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Jets rally past Broncos

North Central overcomes big 1st-half deficit

Avery Bundgaard | Daily Press Bark River-Harris’ Ben Schultz (31) puts up a shot while North Central’s Noah Gorzinski (12) defends during the first quarter Friday at North Central.

POWERS — The North Central boys’ basketball team overcame a 15-point first half deficit to pull past rival Bark River-Harris 63-60 Friday in a Skyline Central Conference matchup.

“Having it toward the end of the season is huge for us,” said North Central coach Adam Mercier on the big win. “We’ve improved so much from the start of the season. We’ve learned a lot about our team and they’re starting to jell.”

Both teams started even as it was tied at 11 but the Broncos (10-7, 6-3 SCC) scored the final four points of the first quarter to take a 15-11 lead into the second period.

Bark River carried its momentum into the second quarter as it grew its lead to 15. North Central (14-4, 8-1 SCC) would chip away at the lead and pull within 35-27 by halftime.

The Jets would storm out of the half and took their first lead since the very beginning of the game and led 45-43 going into the final quarter.

“We were down by 15 in the first half but we didn’t quit,” said Mercier. “We could have packed it in but we didn’t.”

The game stayed close in the fourth quarter and North Central took a 3 point lead with a couple minutes to go.

All Bark River could do from that point on is foul and hope for the Jets to miss free-throws.

That didn’t happen as North Central hit some clutch free-throws in the final minute including four from Lucas Dombrowski to ice the win.

Noah Gorzinski was the leading scorer for the Jets with 19 with Dombrowski following with 17. Trenton Schaff stepped up for North Central as he had 14 points including three 3-pointers.

“Schaff played really well,” said Mercier. “He played a consistent game and he’s had a great second half to the season.”

Matthew Richer led all Bark River scorers with 13 while Logan Heim had 12 and Ben Schultz added 10.

Bark River, which won the jayvee game 44-42, travels to North Dickinson Tuesday while North Central heads to Forest Park the same night.

The summary:

Bark River-Harris 15 20 8 17 — 60

North Central 11 16 18 18 — 63

Bark River-Harris — Mustafa 5, Arndt 8, Richer 13, Korhonen 3, Schultz 10, Groos 7, Debelak 2, Heim 12; FT: 8-14; F: 16; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Richer 3, Heim 3.

North Central — Schaff 14, Gorzinski 19, Dombrowski 17, Poupore 8, Eichmeier 3, Snyder 2; FT: 9-14; F: 13; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Schaff 3, Gorzinski 3, Dombrowski 1, Poupore 1.

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