Lakers rally to top Portagers in overtime

Bear Lake rallied from a 12-point deficit with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter for a 49-45 West Michigan D League win over rival Onekama in overtime Thursday night.

“When you have a pressing team that can press both from half (court) and full, you’re never out of it,” said Bear Lake coach Bryan Groenwald. “They felt the urge and stepped up late and I’m real proud of them.”

Trailing 45-33 with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers (5-5, 5-3 WMD) finally had some success with their press, forced the Portagers (2-7, 2-6 WMD) into turnovers, and scored the final 16 points of the game, including all four in overtime.

“We got out of control,” said Onekama senior Joe Kosiboski. “I think we panicked when they started pressing us. They scored a couple times and that’s what got us.”

Ringel had 15 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Spalding scored 15 points to go with eight rebounds and four steals to lead the Lakers, who were playing without starter Cody Reed.

Weston Brooks chipped in eight points and 11 rebounds, Joe Metiva had four points to go with nine rebounds, Roger Mullet scored four, while Tyler Groenwald had three points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Onekama had three players score in double figures, led by Kosiboski, who had 12 points and seven rebounds. Skyler Kimpel had 10 points and eight rebounds and Thomas Koon scored 10. Jake Matthews chipped in seven points and Austin Barnett six.

Bear Lake had a hard time getting anything going on either end of the court and scored just six points in the third quarter.

“We could find no rhythm at all from anybody,” Groenwald said.

Onekama went on a quick 6-2 run in a 41-second span midway through the fourth quarter for a 45-33 lead and seemed to have control of the game.

However, the Lakers cranked up the defensive pressure and trimmed the lead, while Onekama struggled from the free throw line, finishing 4-for-12.

“You can’t beat good teams going 4-for-12 from the free throw line,” Smith said. “We panicked, we made some bad passes and the shots we did get didn’t go down.”

Spalding and Metiva each scored four points in a little more than a minute as Bear Lake pulled within four points.

Ringel tied the game at 45 with 32 seconds left after a pair of driving baskets in the paint, sending the Laker crowd into a frenzy.

“We found a defense that finally worked and hit a few puppies here and there,” Spalding said.

Ringel hit a pair of free throws in overtime for a 47-45 lead and Spalding sealed the game with two more with less than a second left.

“They showed pretty good grit down the stretch,” Groenwald said.

The Bear Lake junior varsity team beat Onekama, 84-49. Christian Novak led the Lakers (7-3) with 31 points and 10 rebounds while Nick Streeter scored 19. Tyler Fogarty paced Onekama with 20 points.