By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Flint — Jensen LePla had 20 points, while older brother Parker LePla tossed in 18 points and 16 rebounds as the Goodrich Martian Boys Varsity Basketball team avenged two regular season losses to the Kearsley Hornets in a 61-40 district semifinals win.
The Martians, 10-0 in the Flint Metro League and 18-5 overall dominated from the tip off racing out to a 34-19 halftime lead over the Hornets who end their season 16-7 overall.
“We changed our defense before this game and the kids bought in,” said Head Coach Gary Barns. “Parker had 16 boards and Valley had nine. They did a great job on the glass tonight. The place was packed and this team responded.”
Isaac Valley scored 10 points, added nine boards, three assists and fours steals, Colt Maynard had eight points, and two steals while Landon Williams tallied five points, three boards and three assists.
Hornet Lucas Groulx tried to keep the game close with 14 points, Bryson Evans eight points, Bradley James seven points, Logan Saiko six points and Aiden Tipton five points.
The win at Kearsley Wednesday night came just five days after the Hornets foiled the Martians bid for a second Flint Metro League Cup 75-73 and snapped a 14-game winning streak for their Flint Metro League crown at Mott Community College. The Hornets defeated the Martians on Dec. 3 by a score of 77-76.
Goodrich advances to play Powers Catholic in their district semifinal game.