Posen dominates the boards to earn a return to the regional title game

It’s back to Newberry one more time tomorrow, as the Posen basketball team (23-0) has its sights set on its first Class D regional championship in 38 years. The Vikings made it back to the regional title game for the second year in a row with a hard-fought victory over the Mackinaw City Comets (16-7), 57-49. Senior forward Matt Ponik scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. He had six field goals, two three pointers, and was eight-for-10 from the free throw line. “We’re just really happy to make it to the regional finals,” said Posen coach Ron Misiak. “They came after us and played really, really strong defense. We had a few turnovers, which is not like us, but we controlled the boards and that was the big factor in the ball game.”

POSEN OWNED the boards. Senior center Aaron Hincka had 23 of the Vikings’ 51 rebounds, while the Comets could only get their hands on 13. Comet coach David Huntington said Hincka’s offensive rebounds and put-backs really hurt his team. “He got his put-backs and that’s what we wanted to limit. That’s one area of the game we didn’t execute well,” said Huntington. “Other than that, we were right there with them.”

Hincka had 10 field goals in the semifinal contest to finish with 22 points. The Vikings should have the size advantage over whatever school won Wednesday’s game between Eben Junction Superior Central and Brimley. Hincka and junior Matt Szczerowski both measure more than 6’5″. The tallest player from the remaining schools is Brimley center Mike DuBois, who stretches the tape measure to 6′ 2″. Friday’s regional championship game begins at 7 p.m. The winner Friday advances to the elite-eight quarterfinal game Tuesday at Sault Ste. Marie.

POSEN MADE it to the sweet 16 for the second year in a row by fighting off a scrappy effort by M.C., which led by six points in the second quarter, 20-14. The Vikes had the early lead, 12-7, after Richie Kroll stopped and popped a jumper from the baseline. M.C. came back to tie it at 12 by the end of the first quarter and took that momentum into the second. Sparked by the sharp shooting of sophomore Chase Closs, the Comets were up by six at the 5:26 mark. “We were with them the whole first half,” said Huntington.

The Vikings charged back with a patented 15-2 run before halftime. It started with five points from Ponik. He provided a soft shooting touch from outside and on the next possession fought off a double team to get a basket and the free throw. The lead was the Vikings’ when Hincka worked the baseline for a bucket and a 21-20 advantage. M.C. answered to reclaim the lead, but Ponik scored on an inbound pass, forcing the Comets to call timeout. It didn’t help, as the Vikings finished off the first half with a 6-0 spurt.

THE SPORTSCENTER play of the first half came with 10 seconds to go. Ponik passed the ball from the left corner to Hincka under the basket. “Big U” then dished the ball to Matt Szczerowski, who showed a nice shooting touch himself, to give the red and white a 29-22 advantage going into the break. M.C. came out on the attack in the second half. The first shooter to touch the ball hit his shot. Following that, the Comets immediately went to a two-two-one full court defense.

The Vikings couldn’t move the ball past the charity stripe. Just as he led his team on the football field as the quarterback, Ponik decided to call a timeout to make sure Posen had the right play to get the ball past the half court line. That timeout paid huge dividends as the Vikings continued to nurse their lead. After Closs made an improbable falling away from the basket shot, Posen answered with Szczerowski returning the favor from the first half and passing the ball to a wide-open Hincka under the basket. It was dunkable material, but Hincka made no mistake with it and kissed it off the glass. It was the Vikings’ biggest lead at seven. With a five point lead, 33-28, and 3:50 remaining in the third quarter, Posen slowed up the offense and took a couple minutes off the clock.

PONIK EVENTUALLY scored on a put-back and a few minutes later senior for

ward James Sobek scored in a similar fashion off a Viking miss. That gave Posen its biggest lead of the night, 37-28, but it wouldn’t last as the Comets scored the next five points to bring it down to four. After Hincka scored on another put-back, the other Hincka, Jordan, blocked a shot and defended a two-on-one fast break break by M.C. A few moments later, Closs hit a three-pointer from deep in the corner to trim the Posen lead to three. Ponik would answer with another soft jumper on a nice assist by Hincka. Hincka would be on the receiving end of an easy two points moments later on a nice pass from Kroll.

Again, it was dunkable, but Aaron got the points, and that’s all that mattered. The lead got back to eight with 3:33 to go on a Szczerowski put-back, 46-38. The Comets got the fast break going and were within four, 46-42, but Posen made its free throws down the stretch and came up with the defensive plays when it needed them. “It’s nice to have a team play us this strong,” said Misiak. “This is probably the best team we’ve played all year. Not to take anything away from Cedarville, but this team really comes after you.” The same will be true for whomever the Vikes play on Friday.