Friday Night Stuff

BOYS STANDINGS

GREATER THUMB WEST

Team W L W L

BCAS 0 0 2 0

Vassar 0 0 2 0

Bad Axe 0 0 1 0

Cass City 0 0 1 1

EPBP 0 0 0 2

Reese 0 0 0 2

USA 0 0 0 2

      GREATER THUMB EAST

Team W L W L

H. Beach 0 0 2 0

Sandusky 0 0 2 0

Ubly 0 0 2 0

Marlette 0 0 1 0

Mayville 0 0 0 1

Brown City 0 0 0 2

NORTH CENTRAL THUMB NORTH

Team W L W L

North Huron 0 0 1 1

Port Hope 0 0 0 1

A-Fairgrove 0 0 0 2

Caseville 0 0 0 2

Owen-Gage 0 0 0 2

NORTH CENTRAL THUMB SOUTH

Team W L W L

CPS 0 0 2 0

Deckerville 0 0 2 0

Peck 0 0 1 0

Kingston 0 0 1 1

Memphis 0 0 0 1

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Sandusky 41, EPBP 34 

Vassar 47, Millington 34

Ubly 63, USA 51

Harbor Beach 79, North Huron 33

Imlay City 61, Brown City 42

Cass City 50, Capac 44

Marlette 59, Reese 46

Saginaw Arts 49, Owen-Gage 31 

MONDAY’S GAMES

Port Hope at Deckerville

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Deckerville at Brown City

Mayville at Owen-Gage

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Marlette at Bad Axe

Mayville at EPBP

Harbor Beach at Cass City

Sandusky at Vassar

Reese at Bangor John Glenn

THURSDAY’S GAMES

CPS at North Huron

Yale at Peck

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Bad Axe at Harbor Beach

USA at Sandusky

EPBP at Ubly

Reese at Mayville

Almont at Brown City

Lakeville at Vassar

------------------------------------------------

GIRLS STANDINGS

GREATER THUMB WEST

Team W L W L

Reese 0 0 4 0

EPBP 0 0 3 1

Vassar 0 0 3 1

BCAS 0 0 2 1

USA 0 0 2 1

Bad Axe 0 0 2 2

Cass City 0 0 1 3

    GREATER THUMB EAST

Team W L W L

Sandusky 0 0 5 0

Brown City 0 0 4 0

H. Beach 0 0 3 1

Marlette 0 0 3 1

Ubly 0 0 0 3

Mayville 0 0 0 5

NORTH CENTRAL THUMB NORTH

Team W L W L

Port Hope 0 0 1 0

North Huron 0 0 1 2

Owen-Gage 0 0 1 3

Caseville 0 0 0 1

A-Fairgrove 0 0 0 2

NORTH CENTRAL THUMB SOUTH

Team W L W L

CPS 0 0 2 2

Kingston 0 0 1 1

Peck 0 0 1 1

Deckerville 0 0 1 2

Memphis 0 0 0 2

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Sandusky 51, EPBP 34

Vassar 48, Millington 22

BCAS 50, Saginaw Buena Vista 40

Deckerville 60, A-Fairgrove 15

Port Hope 54, CPS 37

Saginaw Arts 48, Owen-Gage 38 

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Bad Axe at USA

Reese at Cass City

Vassar at EPBP

Brown City at Ubly

Deckerville at Sandusky

Harbor Beach at Mayville

Peck at Caseville

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Mayville at Kingston

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Cass City at Bad Axe

EPBP at Reese

BCAS at Vassar

Mayville at Marlette

Sandusky at Harbor Beach

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Caseville at Deckerville

CPS at A-Fairgrove

North Huron at Kingston

Port Hope at Peck

Season Opener: Pirates clip Patriots

HARBOR BEACH — Sloppy, but effective.

That’s all Harbor Beach coach Ron Wruble could say about his team’s season-opening 50-46 Greater Thumb Conference crossover victory over Unionville-Sebewaing Area here Wednesday night.

