Sabers roll to 5th straight win

“We wanted to get out and go, and the way Onekama played tonight, they didn’t want us to get out and go,” said MCC coach Dale Edmondson Jr. “That’s fine. They had a real deliberate offense.

“For the most part, we knew with the way the game was, they were content to be where it was at. We talked about it at halftime: if they’re satisfied to score 25 or 30 points, then so be it. We just want the ‘W.’”

Doyle was the only Saber who scored in double figures, but there was significant balance. Nick Kolanowski hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points, Nathan Miller and Alex Hogan scored six apiece while Vince Modjeski and Nick Niesen each had five points.

“We have plenty of kids that can score,” Edmondson said. “That’s one thing I like about what’s happened the last five games — we’ve taken care of the ball, we’ve moved the ball around and we got more than one or two guys who have the ability to score.”

Joe Kosiboski scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Portagers (1-3, 1-3 WMD) while Skyler Kimpel had 14 points. Thomas Koon chipped in two points while Ryan Pienta, playing with a heavy heart after the death of his father John on Monday, scored two.

Onekama’s Ryan Pienta (right) and Manistee Catholic Central’s Vince Modjeski battle for a loose ball during Thursday night’s game. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)

“We’re not a real high-powered scoring offensive team,” said Onekama coach Roger Smith. “That’s just the kind of team I’ve got
“I’m pleased with the effort we got. They played hard and did exactly what I asked them to do. Sometimes they just have a hard time putting the ball in the basket. But, we played pretty good defense against a good basketball team.”

MCC was issued a technical foul for Modjeski dunking during warmups, which gave Onekama a pair of free throw attempts and the ball to start. The Portagers’ 1-0 advantage before the clock even started was their only lead of the game.

MCC had a 13-7 lead after the first quarter and limited Onekama to just four second-quarter points for a 26-11 advantage at halftime. Doyle scored seven in the third and Onekama just five as MCC’s lead swelled to 38-16.

Kimpel and Kosiboski keyed a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter as the Portagers pulled within 12, but that was as close as it got down the stretch.

“If you would have told me we’d be 5-1 without my point guard at the beginning, I would have probably laughed at you,” Edmondson said with a smile. “Especially the way we played the first game.”

The MCC junior varsity team defeated Onekama Thursday night, 52-40. Freshman Zack Bialik led the Sabers with 34 points while Nathan Papes scored eight. Bryce Reckow paced the Portagers with 13 points and Quinn Matthews scored 10.