Posen tops Rogers City in overtime nail-biter
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The new year has been nothing but good for the Posen girls’ basketball team, winners of four straight and four of five since the ball dropped on 2009. Their latest win came in a tense, overtime battle with rival Rogers City, 54-53. The Vikings (6-5, 4-3) couldn’t hold on to a slim lead against the Hurons (6-5, 0-4) in regulation, and barely hung on during the extra period. ?It was a Presque Isle County nail-biter,? said Posen head coach Karl Momrik. ?We made some shots when we needed to and made some key free throws — we got by. It was a tough game, and one we are going to have to learn from.”
Huron coach Emily McLean was pleased with the effort put in by her team. ?I think the girls played hard out there,? she said. ?You know, I hate losing. Gosh, I hate losing, but I would rather lose by one or two than by 30. We missed some shots we usually put in and just came up short. We’ll get ’em in Rogers City.?
Rogers City fought from behind in the fourth quarter, much the way they did a week earlier in an epic double-overtime victory against Alcona. The Hurons Amanda Lenard, who already has a clutch shot to send a game into overtime this season, came through with a game-tying field goal with a little more than a minute left, to knot the score at 46.
A soft jumper by the Vikings? six-foot eight-grader, Korynn Hincka, put Posen back on top, 48-46, with 42 seconds to go, but Logan Schuiteman retied it at 48 with a pair of “must have” free throws to send the game into the extra period. POSEN STRUGGLED at the free throw line down the stretch, missing nine straight, before Cheryl Romel stole the ball and was fouled on a layup try. She made the first free throw, and moments later, took a nice pass from Hincka to convert and give the Vikings a three-point lead, 51-48.
Rogers City had another chance to go-ahead with Greta Grambau’s free throws to trim Posen’s lead to one (51-50). On the ensuing inbound pass, the senior picked off a pass, but the only shot on the extra possession was missed. Hincka grabbed the rebound and would end up with 15 in the contest. Momrik called time out with 1:08 left and told his players to ice the ball with a one-point lead. The Hurons were forced to foul. Viking LeAnn Strzelecki made both of her attempts for
On the other end, a three-point attempt by Lenard rimmed out and the rebound went to Hincka. McLean said boxing out is one of her team?s weaknesses. Strzelecki would go to the line again and put one more in for a four-point advantage with 7.7 seconds left. Huron Sam Hall’s bomb at the buzzer put the final three points on the board, making the final 54-53. Posen led at halftime (23-18) and after one quarter (14-12). Janice Ciarkowski scored 13 for Posen, while Hall had 12. The Vikings rolled past Hillman last Friday, 45-26, while the Hurons lost at Cheboygan, 38-28.
The Huron girls are at Rudyard tonight and back home, Jan. 29. The Vikings are on the road at Mio tonight and at Au Gres, Monday. THE JUNIOR varsity game went to Posen (9-1, 5-1) Monday night, 32-28. The Hurons (6-4, 1-2) won the first half of the game, 17-7, but were outscored by their host, 25-13, the rest of the way. Ashley Meyers had 12 points and Emily Delekta had seven for the Vikings, while Becky Talaske had eight and Amanda Smolinski six for the Lady Hurons. The Rogers City J.V. lost to Cheboygan 32-18, while the Posen J.V. defeated Hillman, 38-36.