It certainly was no masterpiece, but the defending Greater Thumb East champions are off and running.

And, in fact, at times they’re running too fast, according to their coach.

“We switched gears a bit from 100 mph with their hair on fire in the first half to at least somewhat in control,” Wruble said. “We were in a hurry. We were not in control in the first half. 

“In the second half, we settled down a little bit and shot the ball a little better. But we still didn’t do a lot.”

USA led by as many as 10 in the second half, but the Pirates outscored the Patriots 20-8 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Harbor Beach converted 10-of-16 free throws over the final eight minutes, including 5-of-8 in the waning moments. 

USA actually had a chance to at least tie the game with 15 seconds to play, but missed an open jump shot. From there, Harbor Beach’s Aaron Ginther drained two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to make for the winning margin.

“December basketball, it’s tough,” said USA coach Mark Gainforth. “You have to find a way to win. Hopefully, they’ll learn from this.

“I didn’t think our defensive intensity was as good in the second half as it was in the first half.”

 And, according to Gainforth, Harbor Beach stepped up their defense when it counted.

“The difference in the game was their perimeter defensive pressure,” he said. “They defended very well and we had a hard time with it. We didn’t attack it, plain and simple.”

The Pirates were led by sophomore Andrew Siemen, who dropped in a game-high 15 points in his first varsity game. Sean Sorenson added 10 points while Ginther, another sophomore, added nine, and Scott Grekowicz netted seven.

Down the stretch, the Pirates had a freshman (Eli Kraft, six points) and the two sophomores on the floor to go along with seniors Sorenson and Grekowicz.

“With these young guys playing, this gives us something to build on and will help us get into a rotation,” Wruble said.

For USA, Andrew Botello knocked in 12 points while Nick Fletcher chipped in 10 and Dan Rieck eight.

USA held its biggest lead of 10 points with 4:50 to play in third quarter, settling for a 38-30 edge heading to the final eight minutes.

But the Pirates opened the quarter on a 9-0 spurt, capped by a Siemen hoop with 5:25 to play to give his team a 39-38 lead.

USA regained the advantage until a Grekowicz steal and layup, followed by a free throw, gave the Pirates the lead for good at 45-44 with 1:18 left.

Kraft, Sorenson and Grekowicz hit free throws in the final moments, good for a 48-46 edge.

USA’s final attempt to at least tie was thwarted when the Patriots missed a contested long jump shot from the wing and the Pirates rebounded with 2.3 seconds to play.

“I’m not sure if we lost a little confidence (from the first half),” Gainforth said. “But when you have a guy right in your face and you can’t run your offense...”

The game was quite sloppy from the start. The Pirates led 7-0 1:30 into the contest before USA rallied for a 13-10 lead after one quarter. Botello scored seven points in the second quarter for the Patriots, who took a 27-20 advantage to the break.

“We thought we could get out and run on them,” Wruble said. “But actually in the first half, they were faster than us.”

BOYS WEDNESDAY
Bad Axe 71, Mayville 27

Standish Sterling 68, EPBP 49

BCAS 68, Garber 57

Harbor Beach 50, USA 46  

Ubly 58, Reese 49

Yale 55, Brown City 40

GIRLS WEDNESDAY

Bad Axe 54, North Huron 33

Vassar 53, Bridgeport 36

BOYS SKED

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Deckerville at A-Fairgrove

Peck at Owen-Gage

CPS at Port Hope

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Sandusky at EPBP (B/G DH 7:30 p.m.)

Millington at Vassar (B/G DH 7:30 p.m.)

Ubly at USA

Harbor Beach at North Huron

Brown City at Imlay City

Marlette at Reese

Saginaw Arts at Owen-Gage (B/G DH)

GIRLS SKED

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Mayville at Cass City

Ubly at USA

Harbor Beach at North Huron

Marlette at Reese

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Sandusky at EPBP (B/G DH 6 p.m.)

