BOYS HOOPS: Onekama Knocks off Frankfort
Portagers
snap three-game losing streak with 58-57 win
FRANKFORT —
From
Manistee News Advocate Staff Report
The Onekama boys
basketball team needed a win in a bad way, and got one Saturday night.
Senior guard Hunter Slade knocked
down the game-winning free throw with five seconds left as the Portagers
topped Frankfort, 58-57.
The win snapped Onekama’s
three-game losing streak, which began with a pair of tough, two-point
losses in the West Michigan D League. “It’s been a tough road,” said
Onekama coach Roger Smith. “It was a huge win for our kids because it’s
tough to lose close games.”
Onekama (10-5) had four players in
double figures, led by Levi Capper, who finished with 17 points and
seven rebounds. Also for the Portagers, Ryan Miller had 14 points and
seven rebounds, Adrian Norman had 12 points, five assists and three
steals, Slade scored 10 and Joe Kosiboski had five points and six
rebounds. “We were pretty consistent with our scoring,” Smith said. “I
thought we played a very good game — one of our better games.”
Frankfort’s Wade Luxford knocked
down eight 3-pointers en route to a game-high 32 points. |
Onekama jumped out to a 11-9 lead
after the first quarter and held a 24-20 advantage at halftime.
“I thought we played very well
defensively, and took care of the ball for the most part,” Smith said.
“We did a good job of hustling on the defensive end and a decent job of
rebounding.”
The Panthers (9-7) pulled within
three points heading into the fourth quarter at 41-38, and Luxford
buried his eighth triple of the game with about 12 seconds remaining to
tie the game at 57.
Slade was fouled going to the basket, and made the first of two attempts
with five seconds left. After missing the second, Luxford’s
three-quarter court heave came up short.
“I think it dropped about six
inches in front of the rim,” Smith said. “Unbelievable.”
After dropping close games to Big
Rapids Crossroads Charter Academy and Mason County Eastern, then
watching Manistee Catholic Central explode for 33 points in the first
quarter of the Sabers win on Thursday, the Portagers sorely needed a big
win.
Going on the road to knock off
the Panthers qualifies.
“My seniors told me that was the
first time they had ever beaten Frankfort in anything — football,
basketball, baseball,” Smith said. “It was a big win for the senior
kids.” |
