Defense, outside shooting lead Hillman past Rogers City
HILLMAN — Playing in its first game since being ranked No. 2 in the first Class D boys basketball poll of the year, Hillman continued to do what it does, play aggressive defense, force turnovers and shoot the three ball.
The Tigers had it all working on Thursday as they improved to 8-0 on the season with a 67-45 win over Rogers City.
The Hurons did everything they could early to match Hillman’s intensity and stayed with the Tigers in the first few minutes of the game, but Hillman’s hot shooting from beyond the three point line proved to be too much for the Hurons as Hillman knocked down four triples and took an 18-11 lead after an opening quarter that ended with a heads up inbound play to a wide open Nic Taratuta who layed one in at the buzzer.
“One thing that we need to continue working on is matching the intensity for four quarters. We know we’re capable in spurts to do things, but I think we have to get out of the fact of let’s get out doing things in spurts and I know basketball is a game of runs, but I’d like to see us have intensity for four quarters,” Hillman coach Eric Muszynski said. “I’m not trying to nitpick my guys or anything, but if we want to get to a particular level, we definitely have to come to play right off the get go because as the season goes on and lights get brighter, you have to bring that intensity from tip to finish.”
The Tigers opened the second quarter with two more three-pointers to open up a 24-11 lead.
“When we executed we looked good and we were controlling the game in a lot of aspects when we did, but the pressure made us turn the ball over and the turnovers have been our issue all year and we have to continue working to try and fix that issue,” Rogers City coach Matt Ponik said. “It’s part of our youth, learning to play against the pressure and that’s what we continue to do. We are learning.”
The Hurons continued to try and keep pace with Hillman throughout the first half, but the Tigers always had an answer and took a 33-20 lead into the break.
“If we could erase about eight minutes where things went bad it might have been different, but that’s what a good team like Hillman does. They force you into bad situations and you have to respond and react in the correct way,” Ponik said. “I’m proud of the way my guys fought and we did do a lot of things right tonight. We just need to continue to build.”
Both teams went back and forth in the third quarter, but the momentum shifted on the final play as the Tigers beat the buzzer yet again when Jared Juergens buried a three to put Hillman ahead 47-33.
The Tigers built off of that momentum and dominated the fourth quarter as Brandon Banks put the game away with eight early points in the quarter to help Hillman cruise to another big win.
“The biggest thing is staying loose. I noticed that some of our guys tonight weren’t playing as loose and I don’t think it has anything to do with that number two ranking, but it does have a little bit to do with where you want to go,” Muszynski said. “We have a good problem here. We have the opportunity to go far if we do things right. We have a senior laden team and these guys are used to being apart of a program that is ranked in the state. The biggest thing is just to keep guys loose and everything else takes care of itself.”
Juergens led all scorers with a game high 20 points, Billy Kolcan added 11 points, Banks finished with 10 points and Taratuta, Ethan Holford and Andrew Funk each chipped in six points apiece in the winning effort.
Rogers City was paced by freshman Nick Freel and junior Ethan Hincka who each had 10 points on the night. J.D. Ellenberger added eight points and Zane Grzesikowski chipped in with six.
The Hurons fall to 1-7 overall on the year and 0-6 in North Star League play.
Rogers City will be back in action on Monday when it travels to Onaway who the Hurons have their lone win of the season against.
Hillman improved to 5-0 in league play and will travel to Au Gres on Tuesday.
——
HILLMAN (67): G. Steinke 2 0-0 4; B. Hunt 1 0-0 2; A. Funk 2 2-2 6; B. Banks 3 4-4 10; B. Kolcan 5 0-0 11; J. Juergens 7 1-5 20; M. Hunt 1 0-0 2; E. Holford 2 2-2 6; N. Taratuta 3 0-0 6.
ROGERS CITY (45): L. Tulgestke 1 0-0 2; N. Freel 3 3-4 10; E. Hincka 3 4-5 10; P. Grambau 2 4-6 8; J. Ellenberger 2 2-2 8; K. Budnick 1 1-2 1; Z. Grzesikowski 2 2-2 6.
Jonny Zawacki can be reached via email at jzawacki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.