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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Drought hurts Dutchmen in loss to Hanover-Horton

Defending conference champs hold on for win at Manchester

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008

A cold spell in the second half proved costly for the Manchester varsity boys basketball team.

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After making a comeback early in the game, the Flying Dutchmen were unable to overcome the momentum in a 50-43 loss to the Hanover-Horton Comets in a Cascades Conference game Feb. 14.

Manchester (6-12, 4-8 Cascades) dominated the early stages for the third quarter and turned a four-point halftime deficit into a 34-31 lead with 2:59 left in the frame after consecutive baskets by Trevor Hanewald and Jarod Sawyer. The Dutchmen wouldn't score again until 2:13 in the fourth, and the defending Cascades champion Comets held on for the win.

"We played well in the second and third quarters, but that drought was hard to overcome," Manchester coach Bryan Barnard said. "The effort was great though, and the guys did a nice job getting after them."

Hanover-Horton (15-3, 10-2 Cascades) was the stronger team in the beginning, opening with the game's first eight points. The teams exchanged baskets after that, and the Comets carried a 12-6 lead into the second quarter.

"We didn't have the intensity in the first quarter," Barnard said. "We were getting looks, but missed about four great shots."

The Dutchmen began to find their offense in the second quarter and prevented Hanover-Horton from regaining full control. Manchester scored 13 points in the frame and pulled to within 23-19 by halftime.

It was Manchester that came out of the blocks fast in the third quarter. The Dutchmen erupted for 15 points in the first 5:01 of the quarter, capped by jumpers from Hanewald and Sawyer that gave Manchester its three-point lead.

But just as quickly as the Dutchmen rallied, they began to go cold from the floor. In the meantime, Hanover-Horton closed the third quarter with five straight points, taking a 36-34 lead.

"We had played so well, but the end of the third quarter took a little out of us," Barnard said. "We were down early, then came back, but the momentum shifted with their 5-0 run. Hanover played great defense and locked us down in the fourth."

While Manchester fought through its drought, the Comets extended their lead to 10 points. Justin Welton buried a three-pointer with 2:13 remaining for the Dutchmen's first basket since Sawyer's third quarter jumper. He canned another missile just over a minute later, bringing Manchester to within four, but the Comets halted the comeback by hitting key free throws in the final minute.

Hanover-Horton was 6-for-8 from the free-throw line during the fourth quarter.

Sawyer finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Dutchmen. Welton added 11 points, while Corwin Every had nine points. Sam Brown grabbed eight rebounds for Manchester.

Nick Schaefer scored a game-high 15 points to lead Hanover-Horton, while Jacob Wild added 13 points.

The Dutchmen received a boost in the game when Randy Kleinschmidt returned to the lineup after missing the last three weeks with a foot injury. Kleinschmidt, the team's leading scorer, played two minutes at the end of the first half.

Manchester finishes up the regular season this week. The Dutchmen played at Grass Lake after the newspaper's deadline Tuesday, then will host East Jackson in the regular season finale today. They open the Class C district tournament Monday at Jonesville when they face the host Comets.

Dutchmen at Ann Arbor Greenhills

Nearly everyone got into the act for the Manchester varsity boys basketball team as it roared to a 71-42 victory over the Ann Arbor Greenhills Gryphons in a non-conference game Feb. 12.

The Dutchmen scored 19 points in each of the first two quarters and built a commanding 38-17 lead by halftime. Manchester remained hot in the third quarter, scoring 21 points to put the game out of reach.

"We shot well and pressed well defensively," Manchester coach Bryan Barnard said. "We created good shots and scored on transition, and our press created turnovers."

Justin Welton scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the first half to lead Manchester. He also handed out five assists and recorded five steals. Clayton Every added 11 points and five rebounds, while twin brother Corwin Every scored eight points. Jarod Sawyer had six points, five assists and four steals and Beau Kingsbury finished with six points for the Dutchmen.

For the game, Manchester grabbed 32 rebounds.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.