|
DREAM SEASON ROLLS ON!
 SAULT STE. MARIE---They weren't supposed to win either of their conferences. They weren't supposed to win their district. They certainly weren't supposed to win their regional. And the Carney-Nadeau boys basketball team most certainly wasn't supposed to beat the Pellston Hornets in the Class D state quarterfinal game Tuesday night in Sault Ste. Marie. But the Wolves keep doing what they're not supposed to do. Carney-Nadeau made 14 three-point baskets and played an aggressive defense to turn back the second-ranked team in all of Michigan, 72-56, to earn the school's first-ever trip to the Final Four at Michigan State University. "It is an unreal feeling," Carney-Nadeau Coach Jake Polfus said. "I don't think everything has quite yet sunk in. When we heard the fans start chanting 'Breslin Bound', it was an unbelievable feeling." "We're just proving people wrong time and time again," Carney-Nadeau senior captain Lucas Moreau said. "A small school like Carney from the U.P., going to the Breslin Center? I mean, it's awesome!" The Wolves were not intimidated by the size of the Pellston players, and they certainly weren't in awe of senior Chris Hass. The Bucknell University recruit was named the Associated Press Class D Player of the Year earlier in the day, and was averaging 31 points a game coming into Tuesday night. Hass ended up with 30 points, but had very few easy shots as several Wolves players took turns defending him. Things didn't look good early as Pellston raced to a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Hass and fellow 1,000-pointer Andy Hamlin both had three-point baskets during that first eight minutes. But in the second quarter, the Wolves turned up the defense, allowing the Hornets just six points...total. Wade Schetter hit two three-pointers and Keenan Lampinen added a trey of his own, and Carney-Nadeau was down just 23-21 at halftime. You could just feel the team's confidence build when Schetter drained two more three's to start the second half, putting the Wolves ahead, 27-23. The Wolves had the Pellston Hornets in a bind??? "We had to make sure to box them out and stay behind them in the post," Polfus said. "Almost everything went through Hamlin and Hass, and I thought our kids did an excellent job of team-defense tonight." Carney-Nadeau led, 34-29, when Pellston made a run. The Hornets scored seven straight points, with Hass connecting on an old-fashioned three-point play. Pellston (23-2) had the momentum, and was leading, 36-34. But the Wolves did not falter. Schetter stepped up to drain another three-pointer with 23 seconds left in the quarter, and then after a Hornet free throw tied the game, Lampinen buried a three from the left corner at the third quarter buzzer. Leading 40-37 to start the fourth quarter, Carney's defense caused several turnovers and the shooting stayed hot. Pellston collapsed on Schetter from there (he had seven three's at that point of the game), so the Wolves simply moved the ball around. Lucas Moreau for three. Good! Lampinen for another three. Good! Moreau for a hook shot between two big kids. Good! Moreau another three. Good! Lampinen another three. Good! Carney led, 54-42, and reality started sinking in to the Pellston fans, many of whom appeared to be stunned. From that point, the Hornets were forced to foul, and the Wolves kept knocking down charity shots. Lampinen's four free throws in a row were the final nail in Pellston's coffin at 63-52 with 1:19 left. And then Moreau made his shots in the final seconds after a flagarant foul was called when a Pellston player threw Moreau into the scorer's table. "We're never the tallest, the fastest, the strongest," Moreau said, shaking off the shove into the table. "But we play with a lot of heart. It gets us through. We're used to doubters and non-believers. We use it as motivation." Schetter led the way with 30 points, including seven three's. Lampinen, a sophomore, had a career-high 18, with four three's. And Moreau, the senior captain, had 18, with three three's. Carney made 14 of 43 three-point baskets, as Coach Polfus stuck with the game plan of "living and dying by the three". In fact, the Carney Wolves attempted just 13 two-point baskets all night long. The Wolves did not substitute at all until the final seconds of the game. But those five guys were not worn down at all by the talented Pellston team. And everyone contributed something...a rebound here, a steal there, a forced-turnover. Polfus especially liked Blahnik's defensive effort. "He hasn't been scoring much for us, but the way he takes pride in his defense lately is just tremendous," Polfus said. "He works his tail off every night, and has become one of our top defenders. I can't say enough about how Dionte has been playing defense. That is a huge key to our success." And now, the boys are headed to Lansing. The big show. Izzo Country. "Words can't even explain it," Moreau said. "You work all year for this. We're getting rewarded for our hard work, and it's just great!" Carney-Nadeau (23-2) faces Climax-Scotts (24-1) in the Class D state semifinals Thursday night at the Breslin Center. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and will be streamed live at www.rrnsports.com. |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
3/7 |
6:00 PM |
North Central Jets
|
58 - 57 (W)
|
19-2
|
3/9 |
7:00 PM |
Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
58 - 56 (W)
|
20-2
|
3/13 |
7:00 PM |
Painesdale-Jeffers Jets
|
63 - 42 (W)
|
21-2
|
3/15 |
7:00 PM |
Munising Mustangs
|
57 - 51 (W)
|
22-2
|
3/20 |
7:00 PM |
Pellston Hornets
|
72 - 56 (W)
|
23-2
|
3/22 |
7:50 PM |
Climax-Scotts Panthers
|
44 - 52 (L)
|
23-3
|
