Petoskey boys drop to TC West in 2OT, girls redeem themselves vs. Titans
TRAVERSE CITY — Winning a boys basketball title in the Big North Conference is one heck of a badge.
Year after year, the grind it takes to get to that point is relentless.
Once again this season, that’s exactly how the league is playing out and it’s something the Petoskey boys’ basketball team is quickly realizing.
After beating Traverse City West by 10 at home just over a week ago, the Northmen turned right back around and headed to the Titans on Thursday, only this time, it didn’t go quite to plan.
For the second time this season, the Northmen took an overtime defeat as West evened the score with Petoskey this season with a 69-67 double overtime win.
It came as Petoskey’s third BNC loss of the season in a stretch where they’ve now gone 1-4 over their last five against some tough teams.
“We have been on a stretch of quality opponents,” Petoskey coach Matt Tamm said afterward. “Two we lost in overtime. We are playing hard. We need to continue to improve on the defensive end and rebounding at both ends of the court.
“It was an entertaining high school game. Both teams battled.”
Thursday’s matchup was a one-point game at each quarter break, to go with the two ties at the end of regulation and the first overtime.
The loss dropped Petoskey to 8-5 overall on the year and 3-3 in the BNC, while West moved to 6-8 and 3-3 in the league as well.
Down late against the Titans in regulation, Petoskey’s Jimmy Marshall nailed a 3-pointer within the final minute to send the Northmen to overtime in a 49-49 game.
Down again in the first overtime, it was Marshall again that hit a 3-pointer for the Northmen, this time at the OT buzzer in a 58-58 game.
There would be no third time’s a charm for Petoskey in the second OT, however.
West led in a 12-11 game after one quarter, then 28-27 at the half. The Titans also led after three, 38-37.
Petoskey’s Cade Trudeau led the way with 23 points, Jimmy Marshall scored 15 for Petoskey and Michael Squires added 11 points, to go with a well played all-around game according to Tamm.
“Michael came through with a strong defensive effort and was relentless on the boards,” said Tamm. “He is providing the leadership we need in these areas.”
West was led by Quentin Gillespie with 19 points, Ben Habers scored 18 and Ian Robertson, Ben Carlson and Lincoln Lockhart all scored 10 each.
The Titans hit 13 3-pointers and shot 12 of 15 from the free throw line.
Petoskey will next take on St. Johns in a Cadillac hosted showcase on Saturday, Jan. 28.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Petoskey 35, TC West 26
TRAVERSE CITY — Thursday night likely couldn’t come soon enough for the Petoskey girls’ basketball team.
Just over a week prior, the Northmen had put one of their worst performances on the court on display when they met up with Traverse City West at home.
On Thursday, Petoskey got a chance to redeem themselves with a trip to the Titans in another Big North Conference doubleheader and redeem they did.
A low scoring game once again, the difference came in Petoskey’s own defense, as they overcame another tough shooting game against the Titans with a 35-26 victory.
The win kept Petoskey atop the Big North with a 5-1 record, two games ahead of Traverse City Central (3-1), while also moved them to 9-6 overall on the season.
The quiet night on the scoreboard started in the first, as Petoskey got out to a 12-5 advantage after one, then led in a 19-12 game at the half.
Petoskey’s Kenzie Bromley then put on an active third quarter to help keep the Northmen ahead after three in a 28-20 game.
It was another quarter of just enough in the fourth for Petoskey and a win on the scoreboard in the end.
Bromley led with 12 points, to go with eight rebounds and a block, Lia Trudeau had eight points and seven rebounds, Caroline Guy had six points, five steals, four assists, three rebounds and two blocks in a do-it-all night, while Grayson Guy also had five rebounds.
Petoskey will next get in a trip to Mount Pleasant (9-4) Tuesday, Jan. 31 for a non-conference meeting. The Oilers have met both Cadillac and West out of the BNC this season, winning both in finals of 54-39 and 36-32, respectively.
Petoskey will also stick to the road next week with a BNC double at Gaylord on Friday, Feb. 3.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey boys drop to TC West in 2OT, girls redeem themselves vs. Titans
