The second quarter proved to be Goodrich’s undoing in their Jan. 18 varsity basketball contest at Bendle.
Heading into the period with a 14-11 lead, the Martians were outscored 26-12 in the second quarter. Bendle used that momentum to earn a 65-54 win against the Martians.
With the loss, the Martians fell to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Genesee Area Conference Red Division.
Bendle’s Brent Combs sparked his team, scoring 13 of his team-leading 31 points in the second. Combs had seven points in the first to keep Bendle within striking distance.
Combs proved to be a force from long distance, connecting on four three-point shots. He was also 9-of-15 from the free throw line.
Goodrich coach Gary Barns said the Martians played hard throughout the game, but ultimately Combs? exploits in the first half proved to be too much to overcome.
‘We didn’t think they could put two halves like that together,? he said. ‘It seemed like every time we made a run, we’d commit a foul.?
Keith Brotherton led the Martians with 12 points, while Charlie Richards added 10.
Four days earlier, Goodrich senior Michael Skinner scored 16 points and converted three three-point shots, all in the second quarter, as the Martians pulled out a 47-41 win against visiting Genesee.
The teams ended the first quarter tied at 11. However, Skinner’s sharpshooting propelled the Martians to a four-point lead, 24-20, at halftime.
Goodrich started to pull away from Genesee in the third quarter, taking a 35-27 lead at the end of the period.
Free throw shooting made the difference for Goodrich down the stretch. Skinner and Zac Glynn made four free throw shots in the fourth quarter, while Eric Hughes added three.
Brett Bowers contributed eight points for the Martians, while Glynn and Hughes each chipped in with five points apiece.
Barns said the Martians, as the defending GAC Red champions, have to expect their opponents? best effort each night, particularly in a league as balanced as the GAC.
He is hopeful the Martians can conclude their first 10 games of the season when they travel to Lake Fenton Dec. 21, but know it won’t be easy, despite the fact the Blue Devils are 1-8 overall and 0-6 in league play.
‘Lake Fenton will play their tails off against us,? Barns said. ‘There’s no gimmes in this league. This league hasn’t been this balanced in a couple years.?
Barns said the Martians have some more depth with the recent returns of Wayne Coulman and Kenny Cramb from injuries. ‘They give us a couple more options,? he said.