Robinson Helps Jets Soar Past Rapid River, 63-36

Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Hunter Robinson and NCA Coach Mike Malone.

POWERS---The North Central High School boys basketball team wrapped up a perfect 2-0 opening week by dominating the Rapid River Rockets, 63-36, Thursday night in Powers.

Junior Hunter Robinson led the Jets with 20 points, countering the 20 put up by Rockets senior center Kodey Goldi.

The game also saw NCA senior Luke Gorzinski make a brief appearance after leading the NCA football team to a third straight state championship on a bum knee.

North Central was in control the whole way, leading 15-7 after the first quarter, 31-18 at halftime, and doubling up the Rockets, 48-24, after three quarters.

The Jets cleaned up on the glass, and scored multiple baskets in tranition, with Jesse Sampson routinely dishing out assists to the guards on the fast break.

"It was a good rebound game from our last game against Stephenson," Robinson said. "That was a little rough (49-38 win) and our offense wasn't doing quite what we wanted. Coach was NOT very happy. We worked on defense for probably the last two days, and that really showed today, locking down some of their great scorers (Goldi and Ian Sundling). It was good for me to do my part, and for everybody else to get the job done."

"As we kept going, we started running the floor, we started pushing tempo, we found guys in transition, and we took good shots," NCA Coach Mike Malone said. "I think, all in all, our guys played really good defensively as well. Taking everything into consideration, I think we played pretty well tonight. But we've got to figure out how to beat that 1-3-1 (defense). Our guys obviously are not ready to play against a 1-3-1 yet."

Malone, though, was quite happy with Robinson's effort.

"His offensive game really shined tonight," Malone said. "Defensively, he did really well, but offensively, we was playing great basketball. He had a move where he went down left, middle lane, and spun back to the middle and kind of a soft (shot) right off the front of the rim and finished. That's exactly what I need out of him."

"All summer, I've been working hard every day," Robinson said. "Working out, putting tons of hours in the gym. It's nice to see it finally paid off and nice to see a great team that has my back."

Besides his assists, Sampson added 12 points for the NCA offense. Connor Florenski chipped in with eleven points, with eight of those coming in the third quarter. Collin Cordy had seven points and Jake Gorzinski knocked down a pair of triples for six points.

Luke Gorzinski made a cameo appearance in the second quarter to test out that knee which was injured in the football state semifinal game. He led the Jets to the state championship the following week after missing every practice leading up to that game in the Dome, and with limited mobility. Gorzinski had five points Thursday night, knocking down a three-point basket and scoring a transition hoop after accepting a pass from Sampson.

North Central hosts Superior Central Monday night.

Rapid River is home Tuesday night against Bark River-Harris.