Local Sports: Rasor's clutch free throws help Whiteford top Ida in OT

OTTAWA LAKE – Shea Ruddy gave Whiteford a three-point lead with 41 seconds left and Luke Rasor iced the game by going 4-for-4 from the line in the final six seconds to lift the Bobcats to a 54-49 overtime win over Ida.

The Bobcats led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter but Ida took advantage of some untimely turnovers to claw back into the game.

Ida’s A.J. Schrader got a steal with just over a minute left in regulation and the Blue Streaks worked the ball inside to Carter Diedrich for a game-tying field goal with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats held the ball the final 61 seconds but couldn’t get a clean look at the basket and the game went into overtime.

Ida never led in overtime.

Ruddy grabbed a steal quickly after Ida won the overtime tip and converted a layup to make it 46-44. Kirby Carsten tied the game at 46-46 before Ruddy made a pair of free throws with 3:03 left to give the Bobcats a lead they would never relinquish.

Ida was able to pull within 48-47 on a free throw by Nathan Miller and 50-49 on a free throw by Carsten, but Rasor grabbed the rebound on the second attempt, was fouled and made a pair of free throws for a 52-49 lead.

After a timeout, Ida threw the ball inbounds and Rasor stepped in front of a pass for a steal, was fouled, and made both shots with :01 seconds left to secure the win.

"He played big the whole game," Whiteford head coach Nick Abalos said of Rasor. "He helped us get a lead and helped us be tough down low against the giants. When it was time to put the game away, it was him. I was very proud of him."

Rasor finished with 19 points while Ruddy and Evan Parker each scored 12.

It was Whiteford’s first win over Ida since 2014. The Bobcats have won seven straight games and are at rival Summerfield Tuesday before a TCC showdown with Erie Mason Friday.

Ida’s Carsten scored 12 points and Tyler Robertson 10, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Ida has dropped three straight and is 5-7.

Owen Snyder scored 15 points and Jacob Towne added 12 as Ida won the junior varsity game 53-42.

WHITEFORD: S. Ruddy 4 4-8 12, Joerin 3 0-0 6, DeBarr 1 2-4 4, Rasor 5 (2) 5-5 19, Parker 4 4-4 12, Masserant 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 (2) 16-23 54.

IDA: Robertston 4 (2) 0-0 10, Miller 1 2-4 4, Kukiiela 2 (1) 1-2 6, Schrader 4 1-2 9, Hemry 1 (1) 1-2 4, Diedrich 2 0-0 4, Carsten 5 2-4 12. Totals 17 (4) 7-18 49.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mason falls short

ERIE – Erie Mason, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Carson Brown, suffered a 50-46 loss to Riverview Gabriel Richard Saturday night.

Brown is out with an ankle injury. The Eagles hope to have him back Friday when they host Whiteford in a showdown for first place in the Tri-County Conference.

Alex Langenderfer and Casey Brown scored 11 points each to lead the 7-4 Eagles, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Mason won the junior varsity game in overtime as Logan Goodin scored 18 points, Anthony Crooks 11, and Karter Stubleski netted 5 points in OT.

RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD: Sobush 3 (1) 3-7 10, Bennett 2 1-3 5, Westerdale 4 (1) 0-3 9, Kage 5 (1) 3-9 14, Everingham 3 (2) 2-2 10, Lasko 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 (3) 9-24 50.

ERIE MASON: Langenderfer 5 (1) 0-1 11, Casey Brown 3 2-2 11, Iocoangeli 3 (2) 0-1 8, Knopp 1 2-2 4. Totals 14 (8) 6-9 46.

BOXING

Venier headed to nationals

TOLEDO – St. Mary Catholic Central student Jeff Venier, 15, is headed to the Silver Gloves Nationals.

The 119-pounder won the championship of a Regional that covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania by winning a unanimous decision over Ohio state champ Adam Salaz on Friday.

“He looked good,” said his coach Todd Riggs of Joe’s ALCC Boxing Club. “He won every round. He hit him with some really good body shots. He’s been working on power and his speed has increased.”

Venier will compete in the nationals Feb. 9 in Independence, Mo.

PREP SWIMMING

Monroe places second

WAYNE – Monroe scored 241 points to take second to South Lyon (520) in the Wayne Invitational Saturday.

“Every boy swam very well this weekend,” Monroe coach Erin Dowen said.

Divers Leo Alcantara and Vish Joshi took second and third and freshman Josh Riggs took two thirds.

