Huron scoring surges too much for Posen
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
On a day when history was made in the nation?s capitol, history repeated itself in Posen, as the rivalry between Rogers City and Posen in boys? basketball remains one of the best sports tickets in the area.
January 20, 2009 will be remembered more for what happened on the steps of the Capitol building than the hardwood in Posen, but it was worth every penny for the paying customers.
Rogers City (3-6) used impressive second and fourth-quarter scoring outbursts to earn the season sweep, 62-47. Posen slips to 2-6.
The final score is deceiving because the Vikings chipped away at a 13-point Rogers City lead to get within three, 44-41, with more than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Hurons came up with the big plays when they needed to seize momentum and take control down the stretch.
Rogers City outscored Posen 21-3 through most of the second quarter and went on an 11-1 run after the Vikings got within three points.
?WE ARE a lot better team now that we were in December, there is no doubt about it,? said head coach Tom Adrian. ?We played Cheboygan to almost a stand still. They are probably one of the top teams in northern Michigan. We came up a little short on that one.?
Posen coach Steve Hentkowski believes his team did a good job of controlling the ball and running their offensive sets.
?We did a pretty good job, but when it came down to the second and fourth quarters, their size was a big factor,? said Hentkowski.
The game deadlocked into the final minute of the first quarter when Nathan Street, following his first field goal of the game, knocked down a three-pointer to give the home team a 12-9 lead.
After Jordan Zempel made a free throw, Viking Tyson Klecha hit a three himself. The score at the end of one was 15-10. Everything that had been going wrong in the first quarter suddenly was going right for Rogers City in the second quarter. Zempel scored down low and Kevin Fairbanks put in one from the paint to make the score.
That was about the time Erik Meharg started to heat up from downtown, as he hit back-to-back threes to put the Hurons up by five, 20-15, with 6:09 left in the half. Robert Klein made one-of-two from the free throw line, but Rogers City had found its offensive rythmn.
IN ONE offensive set, the Hurons missed two shots, but kept getting the rebounds. A second rebound was gathered by Justin Idalski and put back (22-16) for points. The next time he went down the floor, the senior provided an ESPN play of the game highlight, with an acrobatic reverse lay up that padded his team?s lead to eight.
On the other side of the court, Aaron Romel drove to the basket for a rare second-quarter field goal, but back the other way, Meharg dropped in another three (27-18) and grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the court and scored on a layup to make the score, 29-18. Zempel made it a 13-point advantage when he drained a jumper.
The teams traded free throws down the stretch, but Rogers City was on top 33-20 at the break. Posen chipped away at the lead in the third quarter. Tyler Krajniak provided a scoring spark with nine points.
The Vikings had the lead down to eight heading into the fourth, 44-36, and put in the first five points of the fourth to get within three, 44-41. Adrian called timeout to settle his squad down.
The game turned in Rogers City?s favor when Devon Ferris drove to the basket and was fouled. He made the first one, but the miss was rebounded by Zempel, who drove strong to the hole for the points.
THE VIKES turned the ball over at half court and Idalski streaked to the bucket for a layup. It was a five-point swing in a matter of seconds. The score was 49-41 with 5:50 left.
Rogers City put the game away when Idalski threw a long pass from the Posen end to Meharg on the other side of the court. He grabbed the ball, put up the shot and fouled hard to the floor, but the ball hung up on the rim for a moment, and fell through the cylinder, bringing the biggest show of emotion by the Rogers City players and their fans. ?We were just fortunate enough at the end to do what we had to do and put it away,? said Adrian.
?We had a season low 11 turnovers,? said Hentkowski. ?I?m really proud of that fact. It is something we?ve been working on a great deal. We?ve been averaging a lot more than that. I?m proud of the effort the guys put for
Meharg was the leading scorer with 19. The Hurons host Newberry Thursday for their part of the homecoming celebration, while Posen is off to Mio Friday night.
Posen lost to Hillman last week 64-50. Scott Couture and Shane Hentkowski had 18 each.
THE POSEN J.V. swept the Hurons, but by no means was it easy. Both games were decided in overtime. This time Posen came back from 20 down to win, 63-60. Jerome Ciarkowski scored 23 points, most of them in the second half, while Tyler Krajniak had 13 points and 11 rebounds. David Kerr put in 10.
Jesse Wilbert led four Hurons in double figures with 16. Jordan Bellmore had 10, Chris Waibel 12 and Austin Brege put in 10. The Viking J.V. lost to Hillman 37-36. Ciarkowski had 18.