Goodrich’s varsity boys basketball team was on the short end of a nip-and-tuck game against Genesee Area Conference foe New Lothrop.
After taking the lead in the first quarter, the Martians fell behind New Lothrop late in the second quarter and eventually fell to the Hornets 53-47 in a Dec. 20 game at Goodrich.
The Martians head into the Christmas break with a record of 3-2.
Goodrich’s Jake McGinnis and Zac Glynn scored five points apiece, and Jake Smigiel hit a key three-pointer toward the end of the first quarter as the Martians took a 14-7 lead at the end of the period.
However, the Martians hit a bit of dry spell in the second quarter, and the Hornets took advantage. After the two teams traded the lead several times in the second period, New Lothrop took command of the game and took a 27-22 lead at halftime.
Goodrich kept themselves in the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 15-11 in the period to trim the New Lothrop lead to 53-47, as Smigiel and Matt Christensen scored five points apiece.
In the fourth quarter, though, New Lothrop’s Jason Knieper scored seven of his game-leading 14 points, including 3-of-4 from the free throw line, as the Hornets held on for the win.
Smigiel led the Martians with 11 points, including two three-point shots, while Christensen and Jake McGinnis added 10 points each. McGinnis also led the Martians with 11 rebounds (including four on the offensive end), while Eric Hughes and Zac Glynn tied for the team lead with four assists.
After a tight first quarter, the Martians pulled away for a 59-31 win at host Atherton in a Dec. 16 GAC matchup.
The Wolverines took a 10-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Martians came back in the second quarter, as Smigiel scored seven of his team-leading 17 points in the period to help the Martians take a 24-17 lead at halftime.
The Martians then outscored the Wolverines 35-14 in the second half to put the game away.
Smigiel had a strong all-around game, making 7-of-8 free throws to contribute to his 17-point output. Smigiel also had a team-leading nine rebounds (four on the offensive end), five assists and four steals.
Glynn added 13 points and five steals for the Martians, while McGinnis added nine points and six rebounds.