SPORTSBEAT by Peter Jakey: Finding sportsmanship, on the tournament trail

(St. Ignace) ? The Posen basketball players watched as the names of the players from the Cedarville Trojans, who had just won the Class D regional title, ran to the middle of the floor to receive their medals. In a display of true sportsmanship, the Viking players and coaches stood to applaud. They collectively stood together to show their appreciation to a most worthy opponent. Cedarville is Michigan?s highest ranked team in Class D.

Scanning the players, it seemed as if they all were there. Nobody had their head hidden under a towel. The tears would follow, especially from the seniors, but during that crowning moment at the close of regional tournament the Viking players were impressive in their display of class and sportsmanship.

IT TELLS ME a lot about the character of Posen?s student-athletes and the homes they are brought up in. It also a nice reflection of their head coach Steve Hentkowski. I would have to say it went both ways, though as the Cedarville players were humble in their acceptance of the trophy. They did not act like they whipped Posen by 40. In looking at the game a little closer, the mainline statistics and circumstances of the game don?t tell me Cedarville should have won that game running away, but that?s what the final score of, 106-66, said. Cedarville put up 106 points against a Posen team that won 18 games.

IF YOU were to say Jordan Hincka, who netted 30, and Nick LaTulip would combine for 47, and yet the Trojans would still win by 40, I would have thought the chances of Cluncka Wagon V blowing off Mighty Mac were more likely. If you would have told me that Cedarville?s all-state candidate, Jordan Duncan, would sat out a couple of long stretches of the second half in foul trouble, but Cedarville would still put up triple digits on their side of the scoreboard, I would have thought you were nuts.

There are three reasons why Cedarville dominated the contest. First, and foremost, they get their hands on the ball. The first play of the game was an example of what the Vikings were up against. LaTulip was clearly taller than any Trojan on the floor and won the opening tip. He sent the ball to Hincka, in what looked to be a well-orchestrated play. Hincka got the ball and was going in for a lay up and two easy points, but was stripped of the ball on his way up. The message: Cedarville does not give up any easy points.

A POSEN player could not stand idle f

or one moment without having the ball swiped away. That leads into point number two. Cedarville?s transition game was unstoppable. They would get the steal and head on the fast break and execute the fundamentals of the game, such as a last second bounce pass with a defender closing in. The Vikings defense could not get back quick enough, and the Trojans rarely missed. Cedarville also hit the jumpers from outside. When they were not scoring in transition, they were nailing jumpers from outside of the paint, staying away from the shot blocking ability of LaTulip. Mackinaw City missed those jumpers, Cedarville didn?t.

Give them credit, they deserve to be in the final four against 25-0, Bellaire. That game would be the worthy of the drive to the Breslin Center. Maybe Posen gets a return trip next year.