Cardinals can’t find an answer for Greene
In the early going it appeared that the game might be a battle, but in the end the Cardinals couldn’t stop Huron junior Kyle Greene, as Rogers City topped Onaway last Friday 76-58 at OHS. The teams will face off a second time, in Rogers City, on February 18. Between now and then, the Cards must figure out a way to defend the 6’5″ Greene.
The junior scored 28 in Friday night’s game, including eight in a span of four minutes as the visiting Hurons turned a 6-6 tie into a 16-10 lead at the end of period one. The Cardinals led 3-0 on senior Jay Diller’s three-pointer to open the game. They led 5-2 when senior Alex Forth found the basket inside. And they led 6-4 when Paul Splan split a pair of free throws.
But that was it, as Rogers City closed the opening period on a 12-4 run and never looked back. A Taylor Beswick jumper midway through period two cut the gap to 24-20, but a 7-0 RC run stretched to 11. The margin was nine before Greene scored on a drive and RC’s Brandon Kania hit a free throw to make it 36-24, Hurons, at the half. Onaway would continue to battle, but wouldn’t get within single digits the rest of the way. The Hurons led 55-40 after three periods, capping things with a 21-18 edge in the final stanza. Issac Momrik scored 12 for RC, while Tim Cercone and Adam LaLonde added 10 apiece.
The Cardinals leading scorer on the season, senior Carl Bednark, had a good night, drilling five trifectas and finishing with 20 points. Diller knocked down three threes and finished with 18 points. Earlier in the evening, the junior varsity squads locked up in an exciting contest, with the Hurons jumping to an early lead, then holding off the Cardinals to win by two, 51-49. Rogers City stifled the Red Birds on the offensive end to lead after one, 17-8. Onaway narrowed the lead to 31-25 at the half, and 39-38 after three stanzas. The teams switched the lead several times during a frantic fourth period, but RC hit a few late free throws, and Onaway failed to capitalize on some late lay-up opportunities, two of them
A final shot by the Cards as the final buzzer sounded rimmed out, allowing the Hurons to escape with the win, but both teams were given an extended ovation for the effort. It was a game both squads deserved to win.
Clay Hilla led all scorers with 21 for the Hurons. Lonnie Splan had 16 for Onaway, Justin Stiles had 14, and Ben Rieger had 12. Onaway’s squads will play tonight (Friday) at Central Lake. Tuesday, the teams are at Pellston and next Friday they will host Bellaire. The following game is against the Hurons. Both Cardinal squads will be looking to turn the tables in that one.
Both games could be good ones, particularly if the varsity can find an answer for Greene.
