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

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 Photos by Barb Eldridge, unless otherwise indicated
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    Varsity Roster 2012-2013
 # 10  Mitchel Clarke (11)
 # 21 Nick DeLeon (11)
 # 41 Joe Eno (12)
 # 05 Austin Greiner (12)
 # 11 Dallas Hearit (11)
 # 25 Derek Hobart (12)
 # 03 Quinn Matthews (12)
 # 23 Curtis McKenney (12)
 # 22 Bryce Reckow (12)
 # 32  John Schoedel (11)
 # 20  Justin Solis (11)
 # 33 Jarett Sovereign (10)
 # 24 Wyatt Szpliet (12)

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