Goodrich varsity boys basketball coach Gary Barns summed up the team’s recent week.
‘Two tough nights in a row,? he said.
Goodrich played two Genesee Area Conference games in which the Martians came close to winning but ended up losing. Their most recent effort came Tuesday, Jan. 31 against Lake Fenton, where the Blue Devils edged the Martians 52-51.
Goodrich is now 4-9 overall and 4-7 in the GAC Red Division.
The Martians had a four-point lead with 1-1/2 minutes left, and possession of the ball. However, the Martians missed two front ends of a one-and-one, and the Blue Devils scored the winning basket with 2.4 seconds left.
Goodrich’s Zac Glynn attempted the game-winning shot as time expired, but the shot hit the rim.
Barns lamented the fact the Martians missed three free throws in the fourth quarter. ‘You can’t do that and expect to win,? he said. ‘To their credit, Lake Fenton came back and won the game.?
Lake Fenton led 28-25 at halftime before Goodrich’s Matt Christensen scored 10 points in the third quarter, connecting on two three-point shots in the process, to put the Martians ahead 43-42 entering the final period..
Christensen was the Martians? only double-digit scorer of the game, scoring 19 points (making five three-pointers). Jake McGinnis added eight points and seven rebounds for the Martians.
Ridge Warren scored 17 points to lead Lake Fenton, while Blake Crider added 12.
Despite dealing with their share of injuries, the Martians hung in with GAC foe LakeVille to the very end in their Jan. 27 matchup. Unfortunately for the Martians, it was the Falcons that ultimately prevailed 41-39.
After falling behind early in the game, the Martians slowly made their way back in the second quarter, eventually taking a 23-16 lead at halftime. Goodrich maintained a 29-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.
T.J. Rini led the Falcons with 11 points, while Randy Norris added 10. Glynn led the Martians with 17 points, while Jake Smigiel added 13 points and led the team with eight rebounds.
Although the Martians are having a tough season, Barns said it is important the team continues to work hard.
‘I think we’re turning a bit of a corner,? he said. ‘Our biggest challenge is that we have to stay positive. We still have a say in who wins the division.?