TRAVERSE CITY — It was a great Saturday in northern Michigan, but it wasn’t a great one for four of the five northern Michigan boys basketball teams.
Seven high schools flocked to Traverse City St. Francis to compete alongside the host Gladiators in the second annual Northern Michigan Showcase. Basketball lovers like St. Francis head coach Sean Finnegan more than enjoy days like Saturday.
“I think 100 is too low,” Finnegan said when asked what his excitement level was. “I love being in the gym. This is Christmastime for me.”
The first of the four-game slate started with McBain (15-2, 11-0 Highland, No.4 Division 3) snapping their nine-game win streak with a 58-33 loss to Hamtramck.
“We didn’t execute or set screens. We didn’t move to get open or help ourselves,” McBain head coach Bruce Koopman said.
The Ramblers couldn’t produce against a stout Cosmos defense that threw the kitchen sink at 6-foot-9 Ramblers senior Evan Haverkamp by doubling him anytime he touched the ball. Haverkamp helped the Ramblers take a 16-11 lead in the first quarter by scoring nine of his 16 points.
The wheels fell off for the Ramblers midway through the second quarter as the Cosmos took a 23-22 lead after several lead changes and didn’t give up another lead. The Cosmos led by as many as 20 points in the second half.
Cadillac (15-2, 8-0 Big North) and Wayne Memorial were the second game of the evening, with the Zebras taking down the Vikings, 61-46, and snapping the Vikings’ four-game win streak.
Cadillac head coach Ryan Benzenberg was vocal after the loss, saying there are talented basketball players in northern Michigan despite the outcomes.
“It’s cool for teams outside the northern Michigan area to see the talent that is up here,” Benzenberg said. “The first few games didn’t display that, but there’s a lot of good things happening in northern Michigan, and some of the kids can play. Charlie Howell is one of them.”
Wayne Memorial head coach Steve Brooks went as far as complimenting Howell’s scoring ability. Howell surpassed 1,000 career points in the second quarter — doing so on a slam dunk — and finished with a game-high 29 points.
Wayne Memorial jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a few 2-pointers and a 3-pointer. Vikings junior Grant Williams ended the run by sinking one of his two free throws to make it 7-1.
The Zebras added to the lead with a 2-pointer to make it 9-1 before junior Kyle McGown helped spark a 4-0 run to make it 9-5. The Zebras then rained points to make it 17-11 heading into the second quarter.
Wayne Memorial stepped on the pedal by going on a 6-0 run to start the second, making it 24-11. Howell ended the Zebras’ scoring spree with four points to make it 24-17 — including Howell’s grand slamma jamma.
“I’m a lucky, lucky dude,” said Benzenberg on coaching a player like Howell. “We’re going to miss him when he’s gone. Not only is he a great basketball player, but he’s a great kid with a 4.0, and he knows all of our little Vikings’ names. If you are going to draw up the perfect Cadillac Viking, in my eyes, his name is Charlie Howell.”
The Vikings cut into the Zebras’ lead by making it 26-21 after Howell sunk a corner 3-pointer, but a 7-0 Wayne run made it 34-21 heading into halftime.
The Zebras kept the momentum throughout the second half despite the Vikings making mini runs.
Benzenberg said he wished the Vikings could play Wayne Memorial 10 more times because it would make his squad better.
“We talked about at some point we’re going to play a team that we’re going to have to steal one,” Benzenberg said. “If Vegas is giving numbers, we’re going to be the underdog, and I think a team like this can help us be ready.”
Traverse City Central (3-14, 3-5 Big North) and Detroit Cass Tech was the third game of the evening, with D1 No.2-ranked Technicians defeating the Trojans 87-43.
Sophomore Brendan Slack led things for the Trojans with 18 points, followed by senior Anthony Ribel — in his second straight start since missing several weeks with an injury — tacking in 11 points.
With less than two weeks remaining, the McBain, Traverse City Central and Cadillac coaches are using the Northern Michigan Showcase losses as learning lessons for teams they could face if they are to make a deep postseason run.
The Vikings host Reed City on Tuesday, the Ramblers return to Traverse City St. Francis to face the Gladiators on Tuesday, and the Trojans host Midland on Tuesday for their last home game of the regular season.
The host Gladiators and visiting Glen Lake Lakers capped off the night of action with the Lakers getting the 13-point win.
NoMI SHOWCASE
Glen Lake 55
TC St. Francis 42
Traverse City St. Francis: Max Ogden 17 points; Chris Bobrowski 12 points; Harrison Shepherd 5 points.
Glen Lake: Jacob Plamondon 31 points, 16 rebounds; Benji Allen 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; Gage Baker 4 points, 2 rebounds; Dylan Cundiff 5 points, 4 rebounds.
UP NEXT: The Lakers (14-3, 9-1 Northwest) host Kingsley on Tuesday. The Glads (9-8, 8-5 Lake Michigan) host McBain on Tuesday.