First the joy, then the heartbreak.
The Goodrich varsity basketball team lost a Feb. 16 Genesee Area Conference game to visiting Lake Fenton 57-55 when Lake Fenton’s Ridge Warren hit a layup as time expired before a raucous crowd at Goodrich High School.
The Lake Fenton fans stormed the court in excitement while Coach Gary Barns and the Martians stood at their bench in disbelief, their Senior Night turned awry in a matter of seconds.
‘We talked in the huddle about how we didn’t want 21 (Warren) to beat us,? Barns said. ‘He scored the last six points of the game. He got to the basket quick, and our guys were late recovering. They made a great play at the end. I have to give them credit.?
It was the second time this season the Blue Devils had defeated the Martians (7-10 overall, 7-8 in the Genesee Area Conference) by two points. ‘You never want to get used to that kind of feeling,? Barns said.
The Martians had seemingly tied the game with about four seconds left, when Goodrich’s Zac Glynn hit a shot to tie the game at 55.
‘I was proud of us because we had the resiliency to come back in the game,? Barns said. ‘I thought the fans were great. Our kids know there’s a fine line between winning and losing. It’s a hard one to take.?
Lake Fenton maintained the lead much of the game, but could not quite put the Martians away. Goodrich pulled to within two points, 40-38, at the end of the third quarter when the Martians? Matt Christensen hit a three-point shot as time was winding down in the third, sending the Goodrich fans into a frenzy.
Glynn then took the Martians on his back in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his team-leading 20 points in the final session, including the shot that nearly sent the game to overtime.
Barns said Glynn and Eric Hughes played especially well for the Martians in their last home game. ‘They truly played as seniors,? he said.
Jake Smigiel scored eight points for the Martians, while Ty Purdy added seven. Jake McGinnis led the Martians with seven rebounds.
Warren led the Blue Devils with 22 points, while Cory Jacobs added 11.