Cardinal boys, girls split hoops contests with Johannesburg-Lewiston

The Onaway High School varsity boys’ basketball team bounced back from only its second loss of the season six days earlier to defeat Johannesburg-Lewiston, 66-58.

Joe O’Bradovich led the way with 20 points in the win, which improved the Cardinals’ record to 8-2 (7-1 Ski Valley Conference) going into a big contest tonight (Friday) at St. Ignace.

O’Bradovich also grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists. Joe Sigsby had 12 points and four assists, Andrew Prow had 12 points, Chris Cleaver had eight points and five steals, and Pat Dunn had eight points.

“We started out slow defensively and didn’t move the ball on offense,” said OHS coach Eddy Szymoniak, whose team was outscored 15-6 in the second quarter and trailed 29-21 at the half.

“In the second half, we stepped up our game offensively but we still need to be more aggressive on defense moving forward,” Szymoniak said. Onaway outscored Joburg 24-11 in quarter three.

The OHS JV won for the third time in four games, defeating J-L, 54-35, to improve to 5-5 on the season. The Cards led 12-4 after one quarter, 29-20 at the half, and 47-23 through three frames.

Derick Wregglesworth scored 17 points, Morgan McLean scored 11, and Keaton Brewer pitched in with a “tremendous defensive effort,” according to coach Sparky Nitchman.

Six days earlier, the varsity dropped its first conference game of the season, falling at state-ranked Bellaire, 66-34. Onaway trailed 18-7 after one period, 29-16 at the half, and 49-30 after three quarters.

The Eagles held O’Bradovich, who came in averaging about 23 points per game, to just nine points – aided by early foul trouble on the Cards’ leading scorer. Carlos Bautista scored seven points and had nine boards.

The Red Bird JV also fell to the Eagles, 70-34. Onaway trailed 15-10 after one period, 34-16 at the half, and 55-26 through three. Bradley Brewbaker scored 11 points, while McLean scored 10.

One day earlier, the Onaway High School varsity girls’ basketball team dropped a close one with visiting Joburg, 55-48. Onaway trailed 15-11 after one quarter but fought back to tie things at 29 at the half.

J-L outscored the Card

inals 19-9 in quarter three, and though OHS fought back in the fourth, the deficit was too large to overcome. Devin Bristley scored 19 points, with Lexi Szymoniak and Erika Price scoring 10 apiece.

“We played a great game against a very good team,” said Cardinal coach Marty Mix, whose squad fell to 6-6 (4-5 Ski Valley Conference) heading into yesterday’s (Thursday’s) home tilt with state-ranked Gaylord St. Mary.

The Cardinal boys will travel to Central Lake on Monday and host Central Lake on Wednesday, while the OHS girls will travel to Mancelona on Tuesday and host Inland Lakes on Thursday.