Caro’s Bailey Krueger sets up for a shot against Saginaw Valley Lutheran. Krueger hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to OT, and finished with 14 points (photo by Gary Koelzer)
Tom Gilchrist and Mike Gallagher
Advertiser Staff
CARO — Caro’s Bailey Krueger hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer here Friday night to send the game into overtime, and his Tigers pulled out a 77-73 victory over Valley Lutheran.
Caro trailed 63-60 with 8.7 seconds remaining and had the basketball following a timeout, which set the stage for Krueger’s heroics.
Once in overtime, the Tigers took a 73-67 lead with 1:25 to go, but the visiting Chargers fought back, cutting the lead to 75-73 with 7.7 seconds left. Following a timeout, Caro scored the game’s final basket.
Kyle Sharp and Brandon Tomlinson scored 18 points apiece to power the Tigers in the Tri-Valley Conference crossover game. Tanner Tysick added 15 points and Krueger scored 14.
Nick Howard tallied 23 points to lead Valley Lutheran, while Drew Fletcher popped in 17.
Millington 72, Michigan Lutheran Seminary 67: Millington, playing without injured guard Austin LeVan, knocked off the undefeated Cardinals, who came into the game with a 13-0 overall record. “Shawn Pardee had another spectacular game. He played lights out,” said Millington coach Shane LeVan. Pardee scored 39 points and made 17 of 17 foul shots — the second consecutive game he has made all his foul shots. In his last game, Pardee made 18 of 18. Millington moves to 11-2 overall with the victory. Austin LeVan injured his shoulder earlier in the season, but the coach hopes to have him back by the start of the state tournament. “A lot of people bailed on us when Austin got hurt and the team could have, too, but they’ve all accepted their roles and turned it up a notch,” coach LeVan said. Jimmy Reed scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Millington on Friday, while Caleb Wascher scored eight points and hauled down 10 rebounds.
Reese 61, Laker 48: Four Reese players scored in double figures as the Rockets pulled away from the visiting Lakers in Reese on Friday. Jared Schrader registered 16 points for Reese, with Kyle Gnatkowski adding 14, Travis Lynch scoring 11 and Kyle Stockmeyer collecting 10. Reese led 26-22 at halftime but stretched its lead in the final two quarters. “We played a little better on the defensive end in the second half, and we score off of our defense, so if we play good defense we play better on the offensive end,” Kern said. Trent Cunningham led Laker with 18 points. The Rockets upped their Greater Thumb Conference West Division record to 4-1, and they’re 9-4 overall.
Kingston 63, Caseville 36: The Cardinals went on the road Friday and picked up their 10th North Central Thumb League victory of the season, knocking off the Eagles. Kingston held Caseville to three points in the second quarter, and five points in the third. “We came out a little bit flat, but our defensive pressure eventually wore them down,” said Kingston coach Dave Lester. Aaron VanHorn led Kingston with 21 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists, while Jared Koehler added 10 points. “We have won nine in a row, but we have a very tough stretch of games coming up that will be a big challenge for us,” added Lester. Kingston (11-3, 10-0) visits Sandusky on Friday.
North Branch’s Curt Garza puts up a shot in a game earlier this season. Garza scored a game-high 17 points in the Broncos win Friday. (photo by Kevin Gregory)
North Branch 64, St. Louis 29: The host Broncos held the Sharks without a field goal in the third quarter, outscoring St. Louis 22-3 in the quarter en route to a win in the crossover game between teams from different divisions of the Tri-Valley Conference. Curtis Garza scored 17 points to lead the Broncos, with Mike Stone scoring 13 and Kolen Snoblen added nine. North Branch outscored St. Louis 40-13 in the second half.
Vassar 47, Flint Academy West 44: Blake Ruppal scored a layup for Vassar with 13 seconds left in the game and was fouled on the shot, making the ensuing free throw to provide the game-winning points in this battle in the Cork Pine City. The Vulcans upped their overall record to 9-4 with the non-conference win. Ruppal tallied 14 points for Vassar, while teammate
Akron-Fairgrove 57, Mayville 53:The Vikings capitalized on a 23-13 scoring run in the fourth quarter to win this non-conference game Wednesday against the visiting WIldcats. Mayville held a one-point lead at halftime, and pushed the margin to six points, leading 40-34 after three quarters. The Vikings turned the tide in the fourth, however, and were led by Jeremy Verhelle, who scored a game-high 24 points. “Our senior leadership is getting better, and Jeremy got us going in the last five minutes,” said Akron-Fairgrove coach Adam Moore. Dalton Bailey led Mayville with 13 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists. The Wildcats passed well in the contest, earning 20 assists on the 23 scored baskets.