Hurons take homecoming thriller over Soo
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
The Hurons boys (6-5) used the push of a spirited homecoming crowd to get by the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils, 55-53 last Friday. ?It is probably going to do wonders for their confidence, to be down by 10 at halftime and come back. They all believed that they could do it. (We made) simple mental mistakes in the first half, but we changed all that,? said Huron coach Jesse Streich after the game. The Hurons had trouble with Sault sharpshooter David Deuman in the first quarter, as the senior gunner scored 11 points, including three three-pointers. At halftime, Streich made the defensive adjustment to cool off the Sault shooter.
?Pat Quaine did an awesome job on him, going man-on-man. We played (man-to-man) on two guys and put three in a zone and kind of stalled them out there,? Streich said. Deuman ended up with 15 points, but just two in the second half. Streich praised the inside games of Evan Wagner (eight points, 11 rebounds) and Jordan Bellmore (10 points, six rebounds) and the clutch shooting of Chris Vogelheim down the stretch.
ROGERS CITY trailed 32-22 at halftime before mounting the comeback. An eight-point run got the Hurons close. Quaine nailed a three-pointer from the left corner, then Chris Vogelheim?s triple from the other side came before another basket from Quaine to make the score 40-37 with 3:13 left in the third quarter. Wagner?s bucket inside and a triple from senior point guard Erik Meharg tied the score at 42-42. Then Bellmore?s running right-handed hook shot gave the Hurons the lead. Two quick buckets by the Soo gave the visitors a 46-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
With a 47-44 lead, the Soo forced the Hurons out of their zone defense with limited success. A Chris Vogelheim three-pointer with 3:41 showing on the clock ignited the crowd and gave the Hurons another brief lead at 50-49. Moments after the Blue Devils regained the lead, Chris Vogelheim followed his own missed shot to hit a runner to give the Hurons a 52-51 lead with 2:05 left. Meharg then stole the ball, made the layup and the Hurons had a 54-51 lead with 1:20 left. Chris Vogelheim?s free throw with 22 seconds left were the final points of the game for the victorious Hurons. He led the team in scoring with 17 points while Meharg added 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a fine overall game.
AS EXCITING A win as Friday was for the Hurons, Tuesday?s loss brought equal despair. Hillman came from behind to steal a 49-47 win over Rogers City on the Tigers? home court. A series of untimely turnovers late in the fourth quarter and clutch free-throw shooting by Hillman senior guard Devon Shumaker provided the winning margin for Hillman.
With the Hurons forced to foul in the late going, Schumaker kept hitting free throws, draining 12-of-15 as part of his 22 points. Rogers City pressed and hustled its way to a 31-23 halftime lead. Meharg had a monster second quarter, scoring 14 points on 7-of-7 from the line, two field goals and a three-pointer. But in the third quarter, Hillman chipped away at the lead narrowing it to 39-35 at the end of the frame. Hillman tied the score at 39-39 after two quick buckets to start the fourth quarter. Me
That would be all the Huron scoring until there were 28 seconds left in the game. With Hillman leading 46-42, Streich set up a play for a Meharg three-point attempt from the left corner. Finding his way blocked for a jumper attempt, the senior guard drove the left baseline and was fouled. He made the free throw to cut the lead to one at 46-45. Then the turnover bug bit the Hurons, costing a chance to win. Two free throws by Schumaker with 11 seconds left iced the game for the Tigers.
Meharg had 26 points to lead the Hurons. Bellmore and Chris Waibel each added seven points. IN THE junior varsity contest Hillman came out on top in a 48-41 score. Rogers City?s Josh Vogelheim and Austin Brege had consecutive three-pointers to cut the Hillman lead from 45-36 to 45-41 near the end of the fourth quarter. Hillman led 17-11 after one and 34-21 at halftime. Brege led the team in scoring with 15 while Devin Hilla added eight. The Hurons host St. Ignace Friday and them play at Alcona Tuesday before traveling to Newberry February 12.