Onekama High Boys Basketball 2010-2011

Portagers beat Panthers for 2nd time in five days

Published: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

MATT WENZEL, News Advocate Sports Editor

ONEKAMA — There are spacious locker rooms, plenty of bleacher space and a nice shine still on the floor.

But, for all its appreciable amenities, Onekama’s new gym lacked one key feature for the Portagers. A win for the home team.

Onekama finally notched a victory on its home court this season with a 60-55 WMD win against Baldwin on Monday night.

“It feels good,” said a smiling Adrian Norman, who led the Portagers (3-9, 3-8 WMD) with 25 points and seven assists.

It was also the first time this season Onekama has strung together back-to-back wins — both of which came against Baldwin (2-14, 2-11 WMD).

“It’s two wins in a row, granted, they’re both against the same team, but it’s not easy,” said Onekama coach Jim Hunter. “They know what you’re doing and I think a lot of times it’s tough the second time around ... because if you won, you’re probably not changing anything — these things work so you stay with them. They can take a look at what didn’t work and figure out what you did do and maybe change a bit.”

While Monday’s contest was only Onekama’s second game in 17 days, it was Baldwin’s fourth in just six days and coach Scott Pedigo said his team was worn out. “I tried to get back early and not press until late, but once we got down we kind of had to,” he said, admitting that 23 turnovers certainly didn’t help. “I don’t think we got beat up physically ... we just made so many poor mental decisions with the passing and the turnovers. Anytime you do that, to even be in it is a miracle.”

Andon Ware and Aaron Thomas scored 20 points apiece to lead the Panthers, who have dropped four straight.

The combination of Norman and Skyler Kimpel carried the Portagers early as the two scored Onekama’s first 32 points.

“That’s not what we’re trying to do,” Hunter said. “Really with our break packages and what we’re trying to do with the half-court stuff, we’re going to feature those guys ... but there are plenty of opportunities (for others) and there were opportunities, but we didn’t put the ball in the hole.”

Onekama led 15-9 after the first quarter but an 8-0 run early in the second gave Baldwin its last lead of the game at 19-18 before the Portagers took a 28-23 lead at halftime. Kimpel scored 10 of Onekama’s 13 points in the second and finished with 19 and 10 rebounds before fouling out early in the fourth after picking up his fourth personal and a technical on the same possession.

Norman led the way in the third quarter with 10 points as Onekama surged to a 15-point lead.

“I was just taking it to the rack like coach told us and running the offense,” he said. “My (outside) shot wasn’t falling much so I just took it to the rack.”

A number of Portagers also got into the mix in the second half after Norman and Kimpel represented all of the offensive output until Alex Welch hit a shot with 2:51 to play in the third.

Matt Monroe finished with nine points and 12 rebounds, Jared Miller had three points and 16 boards and Ryan Pienta scored two.

However, none of the Portagers were successful at the free throw line in the fourth quarter as missed attempts allowed Baldwin to get as close as four points late, although the outcome was never really in doubt.

Onekama was 4-for-11 from the line in the fourth and just 10-for-23 for the game.

“It’s a good thing we got a 10-, 12-(point) lead the way we shot free throws,” Hunter said. “They can shoot better than that and they’ve got to.”