GRAYLING – Times have turned tough lately for the Grayling boys basketball team following a four-game winning streak that had the Vikings looking at a big stretch run.
But, the wheels have started to wobble a little on the Viking caravan after they lost their third game in a row, 60-46 on Friday night, Feb. 11.
It dropped the Vikings’ record to 8-7 overall on the season, and 4-6 in the Lake Michigan Conference.
Boyne City won its second straight game and raised its record on the season to 10-4 overall and 6-4 in the LMC, where the Ramblers are third behind league leader Traverse City St. Francis (13-1 overall, 10-0 LMC) and Elk Rapids (9-4 overall, 8-2 LMC).
“We came out very slow, unfocused and undisciplined,” Vikings head coach Larry Mead said. “We didn’t put the ball through the hoop, and Boyne took a big first half lead.
“After struggling to execute our stuff in the first half, we put together a nice third quarter, but it was a little it too late at that point.
“In the fourth quarter we had it down to eight, but we were fouling at the end.”
The Vikings managed to score just three points in the first quarter and trailed by 12 points, 15-3 at the buzzer. Boyne outscored Grayling, 12-10 in the second period and entered the halftime break with a 27-13 lead.
Grayling caught some fire in the third period offensively and outscored the Ramblers, 27-17 but still was looking at a 10-point deficit, 44- 34 entering the fourth quarter. Boyne City finished with a 16-12 advantage over the final eight minutes.
“Usually we start fast and start well, and then struggle in the third quarter,” said Mead. “Every practice, we’re working to get better and we’ve put in a lot of stuff.
“We just flat out didn’t execute our stuff, and played a little individual ball in that first quarter and thus the three points. We flipped the switch at halftime, and we clearly were able to light a fire there.
“The disappointing thing is our guys really came out with a lot of energy, and when the ball didn’t fall through the hoop they kind of got frustrated and left what we did. That can’t happen.”
Caleb Caul paced the Vikings with 18 points, while Dylan Cragg contributed 16.
Boyne City was led by Alex Caleaterra with 15 points, while Jack Neer scored 14 and Mason Wilcox added 11.
Grayling is next scheduled to play at Charlevoix on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
