Rogers City looking to win third opener in a row; Vikings look to end two-game skid against Trojans
The boys? high school basketball season is set to begin tonight with home games for both Rogers City and Posen. The Hurons are hosting Boyne City, who they have defeated the past two seasons, while the Vikings take on Cedarville, a school they?ve failed to defeat in their season-openers their last two tries. The Hurons are coming off a season in which they were regional finalists, having their playoff run come to an end at the hands of the Class C state champions, McBain. Rogers City was 22-3 in 2001-02, the best record in school history, and 13-0 at home.
REPEATING THOSE totals will not be easy, considering the football injuries suffered by players who were projected key returning starters. Junior Kyle Greene broke his collarbone. Senior Cody Hurst tore ligaments in his knee, had surgery, and probably won?t be available for the regular season. Greene has healed and has been practicing with the team. Senior Jake Yarch also is recovering from a knee injury. He was in a knee brace Monday at practice. Second-year varsity coach Karl Grambau knows the injuries have created some question marks, but it hasn?t stopped him from optimistically looking ahead to what he believes will be another promising season.
?I?M EXCITED about it. I think it?s going to be a lot of fun this year,? said Grambau. ?We?ve been working hard. We?ve had some injuries and we?re trying to get through them, but we have to move on and continue. We?re hoping to get Cody back in February.?
Rogers City has back-to-back home games to open the first week of the season, but more importantly, the Hurons will begin league play December 13 against Inland Lakes. Contrary to what the printed schedule says, the Hurons host Alcona Dec. 17, in a game rescheduled recently. After those games, the only other games in December will be at the Boyne City Holiday Tournament December 27 and 28. The Hurons open January at home against Pickford.
?We?ve got a lot of work to do,? said Grambau. ?We have some pretty good kids on this team. I think we?ll do all right.?
POSEN, AFTER finishing a 7-13 regular season, bring back a group of players who received a lot of experience on the varsity last year.
?Last year we played the kids and they were young, and they got a ton of experience,? said third-year coach Ron Misiak. ?The JVs had a good year, so we brought up some talent from there. It should be a good year.?
The Vikings will have four or five players who are around 6?3?, but along with some height, other players bring a lot of speed. Posen has lo
?I?m looking forward to seeing an up tempo game and good solid defense,? Misiak said Monday as he watched his team prepare for a scrimmage against Mackinaw City. The Vikings have four games in December, two at home and two on the road.
After opening on the home floor against Cedarville tonight, the Vikes have games at Au Gres December 13 and then at Mio four days later. They?ll wrap up the pre-Christmas games at home against Hillman December 20.
by Peter Jakey
Managing Editor
