Posen?s rough start at regionals too much to overcome

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Two of northern Michigan?s best Class D basketball programs went head-to-head on the hardwood Monday at Traverse City Central High School for a chance of advancing to the regional title game. The last time Posen and Bellaire played under the same roof was in March 2005 when both qualified for the final four at the Breslin Center. Detroit Rogers defeated both schools at the state finals to win the championship. Posen (17-6) knew it was going to take a solid effort to win their regional semifinal game, and although the Vikings had a rough start and fell short of victory (67-60), seventh ranked Bellaire (20-3) was given a stark reminder in the second half about whom they were actually playing.

THE VIKINGS were outscored 20-4 in the first eight minutes of the game and played catch up the rest of the night. ?It was the first quarter,? said senior Jordan Hincka. ?That?s what it was. They are a good team, but they were very beatable. It was the first quarter that hurt us.? Posen head coach Steve Hentkowski said, ?We were a little bit shaky in the beginning.? On Posen?s first four possessions there were two traveling calls, a bad pass that turned into a lay-up on the other end, and an off the mark shot. The first real scoring opportunity came from senior Nick Delekta under the basket, but he couldn?t get shots to drop in the first half. The ball would dance on the rim, but not go in. Bellaire had a 9-0 head start before the Vikings could get on the board on a steal and a lay-up from Hincka. Bellaire would score the next nine points and lead 18-2 before Hincka scored with less than two minutes left. Bellaire?s defense created fast break points, and on offense, they got into a three-point shooting rhythm nailing six in the first half. Posen would use the weapon itself, but not before falling further behind in the third quarter.

AT THE START of the second half, the Vikings got off to another slow start. On three straight possessions, they didn?t get a shot off, while Bellaire scored the first five points of the second half to take their biggest lead of the night, 39-20. That?s when some breaks started going Posen?s way. Delekta got some shots to fall, but senior Paul Kroll provided a huge spark, by hitting a three to trim the lead to 13. Bellaire threw the ball away on their next possession and Kroll got his hands on a loose ball and shot another three to get it to 10. The next time he got the ball, he drove to the basket for a lay-up to make it an eight-point ball game, 40-32, with 3:47 left in the third. That got the Posen crowd into the game for the first time all night. Bellaire coach Stan Sexton signaled for his squad to settle down, and both schools battled even-up heading into the fourth. On the opening possession of the final quarter, senior Nathan Strzelecki hit a three to get the Vikes within five, 48-43. Bellaire senior Brad Guy answered Strzelecki?s three with a trey himself and a drive minutes later to help put the Eagles back up by 10.

STRZELECKI HIT another clutch three out of a Posen timeout to make it 57-48, as Bellaire went into the weave offense to take time off the clock. Kroll would help Posen take one more crack at their opponent, scoring on a three-point play with 1:32 left and hitting a three from the left corner to get the Vikings within six, 60-54, with 52.4 seconds left. Down the stretch, Bellaire made its free throws and came down with some key rebounds to keep possession until Posen fouled them again. Hincka was fouled on a three-point shot and made all three with 41 seconds. The score was 62-57, and coach Hentkowski called for the pressure defense, but Bellaire broke it. Senior Matt Dreves was fouled by Hincka and made his first shot with 32.8 seconds left, but missed the second, which was rebounded by the Eagles. There was a jump ball situation, which went in favor of Bellaire as well. Kroll almost came away with a key steal, but in the end, junior Sean Payne went four-for-four from the free throw line in the last half minute.

WITH THE Bell

aire cheering section counting down the seconds on the clock, Hincka put up his final shot as a Viking and made a three. Hincka, who scored 27, became the single-season scoring record holder in the contest, surpassing his dad Clarence. The new record is 579 points. ?In regional play, you have to have two halves like that,? Hincka said of the second half. ?It was great; we played excellent. Even with Nick LaTulip out, we pulled together as a team and won the district, and I?m very proud of the team.? Kroll finished the game with 22. Bellaire had four players in double figures. Guy had 23, while Payne put in 18.

Posen was one win away from equaling their win total from 2006-07. They lost last year?s regional title game to the eventual state champ Cedarville. Bellaire was to play Leland in the regional title game Wednesday (past press time). Leland knocked off Mio.