After an opening-game stumble, Goodrich’s varsity boys basketball team bounced back against a couple of Genesee Area Conference Red Division opponents.
Four players scored in double digits for the Martians as they defeated visiting Genesee 81-51 on Dec. 13, improving to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.
The game started off slow for the Martians, as they were outscored 12-9 by the Wolves in the first quarter. However, after that, it was all Goodrich.
Dustin McCormick scored seven points in the second quarter, while Jake McGinnis and Jake Smigiel scored five points each in the period as the Martians came back to take a 30-20 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Martians continued to have a hot hand from the floor, scoring 51 points in the half to put away the Wolves. Goodrich was strong on the glass against Genesee, pulling down 38 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive side.
Smigiel led the Goodrich attack with 13 points in the second half. He was the leading scorer in the game with 20 points (including an 8-of-8 performance from the free throw line), and also added five rebounds.
Frankie Rogers had a strong all-around game for Goodrich with 12 points, 11 rebounds (including five on the offensive end), five steals and four assists. McCormick added 14 points and Ty Purdy 10 for the Martians.
Taylor McHan led Genesee with 16 points in a losing cause.
The Martians got off to a hot start and then held off the visiting Montrose Rams to get their first win of the season Friday, Dec. 9.
Rogers and Smigiel scored 12 points apiece to lead the Martians past the Rams 55-50 in their GAC Red opener.
The Martians battled foul trouble all night, with two players, Eric Hughes and McGinnis, fouling out, and two others, Dustin McCormick and Zac Glynn, compiling four fouls each.
Rogers led the Martians off to a quick start, scoring five of his points in the first quarter as the Martians built a 21-4 lead. However, the roles reversed in the second quarter, as the Rams outscored the Martians 14-5, trimming the Goodrich lead to 26-18 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Martians got a boost from Ross Gauthier, who scored all six of his points in the period, including four free throws, as the Martians maintained a 41-35 advantage at the end of the period.
Goodrich put together a strong effort on the boards, pulling down 44 rebounds (12 on the offensive end). Smigiel led the team with 14 rebounds, while McGinnis added eight and Rogers seven. Rogers also led the Martians with seven assists.
Chris Edgcombe led the Rams with 15 points in a losing effort.