Big runs in 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarters help lead Vikings past Blazers 65-42

The Grayling Vikings, during Friday night’s varsity boys basketball game against the Kalkaska Blazers, had a 12-1 run in the second period, a 14-0 run in the third quarter, and a 10-0 run to start the fourth period, building a lead of more than 20 points on their way to a 65-42 victory.

Grayling led 14-9 after one quarter of play. Spencer White scored eight of Grayling’s first 14 points. Trey Moffit hit a three-pointer for GHS early in the first quarter. Troy Summers also scored three points for the Vikings in the period.

Kalkaska hit two free throws early in the second quarter. Summers scored on an inside shot. The Blazers connected on a three-point basket. Summers made an inside shot for the Vikings. Kalkaska hit another triple. Grayling scored four points with a drive by White and free throws from Christian Artress and Sam Davis. The Blazers hit a three-pointer at the 4:36 mark, cutting Grayling’s lead to two, 22-20.

A 12-1 run by the Vikings put Grayling up by 13, 34-21. The series included an inside shot by Summers, an inside shot by Moffit, a three-pointer by Justin Nicholas, a drive by White, and a three-pointer by Moffit.

At halftime, the Vikings had a 36-23 advantage.

Grayling had a 14-0 run in the third quarter, extending its lead to as many as 24 points. The 14-0 run featured a three-point play by Summers, an inside shot by Summers, a dunk by Summers, a drive by White, another inside shot by Summers, one free throw from Nicholas, and a drive by Brent Weismiller.

Going into the fourth period, Grayling led 52-31.

The Vikings opened the fourth quarter with 10 unanswered points, scoring on a three-point play, a drive by Summers, one free throw from Summers, one free throw from White, one free throw from Nick Hunter, and two free throws from Davis. Grayling scored three more points in the game with a triple by Louis Cotton.

The final score was Grayling 65, Kalkaska 42.

“I was pleased with our effort at the defensive end of the court tonight. I thought our guys did a pretty solid job of stopping dribble penetration and contesting shots, especially in the second half of the game. Offensively, very pleased with the way that we shared the basketball and pushed it in transition,” Coach Rich Moffit said.

Summers finished the game with 23 points and 15 rebounds. White had 20 points and eight rebounds.

“Troy Summers and Spencer White were outstanding in the game. The two seniors combined for 43 points and played well on the defensive end of the court. Trey Moffit was solid from the floor, hitting 75 percent of his shots. Justin Nicholas, fighting the flu, had a game high six assists and sparked us. Christian Artress was really good defensively and played a solid floor game. Sam Davis, Brent Weismiller, and Nick Hunter played good all around games. Louis Cotton, battling the flu, hit a deep three from the corner,” Coach Moffit said.  

One thing to work on as the squad approaches the playoffs?

“We need to improve our free throw shooting. We have been shooting just under 70 percent from the line this year, but we hit only 11 of 24 in this game,” Coach Moffit said.    

The Vikings (13-5 overall, 9-4 league) will play against the Kalkaska Blazers at Kalkaska High School at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 6, in a District 63-B round one tournament game. The winner of the contest will play at Sault Ste. Marie at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, in the semifinals. The district championship game will be played at Cheboygan, Kingsley, or Sault Ste. Marie, depending on which squads make it to the finals, at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 10.

 

Lake Michigan Conference

Boys Basketball

St. Francis..................12-2 (13-5)

Elk Rapids..................10-3 (13-5)

Grayling........................9-4 (13-5)

Boyne City....................9-4 (11-6)

Harbor Springs...............6-8 (9-8)

Charlevoix....................5-9 (6-12)

Kalkaska.....................3-11 (3-15)

East Jordan................0-13 (3-15)

 

Last week’s scores:

Kalkaska 72, East Jordan 52

Boyne City 63, East Jordan 53

Elk Rapids 50, Charlevoix 49

Harbor Springs 56, Kalkaska 48

St. Francis 60, Grayling 57

Charlevoix 70, East Jordan 45

Grayling 65, Kalkaska 42

St. Francis 67, Harbor Springs 41