Boys blow the game out in the 4th quarter leading to a 75–49 victory
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Nolan Morse
Saturday morning’s Holiday Hoopla tournament game started off with domination from Tuscola senior guard Logan Kurtz. With the ability to make any shot on the court, Kurtz scored with ease accounting for the Warriors’ first 11 points.
With that being typical of every Warrior blow-out win, you’d expect this game to be over already but the Warriors only ended the first quarter with a one-basket lead. The reason for this: eight team fouls in one quarter alone. This hindered any momentum from being started and allowed Oakwood to live at the free throw line where they would score most of their first quarter points. Adding to the fact, despite Kurtz dominance, the rest of the team was having trouble getting started, missing many clean looks inside and committing 6 turnovers. All these things combined led to the Warriors entering the second quarter up 15–13.
The second quarter would be an entirely different story. The team’s points began to come from all around the court with multiple different contributors. Tanner Block would come off the bench and engulf the game with two straight threes completely shifting momentum. Senior Kaden Chenoweth rattled off 8 straight points including a buzzer-beating layup to end the half. Chenworth bodied his defender in the paint scoring multiple easy buckets with fundamental big man moves. This team-centered quarter went to show just how many ways the Warriors could take over a game, whether it was their star senior taking over, players contributing off the bench, or running the game with their bigs through the paint. The Warriors’ ways to win a game are endless and they would enter the third quarter leading 38–25.
The half began slow and would stay that way the whole third quarter. Missing easy shots, allowing second chance baskets, and committing costly turnovers, Oakwood would climb back and tie the game middle third quarter.
Through all this one thing stood out beyond the rest and that was the leadership of senior Logan Kurtz. Constantly through the team’s struggles and his own, Kurtz was there to support his teammates. Despite him being held scoreless the whole third quarter, Kurtz showed no frustration on the court. He often led his team back on defense, was the vocal leader on the court, and was always there to lift his teammates heads up whenever they got down.
Commenting on his play, Head Coach Justin Bozarth said Kurtz sets the standard with his play, has a contagious work ethic and has a unique ability to stay completely calm despite the craziness around him, all things contributing to him not only being a great player, but a great leader as well.
Entering the 4th quarter, the game stood at 51–45, and would end in a 75–49 victory. The Warriors’ 4th quarter defense was impenetrable allowing only 4 points, 2 of them coming from free throws.
A huge factor in their defensive prowess is 6-foot, 6-inch center Caiden Russo. Russo ended the game with a 17 point 18 rebound double double and is a tower in the post. With Russo locking down the paint and junior Dylan Graves on the perimeter wrecking immense havoc with hustle and strength there is no offense that is able to score easy points on this Warrior squad.
The boys move to 11–0 on the season and 2–0 in the tournament.