Onekama’s John Schoedel (32) shoots between Crossroads’ Dylan Balsitis (right) and Justin Thorne during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)

ONEKAMA — Coming off its worst offensive performance of the season and most lopsided loss, Onekama was determined to make an early statement.

The Portagers did, which wasn’t good news for CCA.

Onekama  jumped out to a 22-4 lead after the first quarter and never let the Cougars back in the game en route to a 62-42 West Michigan D League win on Wednesday night.

“I’m very pleased with the way the starters attacked the game tonight,” said Onekama coach Jim Hunter. “I felt our intensity the last ballgame probably wasn’t where it needed to be. The kids came out, got after it early and set the tone.”

Senior guard Bryce Reckow led Onekama (6-2, 5-1 WMD) with a strong all-around performance and posted a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Derek Hobart paced the Portagers with 14 points and Joe Eno scored 11.

“I thought the starters played with a lot of intensity in a game that was pretty much decided by half,” Hunter said, “and that doesn’t always happen.”

The Cougars, who couldn’t get a shot to drop early, started knocking them down late, but never got any closer than 14 points after the first quarter.

“In the fourth quarter we got hot a little bit, we had some really good shot selections, it was just a little too late,” said CCA coach Jason Kostecki. “Hopefully we can start building on that for future games and see what happens. If we can make it a game in the first half, we’ll be all right. But, by 20 points down at halftime, it makes it a long climb.”

Aron Garland scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cougars (1-8, 0-7 WMD) and Kavoceya Vanassche scored seven.

Onekama lost 63-31 at Traverse City Christian on Monday night and made just four of its first 28 shots. So, a good start against the Cougars was a priority.

“We wanted to come back strong,” said Onekama senior Quinn Matthews, who finished with seven points. “We knew we were better than we played the other night. We had to prove it to ourselves.”

The Portagers’ defense set up their offense as the press forced Crossroads into seven first-quarter turnovers, resulting in 11 points.

“I think the second go-round with our kids off the bench was better than our first go-round,” Hunter said. “They stepped up a little bit and played a little harder at the end. It was nice to get a lot of kids on the floor.”

Onekama’s Bryce Reckow shoots over Crossroads’ James Strickland III during the first half. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)

“Sometimes your defense has to generate for you,” Hunter said. “Usually when your defense is setting up scores, you’re talking about layups. … Then all of a sudden your percentage goes up and all the other shots just seem to follow suit. You have a little more confidence in your stroke.”

Jarett Sovereign scored seven of his eight points in the first quarter while Hobart and Eno had five apiece, leading to the 22-4 lead before Onekama backed out of the press.

“We work on breaking the press every day in practice,” Kostecki said, “it’s just the guys get nervous out there and kind of second-guess where they’re supposed to make that pass or the pass is just too weak to get there in time.”

The Cougars struggled hitting shots — even after good offensive execution — but they started to fall in the second quarter.

“(The press) gave us some problems and when we did get the open looks, we struggled from the floor,” Kostecki said. “It’s the same song and dance all season: We just can’t seem to hit shots early on.”

Onekama led 34-18 at halftime and — with the 5-foot-10 Reckow providing a lift with a dunk on a breakaway — pushed the advantage to 52-26 at the end of the third quarter.

Garland hit a pair of triples and had a 3-point play in the fourth to make it 53-39 with 4:04 left, but the Portagers didn’t let the Cougars get any closer. Crossroads has just two seniors on the roster and one returning starter from last year.

“I want to see us play with a little more intensity, a little harder,” Kostecki said. “We don’t play with that intensity that I’d like to see.”

Onekama’s second unit got extensive playing time Wednesday — most of the second quarter and nearly all of the fourth — and John Schoedel scored six off the bench. “I think the second go-round with our kids off the bench was better than our first go-round,” Hunter said. “They stepped up a little bit and played a little harder at the end. It was nice to get a lot of kids on the floor.

The Onekama JV team beat Crossroads 38-17 on Wednesday. Jon Eno led the Portagers (7-1) with 15 points and Randy Pienta scored eight.

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