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BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS! Jets Win In O.T. Again!!
 ESCANABA----The North Central High School boys basketball team keeps living on the edge as these playoffs continue. But, the Jets keep on living. North Central won its second straight overtime game Wednesday night, beating the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans, 58-55, in the Class D regional championship game. 
NCA's Tyer Polfus (4) and FP Austin Snell.
"The seniors stepped up in the right moments," NCA Head Coach Adam Mercier said. "They hit some big shots, made some big defensive stops, got some key rebounds. Made some free throws down the stretch which were really big." "I couldn't be prouder of the kids." The game was close all night, with neither team grabbing a lead bigger than six points. "Crystal Falls is a good team and it was a physical game," NCA junior Rob Granquist said. "We barely came out with the win. Trevor Ekberg stepped up and that was huge for us."  
Trojans miss two chances to force a second overtime.
In the fourth quarter, senior Tyler Polfus scored on a back-door cut to put the Jets ahead, 42-39, with 3:55 to play. But the Trojans put together a mini-run of their own, with Austin Carlson scoring from underneath with 2:38 left to give his team a 44-42 lead. 
Trevor Ekberg drains the three in overtime.
He made the free throw with 1:06 left to tie the game at 47-47. It was still tied, at 49-49, in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The Trojans called time out, and worked for the final shot. But as Jeff Johnson drove in the corner on NCA's Josh Granquist, Johnson was called for an offensive foul. The Jets did not score, so we went to overtime. And the biggest play of the game came from Ekberg. With the score tied at 53-53 in OT, Ekberg spotted up and drained a three. "He carried us," Mercier said. "Our offense was a little stale in the first half and Trevor was able to do enough to carry us. He played an outstanding game." 
Trevor Ekberg gets 3 in OT; Dan Nocerini answers
CFFP freshman Daniel Nocerini answered with a driving layup to make it 56-55, then at the other end, Rob Granquist buried a couple of free throws to make it a 58-55 lead. Crystal Falls had a chance to force a second overtime with a late three. 
CFFP freshman Dan Nocerini (20) drives on Jets senior Travis Vincent (24).
But CFFP's Lee Graff intercepted that pass at half court, and got it to Snell in the corner for a tying three. It missed. And the Jets celebrated their second straight regional championship. "We're running the gauntlet right now," Mercier said. "The kids are physically exhausted. But we'll head back to practice tomorrow and get prepared for the next challenge." Ekberg led the Jets with 25 points, while Vincent added 11 and Martin scored nine. Forest Park (20-4) got 16 points from Carlson before he fouled out. Graff scored 13. North Central (25-0) faces Cedarville (22-2) in the state quarterfinals next Tuesday night in Marquette. Cedarville beat Hillman, 63-57, to win a regional title Wednesday. 
CFFP's Jeff Johnson called for charge at end of 4th qtr
"They have a three-headed monster out there that we have to contend with." "They're gonna be fast," Rob Granquist said of Cedarville. "We're gonna have to get back on defense. It should be a fun one." 
NCA's Rob Granquist post-game comments
This will be a rematch of last year's quarterfinal, which was won by North Central. The quarterfinal game is scheduled for next Tuesday night at 6CT/7ET in Marquette. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, and to listen to post-game interviews.  |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
12/9 |
8:00 PM |
at Stephenson Eagles
|
94 - 47 (W)
|
1-0
|
12/12 |
7:30 PM |
at Rapid River Rockets
|
79 - 34 (W)
|
2-0
|
12/16 |
7:00 PM |
Republic-Michigamme Hawks
|
78 - 25 (W)
|
3-0
|
12/19 |
8:00 PM |
Carney-Nadeau Wolves
|
93 - 56 (W)
|
4-0
|
12/28 |
7:00 PM |
Stephenson Eagles
|
70 - 28 (W)
|
5-0
|
1/11 |
3:00 PM |
at Superior Central Cougars
|
87 - 55 (W)
|
6-0
|
1/13 |
8:00 PM |
Rapid River Rockets
|
64 - 39 (W)
|
7-0
|
1/16 |
8:00 PM |
Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
68 - 53 (W)
|
8-0
|
1/18 |
3:00 PM |
at North Dickinson Nordics
|
59 - 45 (W)
|
9-0
|
1/21 |
7:30 PM |
at Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
89 - 56 (W)
|
10-0
|
1/24 |
7:45 PM |
at Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
84 - 41 (W)
|
11-0
|
1/31 |
8:00 PM |
Forest Park Trojans
|
63 - 50 (W)
|
12-0
|
2/4 |
7:00 PM |
at Republic-Michigamme Hawks
|
53 - 28 (W)
|
13-0
|
2/5 |
8:00 PM |
at Carney-Nadeau Wolves
|
71 - 70 (W)
|
14-0
|
2/7 |
7:30 PM |
at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
86 - 63 (W)
|
15-0
|
2/11 |
8:00 PM |
North Dickinson Nordics
|
74 - 42 (W)
|
16-0
|
2/17 |
8:00 PM |
Munising Mustangs
|
45 - 41 (W)
|
17-0
|
2/21 |
8:00 PM |
Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
80 - 50 (W)
|
18-0
|
2/25 |
8:00 PM |
at Forest Park Trojans
|
76 - 64 (W)
|
19-0
|
2/27 |
8:00 PM |
Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
91 - 58 (W)
|
20-0
|
3/3 |
7:00 PM |
at Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
69 - 48 (W)
|
21-0
|
3/5 |
7:00 PM |
North Dickinson Nordics
|
74 - 63 (W)
|
22-0
|
3/7 |
7:00 PM |
at Carney-Nadeau Wolves
|
65 - 57 (W)
|
23-0
|
3/10 |
7:45 PM |
Munising Mustangs
|
54 - 46 (W)
|
24-0
|
3/12 |
7:00 PM |
Forest Park Trojans
|
58 - 55 (W)
|
25-0
|
3/18 |
7:00 PM |
Cedarville Trojans
|
79 - 81 (L)
|
25-1
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