Cloud Runs Streak to 10 with rugged road win
Photos by Cassie Rickert Story by Ken De Laat White Cloud 60 Newaygo 57 It was a wild one in Newaygo Friday night, a classic battle between two old rivals that proved to be everything promised. White Cloud came in with an impressive 9 game winning streak not having lost a game since mid December and undefeated on the road since game 2 a couple of months ago. The Cloud still had title aspirations sitting just behind Reed Citywith a single loss in conference play and a late season matchup with the Coyotes looming. The Lions saw their title hopes dashed when they lost to front runner Reed City earlier in the week but a win over their northern neighbors could only help their district seedings. Both teams had a large contingency of fans and seats on both sides of the gym were at a premium. Making the Snowcoming night even more special, the Lion competitive cheer team was on hand and performed some impressive routines for an appreciative crowd. The two student sections were their boisterous selves engaging in a lot of chants that echoed back and forth with intensity not unlike the game taking place on the court. The visitors got on the board quickly as Jared Watson fired in a couple of buckets followed by a Noah Robinson score to give WC a 6-0 start while Newaygo was struggling to get on the board. Coach Long called for a T.O. and finally, halfway through the first after a pair from the stripe by Noah Robinson to make it 8-0, Blake Kerr scored and added one at the line to break the drought. By the end of one the Cloud held a 14-10 lead. The Lions came out strong in the second with Josiah Long burning one from beyond the arc to start a 17-6 run with the visitors only points coming from a pair of Jayson Reuther triples. After Caris Nelson scored to put the Lions up 7, Reuther banged home another three pointer. Nelson split from the line then after a technical was called on Newaygo ( WC was T'd up earlier in the quarter) Watson and Kerr exchanged baskets and the half ended with the hosts holding a 32-27 edge. After intermission the teams exchanged blows in the early third keeping the score steady then a couple of stops and a couple of KJ Strait scores plus a successful trip to the line by Noah Robinson and the score was tied. Long gave the Lions the lead back with a triple but a pair of free throws and a Jayden Robinson basket and the Cloud had their first lead since early in the second. The game got even more physical with a lot of bodies banging for boards and by the time the dust cleared the teams were heading for the final 8 minutes with White Cloud clinging to a 49-47 lead. The 4th was pure madness. Long tripled between a pair of buckets by Kerr and Hunter Yearsovich while Strait and Coleson Cruzan tallied in response. With a 59-55 lead and less than 2 minutes the Cloud took the air out of the ball using their strong passing game to eat up clock. Nelson grabbed a steal and fired it to Kerr to make it a 2 point game but then with time a premium the Lions were forced to foul and had a couple to give before sending WC to the line. They finally got Strait to the stripe where he split the pair giving the Lions a shot at a tie, but the shot failed to find net and the Cloud crowd erupted. Coach Jones: “The energy in the gym was intense and the crowds for both teams were rocking. Proud of my team for the determination they showed tonight. We were lucky to get out of there with a win.” Strait finished with a team high 15 points while Jayden Robinson hit for 13 and Noah Robinson scored 10. Reuther’s 9 points were courtesy of 3 key 3 pointers and Watson finished with 8 including those 2 early buckets. Kerr led the Lions with a game high 18 points and pulled down 9 boards while Long hit for 15. Nelson dished out 7 dimes and grabbed 8 rebounds to go with his 10 points. Newaygo (9-7, 5-3) will host Hart on Wednesday while White Cloud (14-2, 6-1) will welcome in Morley Stanwood on Friday.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories |