The Goodrich varsity boys basketball boys team suffered their first bit of adversity Dec. 14.
The Martians fell behind early in a Genesee Area Conference matchup against host Byron, as the Eagles earned a 51-44 win. With the loss, the Martians? record dropped to 2-1.
Byron took command of the game in the first quarter, outscoring the Martians 11-4. Senior Michael Skinner scored all four Goodrich points in the period. The Eagles maintained a 23-16 lead at the half.
The Martians tried to come back during a fast and furious fourth quarter, with Zac Glynn (the Martians? leading scorer with 11 points) scoring seven points in the period.
However, Byron’s Justin Engleman and Scott Cecil made sure the Eagles held on for the win, scoring eight and seven points, respectively, in the fourth quarter. Engleman led the Eagles with 15 points, while Matt Matznick added 12 points and Cecil 11.
Skinner and Charlie Richards each contributed seven points in a losing cause for the Martians.
It took a team effort, but the Martians won a tough nonconference game Dec. 10, defeating the visiting Oxford Wildcats 61-58.
The Martians and Wildcats started out in a tight first quarter, but led by Skinner’s two three-point shots, the Martians held a 12-10 lead at the end of the period.
In the second quarter, the Martians pulled ahead of the Wildcats, led by Craig VanWagoner and Richards (who scored seven points apiece in the second quarter). Goodrich took a 34-26 lead at halftime.
However, the Wildcats came roaring back in the third quarter, as Dave Wendt (who led Oxford in scoring with 15 points) scored five points in the quarter, while Alan Willar and Brandon McKay scored four points apiece for the Wildcats.
Oxford outscored Brandon 17-9 in the third to tie the contest at 43 at the end of three quarters.
A couple of the Martians? seniors, VanWagoner and Skinner, stepped up in the fourth to make the difference for Goodrich. VanWagoner scored seven of his team-leading 16 points in the fourth, while Skinner made 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to help preserve the win.
Seniors Kirk Elsworth and Andy Klumpp helped the Martians with strong inside play. Elsworth led the team with 12 rebounds, while Klumpp added 10 boards.