By Greg Gielczyk
HOUGHTON LAKE
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Coming back home for a Jack Pine Conference game against Farwell on Friday, Dec. 16 proved just the elixir the Houghton Lake boys basketball team as the Bobcats rolled up a big 79-57 win.
The Bobcats had opened the season with an 0-2 record and when they led by just two, 20-18 after the first quarter it was only natural to wonder if it was going to more of the same. But the Bobcats blew the game open with a 32-10 second quarter for a 52-28 halftime cushion.
Cameron Sidelko had a big game for the Bobcats with an efficient 30 points scored in a variety of ways. Even though he light up the scoreboard, Sidelko didn’t force very much and still got his teammates involved.
“We are still turning the ball over too much and we were disinterested on defense,” Bobcats’ head coach Jeff Goodwin said. “We are doing a good job of guarding the ball, but our off ball defense was not good.
“Some of that is being in a new defensive system, but some of it is a mentality issue. When shots are going in, defense doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Biggest ‘Catch 22’ in basketball. We did some really nice things pushing the ball, driving gaps and shooting from the perimeter. It was a step in the right direction.”
Sanford 63,
Houghton Lake 45
Playing a conference game on the road is always a challenge. But it’s especially so if that place is Sanford Meridian in the Jack Pine Conference. So there was no surprises for the Houghton Lake boys basketball team when the Bobcats tackled that hurdle.
Despite hanging close with Sanford Meridian from the start, Houghton Lake wasn’t able to climb the hill. The Bobcats trailed by nine points at halftime but lost even more ground in the third quarter and eventually lost, 63-45 on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Brock Decker paced the Bobcats attack with 15 points on five-of-eight shooting from the floor, all of those shots coming from beyond the three-point arc.
Cameron Sidelko had one three-point basket and 11 points overall, Seth Brandel contributed seven points with one three, Shawn Mckinley netted six points, John Steckler added five and Jeremy Beauregard chipped in a free throw. Houghton Lake shot 41 of 39 from the field, was eight of 17 from three-point range and made five of eight free throws.
Steckler led the Bobcats’ effort on the boards with eight rebounds, Mckinley grabbed seven and Jackson Blanchard hauled down four. Sidelko picked off two steals, Blanchard and Steckler each had two deflections and Blanchard was a facilitator with eight assists.
“We played well, but they capitalized on every mistake,” Bobcats’ head coach Jeff Goodwin said.
“Offensively, we looked much better. We are not a team that likes to grind it out in the quarter court. We pushed the ball well in transition, and it led to some really good looks for our outside shooters.
“I am proud of how we competed. Three times Meridian gained a lead of 15 or more and we came back. If we want to do more than compete, we have to take care of the little things. Turnovers and offensive rebounds are killing us right now.”
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