The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Manchester rally falls short in loss to Cards
Blades posts another double-double in 11-point road setback
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008
Despite having two players score in double figures, the Flying Dutchmen were handed a 65-54 loss to the Michigan Center Cardinals in a Cascades Conference game Jan. 25.
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Manchester (4-8, 3-5 Cascades) kept pace with the Cardinals throughout the game, thanks in large part to a hot offense. However, Michigan Center matched the Dutchmen's offense and came up with timely defensive stops to take control.
"We played well offensively, but our defense was bad," Manchester coach Corey Fether said. "Michigan Center has a very good, aggressive team and we didn't match their intensity on the defensive end of the court."
The Cardinals held a 48-38 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Manchester didn't go down quietly. A pair of three-pointers by Logan Zigila and Brandon Casey pulled the Dutchmen to within seven with 3:42 remaining, but Michigan Center quickly responded with a basket on the ensuing trip up the court.
Less than a minute later, Zigila drove to the basket and scored a layup, pulling the Dutchmen to within 60-53, but Michigan Center hit five free throws down the stretch and held Manchester without a field goal to secure the victory.
Josh Blades recorded a double-double for the game, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Dutchmen. He also handed out four assists.
Zigila had 12 points and four rebounds, while Rob Carver added seven points and five rebounds. Casey scored six points and grabbed four rebounds and Jesse Forner recorded four steals to go with two points. Ryan Lenhart finished with three points, while D.J. Hone and Lukas Weber each had two points for Manchester.
The Dutchmen traveled to Washtenaw Christian Academy for a non-conference game Tuesday after the newspaper's deadline. They return to Cascades action today when they host the Napoleon Pirates.
Dutchmen at East Jackson
Josh Blades, Rob Carver and Brent Schriber were a trio of terror for the Manchester junior varsity boys basketball team Jan. 22.
Each of them recorded a double-double and sparked the Flying Dutchmen to a 60-46 victory over the East Jackson Trojans in a Cascades Conference game.
Manchester trailed by eight at the end of the first quarter, but fought back to enter halftime in a 25-25 tie. The Dutchmen used their speed to break through East Jackson's defense and outscored the Trojans 35-21 in the second half to take the game.
"We got off to a slow start but battled back," Fether said. "We were very consistent on offense and ran the floor well, resulting in many fast break layups."
Blades scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Dutchmen. Carver added 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Schriber had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Schriber also finished a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Logan Zigila had 10 points and eight rebounds for Manchester, while Jesse Forner scored four points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out eight assists. Ryan Lenhart added five points and Brandon Casey tossed in four points. Dakota LaDouceur and Lukas Weber each finished with two points for the Dutchmen.
Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.
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