Season ends at 14-9 after loss in district finals
Too much defense and not enough baskets spelled defeat for the Hurons (14-9) last Friday in the district final in Onaway. The team ran up against a hot shooting, smothering defensive team in Whittemore-Prescott and lost 65-44 to the Cardinals. It ended a fine run for the senior-laden team led by center Ashley Fleming, who ends her high school basketball career as the Hurons’ all-time leading scorer.
WHITTEMORE’S PRESSURE defense earned the Cardinals a 6-0 lead in the game’s opening two minutes before the Hurons were able to tie it up at 9-9. “We let the press bother us in the beginning. That is Whittemore’s game,” said Huron coach Karl Grambau. Senior point guard Sara Dove, who gave the Hurons steady play at the position all season long, nailed a three-pointer with 4:31 left in the first quarter. Then Fleming, accustomed to seeing two people cover her at all times underneath, turned a teammate’s missed shot into a put-back hoop. Dove had a break away lay-up to knot the score at nine with 2:49 left in the half.
THAT WOULD be the last time the Hurons were close in the game as Whittemore went on an 11-0 run to close the quarter leading 20-11. Senior forward Becky Bruning’s buzzer-beater broke the run. Another factor in the mix came as several Hurons were in foul trouble. Senior guard Megan Hanson and Fleming both picked up their third fouls early in the second quarter. Whittemore’s lead extended to 13 before Dove’s free throw and Hanson’s jumper made it 24-11 midway through the second quarter. Then Whittemore went on another run to lead 35-18 as the Cardinal press and 1-2-2 zone led to several turnovers and rushed Huron shots.
ROGERS CITY responded with a mini-run with two Fleming inside shots sandwiched around a basket by Laura Konieczny to make the score 35-26 at halftime. The Hurons looked to make a comeback when the Cardinals’ best player got in foul trouble midway through the quarter Kaylon Leslie’s fourth foul sent her to the bench with her team leading 44-34. Leslie’s accurate shooting and superior passing ability were keys to the Cards’ success in the game. Instead of making a charge, the Hurons lost ground as Whittemore scored the last seven points of the quarter to lead 51-34.
While Whittemore’s press caused troubles for the Hurons, the Cards were able to break the Hurons’ press by inbounding the ball quickly after a made shot. When Leslie returned to the game at the 7:18 mark of the fourth quarter, her team was up by 15 and poised for another run. Hanson picked up her fifth foul with 4:41 left in the game, while Bruning had fouled out a minute earlier. The Hurons could not rally as the last minutes ticked off on their season. Ashley Fleming’s last point would come at the free throw line. The next, and last Huron points of the night came from freshman center Jenny Fleming, a candidate to compete for the center position next season.
“WE HAD CUT into their lead by getting it inside in the second half. Then we quit going inside,” Grambau said. “It was ironic that when Leslie got her fourth foul and went to the bench they went from nine ahead to 19 when it should have been just the other way.” Ashley Fleming led the team with 23 points and Dove scored 10. Others who scored were Bruning with four, while Hanson, Tiffiny Krueger, Laura Konieczny, and Jenny Fleming each scored two.
‘I CAN’T fault my girls. They had a great effort. We have had a great year. I have been blessed with a great bunch of kids. We just came up a little short tonight,” Grambau said. Whittemore had four players in double fig
ROGERS CITY — USED a swarming full-court defense and clutch shooting to take a 46-45 win over Mio in Wednesday’s district semifinal game. With the Hurons leading 44-42, with 37 seconds left to play, senior guard Jess Konieczny came up with a loose ball at half court and found sophomore forward Tiffiny Krueger alone under the basket for a lay-up. That would be the winning basket, after Mio hit a three-pointer with three seconds left in the game.
Ashley Fleming paced the Hurons with 27 points while Hanson added nine. The Hurons will lose seniors Ashley Fleming, Samantha Hurst, Jess Konieczny, Megan Hanson, Sara Dove, and Becky Bruning for next season.