O’Bradovich dunk highlights Onaway win over Rogers City

The Onaway High School varsity boys’ basketball team improved to 7-3 (5-3 Ski Valley Conference) Tuesday with a convincing 65-39 victory over visiting Rogers City.

The Hurons trimmed an 18-point Cardinal lead to 12 when Chris Lopez scored three hoops in the final 40 seconds of the third period, as all five Cardinal starters watched from the bench.

 

JOE O'BRADOVICH pleased the crowd in Tuesday's win over Rogers City with this dunk early in the fourth quarter to put the Cardinals up 47-31. (Photo by Angie Asam)

Coach Eddy Szymoniak put his starters in the game to open the fourth period, and junior forward Joe O’Bradovich quickly helped his team reassume control of the game.

First, O’Bradovich scored on a breakaway lay-up off a steal by Joe Sigsby. O’Bradovich then stole a pass himself and decided against the lay-up, choosing the dunk instead.

It was a play Cardinal fans don’t get to see very often from the home team, and it brought the home crowd to its feet. It also seemed to energize the OHS players, who outscored Rogers City 22-8 in the final quarter.

The Hurons jumped out to an early 7-1 lead before Rich Hoff Jr. scored on a leaner, Carlos Bautista scored off a feed from Jason Sigsby, and Andrew Prow knocked down a three, putting Onaway up 8-7.

Rogers City would regain the lead, 12-11, later in the first period, but Joe Sigsby knocked down a pair of foul shots and Prow drilled another three, giving Onaway a 17-13 lead after one. The Cards would not trail again.

Two straight baskets by Joe Sigsby and a jumper from O’Bradovich stretched the lead to 10, 25-15, midway through the second period, and OHS led 29-23 at the half.

The Red Birds went on a 12-0 run midway through period three, with O’Bradovich and Jason Sigsby each knocking down a pair of shots and Prow hitting another trey, to increase their lead to 18, 43-25.

The three baskets by Lopez trimmed the gap to 43-31 heading into the final quarter, but the outcome seemed decided when O’Bradovich threw down his dunk.

Things got a bit chippy in the final minute – as Onaway/Rogers City games often seem to do – but Hoff Jr. extolled both teams to “finish it off clean,” and that’s exactly what happened.

O’Bradovich and Hoff Jr. finished with 14 points apiece to pace the Cardinals. Prow scored 11 points, while Jason Sigsby scored nine. Lopez and Paul Wilbert scored 11 points apiece for the Hurons, while Alex Hincka had nine.

Earlier in the evening, the Onaway JV defeated Rogers City, 64-47, to improve to 8-2 on the season. The Cardinals led 20-14 after one quarter, 38-27 at halftime, and 55-29 through three quarters.

Cody Morell paced the Red Birds with 19 points. Raymond Self scored 10 points, while Patrick Dunn and Brad Boser scored seven apiece. Casey Szatkowski scored 20 points for the Hurons.

Last Thursday, the varsity fell to an undefeated Bellaire squad that has its sights set on a state championship. The visiting Eagles dominated throughout and defeated the Cardinal

s, 75-30.

Bellaire led 22-6 after one quarter, 48-19 at halftime, and 65-26 through three periods. O’Bradovich and Jason Sigsby scored nine points each for Onaway. Tyler Thorton scored 21 points, and Mitch Teetzel had 18, for the Eagles.

The JV also dropped its game with Bellaire, 37-20. Onaway trailed 6-2 after one quarter, 9-6 at the intermsiion, and 24-12 after three frames. Dunn led the Cardinals with six points.

The boys’ basketball teams, which traveled to Joburg on Wednesday, are scheduled to travel to Central Lake next Wednesday and host Gaylord St. Mary next Friday.