Onekama Sports 2005-2006

By GREG GIELCZYK
Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor

ONEKAMA – Even though Free Soil came into the game a little short-handed with one starter, Robert "Bo" Buss not making the trip, the Pirates battled Onekama for the full 32 minutes in Friday night’s Western Michigan D League game.

But, the Portagers managed to fend the Pirates off at the end to claim an important 63-54 victory, and improve their league record to 3-1.

The Portagers are 6-2 overall. Free Soil fell to 5-2 in all games.

"We had a coupe of good spurts in the first half," Onekama coach Jerry Brown said. "But, they (the Pirates) seemed to answer all of our pushes."

Making a few adjustments both offensively and defensively in the second half, the Portagers carried the day.

"The guys stepped up big when they needed to in the second half, and handled the ball really well on some of our possession offenses," Brown said.

"I just have to really hand it to the kids. They really worked, and overcame a little adversity at the end. But, I have to give a lot of credit to Free Soil.

"The Pirates really scrapped, and they really hustled. Playing short-handed like they were, that was incredible. They were a handful for us."

Although all of the Pirates scrambled around, diving for every loose ball and playing tenacious defense, it was the presence of 6-foot-1 senior forward Michael Papes that had the Portagers worried. Papes, a sure-fire all-state candidate, has all the moves.

"He’s really tough," Brown said. "He goes to the basket like a freight train, but yet can finish with finesse. That’s pretty tough to handle defensively."

Sometimes, it was almost impossible for the Portagers to prevent Papes from getting inside.

When he wasn’t driving either baseline, Papes was pulling up and taking four-foot jump shots that frequently found the bottom of the net with his soft touch.

Onekama threatened to run away with the game several times in the first half, but every time the Portagers would extend their lead to six or eight points, the Pirates would come charging back.

Free Soil’s knack for getting the Portagers to foul down low also played a role in keeping the score close.

The Portagers had only an 11-9 lead at the first quarter break.

Dominating the offensive rebounding through the first half of the second quarter, Onekama scored on a few second-chance baskets and soon built a 10-point lead.

It didn’t last long.

Free Soil scrapped back, fueled by the defensive work of guard A.J. Sielski, and had the deficit back down to four points within a minute.

Onekama went on another short spurt at the end of the second quarter, which enabled the Portagers to outscore the Pirates, 19-15. That made it a six-point game, 30-24, at the half.

But the Pirates scrambled back again, outscoring the Portagers, 20-17, in the third quarter and cutting the Onekama lead to just three, 47-44, entering the fourth period.

The Portagers had a 16-10 advantage in the final quarter to prevail.

Joey Mitchell paced the Portagers with 16 points, Milan Cvetkovic contributed 14 and Matt Fredericks finished with 10.

Nate Griswold scored eight, Nate Milarch seven, Taylor Fraly six and Ryan Brown two.

Fraly hauled down 11 rebounds and came away with four steals for the Portagers. Milarch dished out three assists.

Mike Papes led all scorers in the game with 21 points for the Pirates. Justin Papes finished with 11 and William Grimm contributed 10.

"The guys know that you just can’t afford to lose on your own court," Brown said. "You’ve got to take everything you can possible get.

"Free Soil came in five-and-one, and on a roll, and pretty high. We had to turn that around, too."