Kennedy, Heikka go 1-2

DEXTER – Sam Kennedy was first in the individual medley and Ben Heikka took second to highlight Milan’s day in the Dexter Invitational.

Gavin Kruise won the 50-yard freestyle and swam with Zach Heikka, Parker Prior, and Kennedy on the winning 200 relay.

Other Milan standouts were Steven Gottardi, Matthew Johnson, Samuel Klein, Davis Vandergrift, Gunnar Kruise, Landen Ison, Cooper Kimberly, Bohdan Boichuk, Evan Miller, and Elias Hobbs.

WRESTLING

Clarkston nips Dundee

HUDSON – Clarkston, ranked No. 5 in Division 1, scored 288 points to nip Dundee by 3.5 and win the Hudson Super 16 Tournament Saturday.

Airport placed 11th with 117 and Ida 15th with 107.

Kade Kluce (120), Cameron Chinavare (126), Braeden Davis (132), Blake Cosby (144), and Aiden Davis (150) were Dundee’s champions.

The Vikings also got seconds from Haydn Nutt (106), Kaden Chinavare (138), and Kole Katschor (157), thirds from Braden Broderick (113), Jeremy Amrhein (120), and Trey Parker (144), and fourths from Mason Haines (106) and Donny Beaufait (132).

Jack Mills of Airport was the 157-pound champion. He beat Lee Braun of Grand Rapids Christian (No. 3 in Division 3) in the quarterfinals then avenged his only loss of the season by beating Katschor (No. 1 in Division 3) 5-2 in the finals.

“It was really awesome to see Jack beat two really high-level opponents and avenge his only loss of the season.” Airport coach Jon Morris said. “He wrestled with a lot of confidence. It’s a great step moving forward with the postseason around the corner.”

Chase Johnson (285) and Isaac Kemp (175) placed fifth for the Jets.

Izaiah Machuca took the B title at 165 pounds, Tristen Thornsberry (157) and Kaden Gerth (150) were second, and Trevor Konieczny (132) third.

Dundee also sent wrestlers to the Napoleon Invitational where Rocco Redmon (144) won a championship and Camden Fairchild (132), Pryce Johnson (138), and Owen Motylinski (150) took third.

Bears suffer first loss

LAKE FENTON – Jefferson dropped a 34-33 heartbreaker to the host team in the finals of the Lake Fenton Team Tournament Saturday.

It was the first loss of the season for the 13-1 Bears, who reached the finals with wins over Saginaw Swan Valley 61-14, Tecumseh 58-6, Milford 63-14, and Byron 78-0.

Seth Minney (190) earned his 100th career win for Jefferson. He was 5-0 along with Tyler Vanderpool (113), John Allen (138), and Nathen Masserant (215).

Daniel Allen (106), Isaac Masserant (120), Ryder Mulherin (132), Carter Simota (144), and Martre Pearson (165) went 4-1.

SMCC wins four

WILLIS – St. Mary Catholic Central crafted a 4-1 record Saturday at the Ypsilanti Lincoln Railsplitter Duals Saturday.

The Falcons beat Grosse Ile 43-42, Ypsilanti 60-12, Detroit Cristo Rey 60-12, and Flat Rock 43-25. They fell 45-33 to Bedford B.

“We definitely have a lot to work on, but the improvement is steady and it’s fun to see,” SMCC coach Nick Eby said.

MaryAlice Lynch (106), Michael Lynch (144), and Philbert Dietrich (175) went 5-0 for the Falcons, Chase Missler (126) 4-0, and Caleb Totten (132) 4-1.

Bedford goes 3-2

HOLT – Bedford beat Portage 54-16, Grand Haven 51-15, and Parma Jackson County Western 68-12 in Saturday’s Holt Invitational before falling 60-17 to Hartland, which is ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 1.

The Mules then fell 31-27 to the host team.

Nathan Gerber (126) and Chase Norbury (285) had pins against Hartland and Vincent Cole (106) won by technical fall.

Downs, Marentette second

WILLIAMSTON – Jason Downs (120) and Wyatt Marentette (215) took second place for New Boston Huron Saturday at the 60th Jim Mooney Williamston Classic.

Josh Buettner (285) placed third and Daniel Hubbard (165) and Eric Radulescu (126) were fourth.

Huron placed fifth in the team standings with 111.5 points. Allendale won the event with 197.

PREP HOCKEY

SMCC overpowered

TRENTON – Novi scored five times in the third period to pull away for an 11-3 win over St. Mary Catholic Central Saturday.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Rasor's clutch free throws help Whiteford top Ida in OT