Millington at Vassar (B/G DH 6 p.m.)

Saginaw BV at BCAS

Owen-Gage at Peck

A-Fairgrove at Deckerville

Port Hope at CPS

Saginaw Arts at Owen-Gage (B/G DH)

USA's Dakota Gangler and Harbor Beach's Scott Grekowicz battle in the paint.

Wednesday night hoops..

Hey all,
The boys and girls basketball seasons are off and running.
Bogan will be at the USA at Harbor Beach boys game tonight.
Adams is at the Reese at Ubly contest.
Post any scores/highlights on this thread.

Here is a list of tonight's games...

BOYS

Bad Axe at Mayville

EPBP at Standish Sterling

BCAS at Garber

USA at Harbor Beach

Reese at Ubly

Cass City at Sandusky

Brown City ay Yale

GIRLS

North Huron at Bad Axe

Vassar at Bridgeport

Did you know...

Did you know that some of the girls and boys district basketball drawings have already taken place?
A new twist this season. The opening round games are being played at different sites...
What are your thoughts on that?
Here is the Class C draw which is being "Hosted" by Harbor Beach.
BOYS
Monday, March 7
Sandusky AT Harbor Beach
Ubly AT Cass City
Bad Axe AT USA
EPBP – Bye

Wednesday, March 9
These games are at Harbor Beach
Harbor Beach/Sandusky winner vs. Ubly/Cass City winner
EPBP vs USA/Bad Axe winner

Friday, March 11
Title Game

GIRLS
Monday, Feb. 28
Sandusky AT Harbor Beach
EPBP AT Ubly
Bad Axe AT Cass City
USA – Bye

Wednesday, March 2
These games at Harbor Beach
Harbor Beach/Sandusky winner vs. Ubly/EPBP winner
USA vs. Cass City/Bad Axe winner

Friday, March 4
Title Game

We talk basketball

The boys and girls basketball seasons have arrived.

Check out the Tribune's basketball preview in Tuesday's paper.

Here's a rundown of how we think things are going to go this season.

Dale E. Tribune is the question-asker to Bogan and Adams...

DET: Gentlemen, welcome to the 2010-11 boys and girls basketball seasons. Since your football season came to an end a little earlier than usual, you boys should be well rested.

Let’s get to it.

DET: OK, let’s start in the race for the Greater Thumb West boys title. Vassar kind of surprised some people and wound up winning the league title last season, battling Bay City All Saints and Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port down to the final week. Who do you guys think is the team to beat the GTW this season?

ADAMS: I’m not sure if there is a “team” to beat. 

To me, Vassar, Cass City, Reese, USA and BCAS all look to be solid. I picked Cass City to win the GTW, but if the Red Hawks do, it won’t be by a landslide.

USA should be vastly improved on its 11-11 record, but its success may hinge on the health of Jake Holland. 

EPBP has a new coach and not much experience. I also think Bad Axe will be an improved team this year.

BOGAN: Like Adams, I picked Cass City to win the title, but it’s certainly not a sure thing. I love the Red Hawks’ backcourt with seniors Justin Ketterer and Alex Varney. And they have some nice players up front in Morgan Erla and Cameron Dunnuck.

I really think USA is the wild card in the league. If Holland is capable of playing, the Patriots, to me, become the favorite. If he can’t, they are once again going to have to rely on a backcourt which certainly was up and down last season. 

And, of course, any team with Drew Janer on it has to be a threat. He might average around 25 points this season for BCAS

DET: Harbor Beach rolled last season in the GTE to a perfect 12-0 mark. Can the Pirates do it again?

ADAMS: It’s unrealistic to think Harbor Beach can duplicate the season it had after losing so many players. With that said, the Pirates have plenty of talent returning, and coach Ron Wruble always gets the most out of his players.

I also think Ubly is going to have a fine season. It’s going to be run-and-gun for the Bearcats, and they have the players to execute first-year coach Ken Pichla’s style. 

