Sports Beat–Hurons boys get their shot at home
Back in December, Huron boys basketball coach Tom Adrian made an important decision. It didn?t seem to be all that big of a deal three months ago, but it sure did this week.
Adrian?s varsity coaching career was just getting started and the Rogers City boys were getting a pre-season scrimmage under their belts against the Alcona Tigers. Anyone who meets coach Adrian, knows he?s a super nice guy. Maybe it was that trait that made him want to point out something that was going on, a tip if you will, on the court as the Hurons were running all over the Tigers, 16-2, in the first quarter. Alcona was defending their wings, but not defending the ball handler.
The 60-year-old rookie coach may have been green, but he wasn?t born yesterday. ?NO, MAYBE I better not,? Adrian remembered saying to himself. ?We might meet them someplace down the road in the playoffs.?
Sure enough, that?s the way things shaped up. ?I?ll be darn if we didn?t draw them first,? said Adrian. And not saying something to his coaching counterpart probably was a difference maker, as Adrian told his charges to take advantage of the situations, as they present themselves. He noted a couple of instances where it happened and they took advantage of it.
?We were very, very fortunate to win that game,? said Adrian. The Hurons were leading in the third quarter, but Alcona showed a lot of desire late in the contest and almost stole the contest away.
Justin Idalski made some key free throws, but a couple of turnovers gave the Tigers a shot at winning with a three-point try that missed. The Hurons escaped, got on their bus, and brought the playoffs to Rogers City for more action. The game Wednesday (past press time) was against Whittemore-Prescott, who lost by 30 to Alcona.
I WOULD SAY Rogers City has some advantages here, considering Whittemore has won only twice this season. Anything can happen in the tournament? Just ask top ranked Traverse City St. Francis, who had their thoughts of a long tournament run end dashed on opening night of the boys state playoffs. The Huron girls didn?t take advantage of the home court last week, but maybe the boys will, and extend their season one game further into Friday. Adrian is happy for the fans, but especially for players who have been gearing up for this week all season. If they win, the playoffs shift to Hale. One of the big question marks the team has going in is how Erik Meharg?s deep thigh bruise is doing. Th
?We?ll just have to see how it goes in the warm-ups,? said Adrian. Meharg led Rogers City with 19 points against Alcona. The coach expressed a deep appreciation for the effort put in by his players this season.
?Through the season, we suffered some bumps in the road, but we handled it and got through it,? he said. Adrian is fighting through severe neck pain, so if you see him grimace on the sideline, it might not be the turnover he just witnessed, it?s probably his neck acting up. Then again, it could be both.
Adrian commended his assistant coaches Jesse Streich and Chris Shay for their help this season. Hold on coach, save those speeches for after the season, there?s still work to be done.