POWERS---Jason Whitens scored 26 points to lead the North Central Jets to a 70-28 win over the Rapid River Rockets Monday night in Powers.
The state's top-ranked Class D team turned a slim 13-9 lead into a 29-13 lead after the first quarter, and then the Jets outscored the Rockets 22-4 in the second quarter to take a 51-17 lead at halftime. NCA did it with tight defense that included several acrobatic steals, and with some razzle-dazzle on offense that included a few no-look passes.
"I wanted to come out of the gates playing good 'team' basketball," NCA Coach Adam Mercier said. "When we played up there the second game of the season, we weren't efficient offensively. So the key tonight was just making sure we passed the ball, have good ball movement, get the ball up the floor, and shoot. Mission accomplished."
"Boy, they are a nice ball club," said Rapid River's Jon Miller, the former girls basketball coach who was filling in for Richard Poma on the bench. "They're well-rounded. They're quick. They've got guard play. They've got interior play. They're rated No. 1 in the state, and for good reason."
Whitens led the way with 26 ;points, leaving him just 29 points shy of 1,000 for his career. And he's only a junior. But Whitens says his teammates deserve the credit.
"It was great. When everyone's in the flow of the game, it's easy to get them in spots to succeed in," Whitens said. "It was just a great overall win. We're used to seeing each other running up and down the floor. We trust each other to get on the ball, and they're gonna go do their thing, or they're gonna make a play. So, it was a great win and very exciting."
Miller tried everything to keep his Rockets in the game, calling three of his time outs in the first half. But the Rockets could not follow up their upset wins over Munising and Gladstone with what would have been an ever bigger upset of the Jets.
"We talked about just being competitive, and not giving up," Miller said. "I don't think we gave up. We played hard. This was just a terrible match-up for us all the way around. You know, their 'bigs' are quicker than our guards. I knew coming in that it would be a tall task to even stay with them for a half. They're just a really nice team."
Miller returned to the bench last week against Engadine in place of Poma, who is in Florida for a wedding. Miller coached more than 300 games with the Rocket girls program, and make several appearances in the Class D finals.
So, how did he feel to be coaching varsity basketball again?
"I enjoyed it," Miller said. "I've always enjoyed being in the gym. (But) I remembered why I got out. The bus ride from Engadine was a late night and nasty roads. That's not a part of the game that I enjoyed. But being in the gym, I like being around the kids."
Mercier says he enjoyed coaching against Miller for the first time.
"That was great," Mercier said. "He's a legendary coach, a Hall-of-Famer. I have the upmost respect for what he's done for the girls program, and just basketball in general in Delta County. I'm sure those kids were delighted to have him."
Besides Whitens' 26 points, NCA got 14 points from Dawson Bilski, 13 from Marcus Krachinski, and 12 points from Bobby Kleiman. Rapid River was led by Logan Hardwick's ten points. George Kanyuh scored six and Craig Martin had five.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from the game, and to hear post-game interviews.
The state's top-ranked Class D team turned a slim 13-9 lead into a 29-13 lead after the first quarter, and then the Jets outscored the Rockets 22-4 in the second quarter to take a 51-17 lead at halftime. NCA did it with tight defense that included several acrobatic steals, and with some razzle-dazzle on offense that included a few no-look passes.
"Boy, they are a nice ball club," said Rapid River's Jon Miller, the former girls basketball coach who was filling in for Richard Poma on the bench. "They're well-rounded. They're quick. They've got guard play. They've got interior play. They're rated No. 1 in the state, and for good reason."
Whitens led the way with 26 ;points, leaving him just 29 points shy of 1,000 for his career. And he's only a junior. But Whitens says his teammates deserve the credit.
"It was great. When everyone's in the flow of the game, it's easy to get them in spots to succeed in," Whitens said. "It was just a great overall win. We're used to seeing each other running up and down the floor. We trust each other to get on the ball, and they're gonna go do their thing, or they're gonna make a play. So, it was a great win and very exciting."
"We talked about just being competitive, and not giving up," Miller said. "I don't think we gave up. We played hard. This was just a terrible match-up for us all the way around. You know, their 'bigs' are quicker than our guards. I knew coming in that it would be a tall task to even stay with them for a half. They're just a really nice team."
Miller returned to the bench last week against Engadine in place of Poma, who is in Florida for a wedding. Miller coached more than 300 games with the Rocket girls program, and make several appearances in the Class D finals.
So, how did he feel to be coaching varsity basketball again?
"I enjoyed it," Miller said. "I've always enjoyed being in the gym. (But) I remembered why I got out. The bus ride from Engadine was a late night and nasty roads. That's not a part of the game that I enjoyed. But being in the gym, I like being around the kids."
"That was great," Mercier said. "He's a legendary coach, a Hall-of-Famer. I have the upmost respect for what he's done for the girls program, and just basketball in general in Delta County. I'm sure those kids were delighted to have him."
Besides Whitens' 26 points, NCA got 14 points from Dawson Bilski, 13 from Marcus Krachinski, and 12 points from Bobby Kleiman. Rapid River was led by Logan Hardwick's ten points. George Kanyuh scored six and Craig Martin had five.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from the game, and to hear post-game interviews.
