Led by Michael Skinner’s double-double, the Goodrich varsity boys basketball team clinched the Genesee Area Conference Red Division championship March 2.
The Goodrich junior guard scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, converting three 3-point shots and making 8-of-12 free throws as the Martians defeated visiting LakeVille 64-42.
The Martians? win, coupled with Lake Fenton’s 56-55 double-overtime win against Mt. Morris, gave Goodrich the GAC Red title.
Goodrich coach Gary Barns said winning the division was a significant achievement for his young squad, especially after a tough loss Feb. 27 against Mt. Morris.
‘I knew we were going to be good down the road in the season, but I didn’t expect Mt. Morris to lose (against Lake Fenton),? he said. ‘I give our kids credit — we pride ourselves on trying not to lose two games in a row. We’re confident, but not cocky. We know we have a long way to go.?
Craig Van Wagoner added 14 points off the bench for the Martians. Meanwhile, LakeVille’s Mike Roney, the league’s second-leading scorer (22.6 points per game), was held to nine points.
In the first half against the Falcons, the Martians received some key contributions from reserves Kenny Cramb, Andy Klumpp and Jeff Decator. Decator pulled down four rebounds, while Cramb and Klumpp gave the Martians a lift off the bench with four points each.
‘They made things happen,? Barns said.
Throughout the first three quarters, LakeVille kept Goodrich within striking distance. The Martians took a 20-14 lead at the half and a 36-28 lead at the end of three quarters.
However, the Martians erupted for 28 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
Goodrich had a decided advantage in both free throw attempts and percentage, converting 27-of-39 attempts (69.2 percent), compared to 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) for LakeVille.
The host Martians had a chance to clinch the GAC Red Feb. 27, but were outclassed by Mt. Morris, as the Panthers earned a 80-57 win.
Both squads mixed it up plenty inside, which resulted in plenty of trips to the free throw line for the Panthers and Martians. Mt. Morris made 33-of-45 free throws (73.3 percent), while Goodrich converted 22-of-33 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe.
In particular, Mt. Morris? Reshuad Obgurn and Chris Richardson made the most of their free throw opportunities. Obgurn connected on 11-of-12 attempts (91.7 percent), while Richardson made 9-of-10 attempts (90 percent).
The two teams kept it close in the first quarter, with Mt. Morris taking an 11-10 lead after the first quarter. However, the Panthers started to pull away in the second, outscoring the Martians 17-12 to take a 28-22 lead at the half.
In the third, the Panthers blew past the Martians. Led by six points apiece in the period from Obgurn, Richardson, and Martin Newman, Mt. Morris outscored Goodrich 28-15 in the third to take a commanding 56-37 lead at the end of the period.
Four Panthers scored in double figures against the Martians. Richardson led the charge with 18 points, while Newman added 16, Obgurn 14, and Scott Roy 12.
Skinner led all scorers with 20 points (including 8-of-10 from the free throw line), while Van Wagoner added 11 points. Adam McAuliffe led the Martians in rebounding with seven.

Goodrich 64, LakeVille 42
LakeVille ? Norris 2 3-6 7, Cowell 0 0-0 0, Roney 4 1-5 9, Lang 3 (3) 0-1 9, Leonard 0 0-0 0, Jarman 2 0-0 4, Millington 1 0-0 2, Groulx 1 (1) 0-0 3, Ramirez 2 2-2 6, Meinecke 0 0-0 0, Bryant 0 0-0 0, Gritzinger 1 0-2 2, Campbell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 (4) 6-16 42.
Goodrich ? Coulman 0 0-0 0, Bell 1 3-6 5, Van Wagoner 3 (1) 7-8 14, Skinner 5 (3) 8-12 21, Richards 0 0-0 0, Decator 0 0-0 0, Bowers 1 (1) 2-2 5, Cramb 2 0-0 4, Wilson 0 1-4 1, Klumpp 1 2-2 4, Elsworth 2 1-2 5, McAuliffe 1 3-3 5. Totals: 16 (5) 27-39 64.