BOGAN: I took Harbor Beach to win the crown, but I also like Ubly and Marlette. Harbor Beach senior Scott Grekowicz was the unsung hero of last season’s team, and I expect another solid season from him. And, from what I hear, Harbor Beach’s younger players are talented and are going to see the floor a lot this season.

We will get a good indication tomorrow night when the Pirates host USA in the season opener for both teams.

DET: Deckerville enters the North Central Thumb League this season. Give me a rundown of the NCTL boys races in the North and the South. 

ADAMS: In the North Division, North Huron remains the team to beat, but the gap is closing. Akron-Fairgrove should be much better this season, and I think Caseville has a real chance to surprise some people this year.

In the South, Carsonvile-Port Sanilac may very well be the best team in the league. The Tigers have a ton of players back from the squad that won the title last year. 

DET: Who are some of the top boys players in the area?

ADAMS: North Huron’s duo of Erik Dhyse and Kevin Rice should be very good. 

I also like USA’s Holland. He could be the most dominant big man in the area if he can stay healthy. 

Harbor Beach’s Scott Grekowicz is a very exciting guard. 

BOGAN: Those four should be very good this season. 

I have already mentioned Cass City’s foursome of Varney, Ketterer, Erla and Dunnuck.

I also like Bad Axe’s backcourt tandem of Jesse Quinn and Ethan Sisco.

Caseville has a fine player in Charlie Karafa. 

Ubly’s duo of Eric Booms and Marshall Leipprandt should do plenty of damage.

DET: Let’s switch to the girls. Who will be tops in the GTW?

ADAMS: I think it’s Reese and everyone else. Yes, the Rockets lost some nice players, but they simply reloaded this season.

USA is a real sleeper for me. I like the experience and youth on that team. 

BOGAN: I am not counting out the Lakers.

They have five girls who saw plenty of action last season, including sharp-shooting Taylor Comment and post player Erika Matteson. Kacey Peterson is an underrrated player who started every game for the Lakers last season.

And Cass City coach Lloyd Schinnerer thinks this is the year his Red Hawks make a major move up the standings. They have the talent to do it, too.

 DET: What about the GTE?

ADAMS: It’s the same story as the GTW, just insert Sandusky in for Reese. Brown City will also be in the mix.

BOGAN: Yes, the Redskins are loaded once again.

I also like Marlette. The Raiders have a very talented group back.

DET: And the NCTL?

ADAMS: In the North, I think it’s still Port Hope, but with a new coach, and a loss of some solid post players, the gap has closed.

North Huron will be a strong contender. And I like the fact that Caseville has all five of its starters back.

In the South, Memphis is probably the class of the entire league. The Yellowjackets have a ton of players returning. 

DET: Gimme some top-notch girls?

ADAMS: North Huron’s Sara Clancy could very well be one of the best post players in the Thumb, regardless of league. 

Also, Harbor Beach’s Tori Kraft is a very talented player, but the Pirates will need a second scoring threat to emerge in order to take pressure off of her. 

BOGAN: I have already mentioned EPBP’s trio of Comment, Matteson and Peterson.

I also think Cass City has four players with all-league talent in McKensie Parrish, Megan Parrish, Logan Rowell and Carley Hendrick.

USA’s inside tandem of Sam Eisengruber and Miranda Fuerst will be tough to stop.

And Bad Axe senior Taylor Breault has the size and experience to control the paint for the Hatchets.

DET: Anything else you’d like to add?

ADAMS: Yes. 

I have gotten used to the new scheduling, but it still doesn’t mean I like it. We’re barely into this new season, and I can’t make heads or tails of the schedule. 

Since the seasons are never going back, the GTC and NCTL MUST get on the same page. They MUST match their schedules. It will be beneficial for everyone involved. 

Mike Bogan is the Daily Tribune’s news/sports editor. Paul P. Adams is a Daily Tribune sports writer.