Onaway basketball team likely to face Alcona in districts
The Onaway High School girls’ basketball team saw its season come to an end last fall when it lost in the district tournament to Lincoln-Alcona, the host of that tourney. On Wednesday, if the Tigers defeat Whittemore-Prescott in a Monday tune-up, the boys’ OHS basketball team could face a similar fate — unless, that is, they can pull off the big upset.
Again, Alcona is the host, and again the Tigers come into districts as the team to beat. OHS coach Jason Larson knows pulling the upset won’t be easy, but he thinks his team is capable of the feat.
“We’ve got to play defense,” Larson said. “That’s the key for us right now. Our offense is starting to come around, but our defense is lacking right now. We’ve got to work harder on that end to give ourselves a chance.”
On Tuesday night, in the Ski Valley Conference cross-over game, the Cards lost at Mancelona, 85-68, despite an incredible offensive night by senior Carl Bednark. Bednark tied the school record for three-pointers in a game with eight, matching the mark set by now-JV coach Marty Mix a few years back. The senior finished with a career-high 37 points in the game.
Even more amazing, he scored just three points in the first period and didn’t score a single point in the fourth. His production came via a 19-point second stanza, and a 15-point outburst in the third.
The Cards, now 3-16, have seen their depth suffer because a pair of players quit the team. To help in that area, Larson will bring up five members of the 10-9 JV squad for districts.
Wednesday’s district match-up between the Cards and the W-P/L-A winner is set for 8 p.m. Other teams in the district include Rogers City, Mio, and Inland Lakes.