Rapid River Holds Off Big Mid Peninsula Comeback

PERKINS---The Mid Peninsula High School boys basketball team got off to a horrible start Tuesday night, and in the end, despite a huge comeback, the Wolverines fell short on their home court to the Rapid River Rockets, 43-42.

Rapid River built a 15-2 lead after one quarter, and even though Mid Pen tied the game in the final minute, the Rockets emerged with their first victory of the season.

"That first quarter killed us," Mid Peninsula Coach Mark Branstrom said. "These kids played four games on the road and I thought we were pretty-well seasoned coming into tonight."

"But they just came out and laid an egg for the first quarter. We are a much better team than we showed during that first quarter."

The Rockets came out on fire, as Zach Evans, Brody Schroeder, and Josh Parrett all hit three-point shots. Then Schroeder had a hoop in the second period to make it 18-2.

"Those guys played a great game in the first half," Rapid River Coach Rich Poma said. "Second half, we struggled a bit. But they weathered a heck of a storm by Mid Pen."

Rapid River was able to keep its momentum going into halftime, leading 25-13 at the break, as Mason Berglund scored nine points and Schroeder added seven points.

RR's Dan Blair makes two clutch free throws

The game was sloppy at times, and for a while in the third quarter, neither team could score. Rapid River carried a 33-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

"They hit their open shots," Branstrom said. "But we gave them open shots. Those three's were open. The jumpers in the paint were open. But they hit them. Nice shots, nice-looking jump shots, nice-looking shots from the outside. But we can't do that."

The Wolverines then ramped up the defensive pressure, and caused several turnovers that brought them back into the game.

Mid Pen started to pound the ball inside to Damian Richmond, who scored ten of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Richmond's two free throws tied the game at 39-39 in the final minute, but the Rockets got two clutch free throws from Dan Blair to regain a 41-39 lead. The Wolverines misfired on their next two scoring opportunities, and the Rockets took care of business, with Lucas Bero's free throw with 5.9 seconds left making it a 43-39 game.

Duane Englund drained a three at the buzzer for Mid Pen to make it a 43-42 final.

"That was a big shot at the end," Rapid River Coach Rich Poma said of Bero's foul shot. "Thank God Luke made that one, otherwise, we would've been going to overtime, and with this crowd here, I don't think we would have had 'er."

Mid Pen's Dooner Englund scores to make it 21-28

Branstrom said that it was a case of "what might have been" for the Wolverines.

"They put us in the hole early," he said. "We allowed that to happen. We expended a lot of energy in the second quarter, third quarter, just to stay with them, and keep that seperation pretty much the same, at ten, twelve point difference."

Poma was happy that his Rockets were able to hang on through a fourth quarter that saw the Wolverines throw everything they had at them.

"Mid Pen really got after us and created some turnovers," Poma said. "They had a lot of nice plays that they kept scoring on, and a lot of credit to them."

Poma says he was surprised that Branstrom didn't pump up the defense earlier.

"I expected it a lot sooner than that," Poma said. "I told the guys before the game to expect it right off the get-go. So, it was kind of nice to not see."

"But, for the most part, I think our guys handled the pressure when we got into an offensive set. When they scored quick, and the crowd got into it, we got chaotic."

Rapid River (1-4) got 11 points from Craig Martin, while Schroeder and Berglund each added nine points. Mid Pen (0-5) got 17 from Richmond and 13 from Englund.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, and to hear post-game coaches' interviews.