Sportsbeat – Rivalry extends into Class D playoffs
by Peter jakey
St. Ignace ? History was made north of the bridge when Posen and Rogers City met for the first time in the state?s basketball playoffs. It seemed like old times. The boys? games between these schools have been nothing but sensational the last half decade, and Monday?s contest in the Class D regional semifinal was another exciting four-star match up. This one just happened to be on the ?best 32 teams in the state? stage.
And the sportsmanship displayed from the fans of both communities was five-star. The student sections were cheering their respective teams, and giving it everything they had in a positive manner. There were no issues that I noticed. Posen, during its playoff run, has defeated four schools they defeated twice during the regular season. Coaches always go to a familiar clique that it?s hard to beat a team three times.
The Vikings have done it now four times in four games in the 2011 playoffs. By no means were any of the games easy. FOR ROGERS CITY, head coach Jesse Streich had his team playing at a high level, but just couldn?t convert on some plays, or took some ugly shots hitting the side of the backboard, under the rim, or nothing at all. Posen junior David Kerr, who torched the net for 24, was making some sensational plays, and early in the contest, when the Vikings took a commanding lead, it seemed like there was a magnet pulling the ball in. Oh, it was just the opposite in the Fairview district final when the Vikes failed to score a field goal for more than a 12 minute span of the first half. It was just David?s night because there have been so many scoring stars. And I?ve got to believe, with both teams bringing back experienced juniors, this rivalry will continue into 2011-12 season and we could see another regional game in the very near future. Of course, it would be nice to have the game closer to home in this instance, but I guess the Mackinac Bridge Authority did a brisk business during the time Posen and Rogers City fans were in the straits area.
OTHER NOTES from the tournament trail: -The woman announcer did well with Nick Hincka?s last name. That one usually gets
– Cedarville coach Dave Duncan was scouting the Posen/Rogers City game. His team had smoked Pellston earlier in the night. I was sitting a couple of rows behind him and watched him jot down notes about the defenses that were being played. – The path to LaSalle High School is the strangest, with the winding side streets and steep hills. I can?t imagine kids going down those hills on bikes.
– And between Pellston and St. Ignace, the popcorn in Pellston is a little better. – One of my favorite plays of Posen?s district final was junior Nathan Lenard getting a steal in the second half, taking the ball right up the middle of the court, but slowing up for his teammates to sprint to his left or right. It couldn?t be too slow, though, because a Fairview player could have picked his pocket. He found Nick Hincka on his right for an easy lay-up. It gave the Vikings their first lead since the first few minutes of the game.