Lakers roll past
Onekama in opener
By MATT WENZEL
Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
Published: Thursday, December 9, 2010
ONEKAMA — To help christen its
new gym, Onekama extended an invitation to its rival to the north,
Bear Lake.
The Lakers graciously accepted, then busted through the door, kicked
their heels up on the table and helped themselves to a
season-opening win.
Bear Lake built an early 10-point lead then used a 13-0 run to take
control early en route to a 74-50 West Michigan D League win
Thursday in the first varsity boys game played at Onekama.
“I think we were the quicker team tonight,” said Bear Lake coach
Bryan Groenwald. “I think we beat them down the floor. To me that’s
the tale of the game.” With only eight players available, Bear Lake
didn't have Onekama's depth, but didn't need it. By the time Jacob
Mesaros knocked down a 3-pointer in the waning seconds, most of the
Laker's starters had a chance to act as cheerleaders outscoring
Onekama's starting five 65-27.
“We made shots and they didn’t,”
said Bear Lake senior center Weston Brooks, who finished with 12
points, six rebounds, six blocks and seven steals. “Momentum was big
and we controlled the momentum.”
Alex Ringel led the Lakers with 18 points, Tyler Groenwald had 10
points and nine rebounds while Christian Novak came up big in his
varsity debut with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
“Christian stepped up huge,” Brooks said.
Also for Bear Lake, Stephen Verrett had eight points, Josh Santa
four, Meszaros three and Josh Metiva two.
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While the Lakers benefited from a
balanced attack, the Portagers struggled finding points. Adrian Norman
scored a team-high 20 to go with seven steals while Matt Monroe had nine
points and Jared Miller eight with eight rebounds.
Kyle Acker chipped in five points, Alex Welch three, Ryan Pienta and
Skyler Kimpel two apiece and Austin Barnett one.
“We just didn’t make the shots,” said Onekama coach Jim Hunter, who’s in
his first year back with the team. “Some nights, that’s how it goes.”
While Onekama couldn’t find the bottom of the net, the Lakers scored the
first eight points of the game and had an 18-10 lead at the end of the
first quarter.
“I don’t think there’s any question they were more ready to go,” Hunter
said of the Lakers. “Part of that is transition, the kids have to get
used to me and what we’re trying to do.”
From late in the first quarter to early in the second, the Lakers used
their fast break to go on an 18-2 run over 4:30 for a commanding 30-12
lead that put the Portagers in a huge hole.
The Portagers tried running with the Lakers, but the shots simply
weren’t falling.
“We did not shoot very well,” Hunter said. “Early in the game, I thought
we got pretty good shot selection and got a lot of good looks.
“Even when we’d hold them and they were having trouble scoring, we
couldn’t score to take advantage of it. We’d get four or five stops in a
row and end up with no basket.”
After taking a 37-22 lead at halftime, Bear Lake never let Onekama any
closer than 15 points in the second half while its advantage ballooned
to as many as 28 points.
“We didn’t hold our composure very well and it got away from us,” Hunter
said. “... We’ll get better. We’ll figure things out.” |
Left to right: Alex
Welch (11th), Matt Monroe (12th), Rease Heiler (12th), Ryan
Pienta (12th), Paul Cunningham (12th), Jared Miller (12th), Nick
Osborn (11th) Photo taken Dec. 9, 2010 by Mrs. Torrey
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- Article on this page by Matt Wenzel
- Photos and Pages by Barb Eldridge
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www.onekama.k12.mi.us
Serving Onekama School since 1997 |
