellie (40 assists), Tom Woloszyk (29 rebounds, seven in the playoffs), Luke Hentkowski (39 assists, 75 percent from the free throw line), and Kroll.

In a season of highlights, Posen had its highest scoring

total of the season and the widest point margin in game number two of the season against Au Gres. After the Vikings dropped their first game of the season, giving up their second highest point total of the season to Cedarville, the players responded with 80 points December 12 against Au Gres and won by 47. THE VIKES only gave up 33 points, which was tied for the lowest opponent output of the season. Unfortunately, the consistency wasn?t there in the first three games as Posen gave up its highest point total of the season to Mio in a 76-73 loss. The Vikings redeemed the loss with a 66-62 victory at Mio in January.

The defense would get better as the season progressed as the players held four opponents to 40 or less. The 16-game winning streak started with a 77-34 win over Hillman and ended against Rogers City in the final regular season game. The Vikings averaged 68.8 points a game, while opponents scored 51.6 points a game.