Portagers close tough week with win
Onekama’s Bryce Reckow (22) elevates for a layup
during Friday’s win against St. Mary. (Dylan Savela/News
Advocate)
Dylan Savela, Manistee News Advocate
ONEKAMA — This past Tuesday, Onekama came back from 18 points down to
nearly knock off Class D No. 8 Frankfort, but fell short by five.
The very next evening, just three points made the
difference when time ran out on a loss to Baldwin, which is in second
place in the West Michigan D League.
On Friday, however, the Portagers looked determined to
end their hectic week on the right note. Their 64-48 win against Lake
Leelanau St. Mary seemed to do the trick.
“A win’s a win, and we’ve had a couple real heartbreak
losses here, so this is kind of soothing I think,” said Onekama coach
Jim Hunter. “Winning really is a good medicine.”
The final margin is a bit misleading for a game the
Portagers (10-6) controlled the whole way through, and held second half
leads as large as 30.
Onekama’s Bryce Reckow did a bit of everything, as his
six 3-pointers led to a game-high 26 to go with four assists and two
blocks before sitting a good chunk of the fourth quarter.
“He’s such a valuable asset,” Hunter said of the senior
guard. “We’re not going to finish as well in the league as I had hoped
we would, but we’re knocking on that door and he has a lot to do with
it.” |
Reckow was joined by a number of Portagers in the scoring
column, including Derek Hobart with 13 points and two blocks, Wyatt
Szpliet with eight points, and Quinn Matthews with seven points, five
assists, five steals, and four offensive boards.
“As far as benefits go to games like this, it gives
everyone a chance to play — not just at the end to finish it out — but
you can mix some kids in early with the first unit, just to get a
different look,” Hunter said of the luxury jumping out to an 18-2 first
quarter lead allows. “It helps me see, in case we ever get in a pinch,
what kind of combinations we can use, what works, and who can produce.”
After scoring 16 straight points to close the opening
quarter, the Portagers kept up the pace and held a 34-16 advantage by
the break.
Reckow scored eight straight points, including a pair of
triples, in a minute’s time early in the third, which was soon followed
by a bucket and free throw by Hobart to balloon the lead to 50-20 midway
through the frame.
Onekama held a 52-28 lead heading into the fourth, and
looked comfortable with a 63-35 lead with four minutes remaining.
The Eagles, who were led by Drew Pobuda with a team-high
15 as Brandon McSawby scored 14, attempted to make it interesting down
the stretch.
St. Mary scored 13 straight points to get the game within
15, but time was not on its on side.
Although the teams don’t share a league, Onekama swept a
two-game season series with the Eagles. Hunter said the Portagers are
now focused on finishing their league schedule strong.
“Hopefully we can finish by knocking off a couple teams
that beat us earlier … and go into the tournament on a little bit of a
roll,” he said. “I know Frankfort’s probably the favorite in our
(district) tournament, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t be confident.
“If our kids keep playing hard, and of course if we’re
shooting well, we can be a tough team to beat.”
Posted by
Dylan Savela,
Manistee News Advocate on-line |