Quest for conference title comes down to last three league games

The Grayling Vikings took one step forward and one step backward last week during their hunt for a Lake Michigan Conference championship in varsity boys basketball, winning 67-55 vs. Harbor Springs on Tuesday night and falling 71-59 vs. Elk Rapids on Friday.

A few games ago, the Vikings were tied with Boyne City and Traverse City St. Francis for first place in the league. Elk Rapids was a close second to the three teams at the top. With a series of losses, Boyne City has fallen to fourth place in the conference at 8-4 in league play. Grayling, after last week’s games, was in third place at 8-3. Elk Rapids was second at 9-3, and St. Francis had the top spot at 10-2. Going into this week, the Vikings still had three games vs. league opponents (St. Francis, East Jordan, Kalkaska) left on their schedule. If they win all three, they are guaranteed at least a share of the Lake Michigan Conference title.

During Friday’s game at Elk Rapids, the Elks led 24-18 at the end of the first quarter. Grayling trailed 13-4 early in the period after Elk Rapids hit three three-point baskets, but the Vikings battled back to pull within six.

First quarter highlights for GHS included jump shots by Spencer White and Trey Moffit, seven points by Troy Summers, a lay-up by Christian Artress, a three-pointer by Justin Nicholas, and two free throws from Brent Weismiller.

At halftime, the Vikings trailed by five, 37-32.

Summers had eight points for the Vikings in the second period (six from the free throw line). Moffit hit a three-pointer. White and Nicholas also scored for Grayling in the second quarter.

The Elks outscored the Vikings 7-2 early in the third period to push their lead to double digits, 44-34.

An 8-0 run by Grayling – a series that featured five points by Summers and a three-pointer by Moffit – cut the Elk rapids lead to two, 44-42, with 3:17 left in the third period.

In the last three minutes of the third quarter, Grayling scored seven points with three free throws from White and two inside shots by Summers.

Going into the final eight minutes of regulation, Elk Rapids had a 52-49 lead.

The Elks scored nine of the fourth quarter’s first 11 points to lead by 10, 61-51.

Grayling scored six unanswered points with an inside shot by Summers, a lay-up by Moffit, and free throws from Summers and Moffit.

The Vikings trailed by four, 61-57, with 3:24 left in the game.

Elk Rapids scored on two inside shots. With 1:55 left in regulation, the Elks made two shots from the free throw line. Two more free throws by the Elks gave Elk Rapids a 69-57 advantage with 1:18 left in the fourth period.

Grayling shot and missed from three-point range and the Elks got the rebound. The Elks made two more free throws down the stretch, extending their lead to 14, 71-57.

Louis Cotton hit two free throws for Grayling in the final seconds.

Elk Rapids won by 12, 71-59.

“We definitely struggled to get any sustained momentum going in this game. We started out very slow at both ends of the court in the first quarter, but fought our way back into the game in the second. We cut the lead to a basket in the fourth quarter, but came down four straight possessions without cashing in,” Coach Rich Moffit said.  

Summers finished the game with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. Moffit had 11 points and five rebounds.

The Vikings (12-4 overall, 8-3 league) will host the Kalkaska Blazers on Friday, Feb. 24. On Monday, Feb. 27, Grayling will play at East Jordan in a league game originally scheduled for Feb. 10.