Pack Prevails In A Thriller

Schmidt keys comeback in 2 OT win
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Fremont 75 Newaygo 71 (2OT)
The Packers and Lions put on a show for a packed house of appreciative fans  Friday night as the game took a pair of overtimes to decide on the outcome.
Fremont started strong pushing to a 18-9 lead after one and going to intermission with a ten point advantage,
The second half saw the full court pressure of the visitorss beginning to take its toll on the Packers forcing turnovers and slicing the lead to a single digit heading into the final frame.
In the 4th Newaygo’s pressure continued to be effective and the Lions pulled into the lead by a midway through the period and increased it to a half dozen but with about a minute left in regulation a steal put it in the hands of Ben Schmidt who halved the lead with a triple.
Fremont fouled and the Lions could not convert and with just a few seconds left in regulation Calvin Miller took a pass and launched a game tying three pointer at the buzzer.
The Lions jumped out to a 4 point edge in the first OT but Schmidt was relentless for the Pack as he scored and delivered several key passes including a late bucket by Micah Whittle, but it was sharpshooter Bailey Baddis who popped in the shot from beyond the arc to send it to the second overtime.
Once again the Lions grabbed the advantage in the second extra session but Schmidt hit one for the tie and Wyatt Kaastra launched one from downtown that found the rim to put the Packers in front.
Forced to foul, the Lions put Schmidt at the line with 5 seconds left and he converted to finish off an exciting contest between a pair of tough teams.
Schmidt finished with 10 assists and 14 points while Logan Karnemaat ripped the nets fro 19 grabbed 11 boards and rejected a quintet of Newaygo shots before fouling out with 2 ½ minutes left in regulation.
Connor Swinehart battled in the paint collecting a game high 22 points and 14 rebounds. Mitch Karrip hit for 16, Morgan Manlick finished with 11 and Jacob Polasek added 8.
“What a wild and fun high school basketball game,” said Packer Coach Pete Zerfas.  "So many kids from both side played their hearts out and it was a back and forth slugfest.”
“We missed our chances late in regulation” said Lion Coach Joe Barrette .”Credit goes to Fremont for making more plays down the stretch.”
The win keeps Fremont (5-2, 4-1) in a tie for the top spot in the Gold. They will host Grant on Tuesday while Newaygo (2-3, 4-3) will welcome in Tri County.