So close! OHS boys have lost four straight by just six points

The Onaway High School varsity boys’ basketball team fell to visiting Forest Area on Wednesday, 61-59. The loss was the Cardinals’ fourth straight by a combined total of just six points.

That loss comes on the heels of a 52-50 defeat by Gaylord St. Mary, a 62-61 defeat by Mancelona, and a 56-55 defeat by Inland Lakes. The Cardinals were right there in end of all four games, three of which came at home.

Forest Area jumped out to a 16-8 lead after one quarter, stretching that to 22-10 early in quarter two. Onaway narrowed the gap some, but still trailed 29-24 at the half.

The deficit was 33-28 early in period three, when the Cards made a run. Andrew Perry knocked down a three, and scored on a drive, to tie things at 33-apiece.

With OHS in a full-court press, Joe O’Bradovich and Carlos Bautista stole passes and converted lay-ups, putting the home team on top for the first time since the game’s opening seconds, 37-33.

Onaway led 44-43 through three quarters, stretching that to 46-43 on a bucket by Joe Sigsby 30 seconds into period four. The Warriors responded with a 14-2 run to go up 57-48 with less than three minutes left.

The Cards, though, upped the intensity on their press, again forcing back-to-back turnovers, converted into baskets by O’Bradovich. After Chris Cleaver hit a free throw, Bautista stole a pass and scored.

That brought Onaway within two, 57-55, with 1:03 left on the clock. The Warriors hit a pair of foul shots, but O’Bradovich matched that with a basket to make the score 59-57 with 20 seconds left.

Forest Area missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Onaway was unable to corral the rebound, with the ball going out of bounds, last touched by the Red Birds.

OHS was again forced to foul. Austin Vance made the first free throw, putting his team up 60-57. Vance missed the second, but again Onaway was unable to grab the board, and again the ball went out of bounds, last touched by the Cards.

Onaway again had to foul, and with eight seconds left Justin Burke knocked down the second of two freebies, putting his team up four points – and two possessions. Jason Sigsby scored at the buzzer to bring about the final score.

O’Bradovich finished with a game-high 21 points for the Cards. Bautista added 17 points, nine rebounds, and six steals, while Perry scored seven points. Chad Roberts and Tyler Birgy scored 15 points apiece for Forest Area.

The loss dropped the Cardinals’ record to 8-7 (6-7 Ski Valley Conference) – with only a few rebounds and a few baskets separating them from being 12-3 (10-3).

Earlier in the evening, the OHS JV defeated Forest Area, 68-52, behind a huge game from Patrick Dunn. Onaway led 14-12 after one quarter, trailed 28-26 at the half, and led 50-41 through three periods.

Dunn scored 27 points, snared 20 rebounds, and blocked five shots. Raymond Self scored 10 points, Cody Whitsitt scored nine, and Cody Morell had eight. Paul Korn led the Warriors with 16 points. The Cardinal JV is 10-5 on the year.

Last Friday, the Cardinal boys played at Inland Lakes, with the varsity dropping the 56-55 contest to the Bulldogs. Onaway trailed 15-4 after one quarter, but outscored IL 18-5 in quarter two to lead 22-20 at th

e half.

The Bulldogs outscored the Cards 21-9 in period three to lead 41-31 heading into the fourth. Onaway again fought back but was unable to convert the comeback into a win.

O’Bradovich and Bautista scored 13 points apiece for OHS. Jason Sigsby scored 11 points and Cleaver chipped in with seven. Nick Howery had 20 points, while Dakotah Davedowski scored 16, including the winning three, for Inland Lakes.

Earlier, the OHS JV fell to the Bulldogs, 57-34. Onaway trailed 24-6 after one quarter, 36-17 at halftime, and 50-28 after three quarters. Self scored 11 points and Whitsitt scored seven.

The boys are scheduled to host Pellston tonight (Friday), travel to Central Lake for a make-up game Saturday, and travel to Rogers City on Wednesday.