The Goodrich varsity basketball team’s first game of 2006 was a constant uphill battle for the Martians.
Host Grand Blanc took command of the game early and cruised to a 71-35 win against the Martians in a Jan. 3 nonconference game.
Goodrich coach Gary Barns said the Martians knew going into the game they would have their hands full with the Bobcats, a Class A school with 2200 students, as well as a member of the Detroit Free Press’ preseason Top 25.
‘I think it was a great learning experience for us,? he said. ‘Our players need to see what it takes to get to the next level. We need to learn from it.?
Grand Blanc senior K’Len Morris, a 6?4? shooting guard whom Barns said has committed to the University of Michigan for the 2006-07 school year, was the catalyst for the Bobcats in the first quarter, scoring 14 of the team’s 20 points in the period, including two three-point shots.
‘We tried a variety of defenses against him,? Barns said of Morris. ‘He has a good first step and he’s also a fine passer.?
Goodrich’s Jake McGinnis scored six points in the first period to keep the Grand Blanc lead at single digits, 20-12, after the first period.
However, the Bobcats pulled away in the second period, outscoring the Martians 17-9 in the period to take a 37-21 halftime lead. Grand Blanc was never seriously threatened in the second half.
Morris led all scorers with 19 points (including three three-point shots) for the Bobcats, while Tyler Mooreland added 17, including a 7-of-7 performance from the free throw line.
Matt Christensen was the Martians? only double-digit scorer with 11 points, while McGinnis added eight points and a team-leading eight rebounds (including three on the offensive glass) for the Martians.
Grand Blanc was the more aggressive team in getting to the free throw line, shooting 19 free throws to five for the Martians. The Bobcats were 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the charity stripe, while Goodrich was 2-of-5 (40 percent).
‘We didn’t get to the free throw line as much as we hoped,? Barns said.
The Martians are now beginning Genesee Area Conference play in earnest, starting with a scheduled Jan. 6 game at home against Hamady. Goodrich’s next game is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Byron.
Barns said he expects the Martians will regroup after the Grand Blanc loss and put together a good showing in league play.
‘All is not lost,? he said. ‘We’ll come back and practice hard.?