Cardinals hold off Nimrods

WAKEFIELD - Wakefield-Marenisco came from behind to defeat Watersmeet 56-53 in a first round game of the MHSAA Class D District 127 Tournament on Monday night.

Not very often does a freshman move up from the junior varsity to the varsity for the district tournament and not only play well but become a difference-maker in the game. In trying not to make too much of a big deal over one game, but fans in the Cardinal Gym were shocked by Jacob Suzik's performance.

Watersmeet took a 24-21 lead by halftime and Cardinal coach Terry Fetters didn't like the way things were going.

"We were settling for 3s and I wanted to pound it inside," Fetters said. "We weren't getting that, so it was time for a change.

Jacob Suzik spent most of the season on the JV team (only two on varsity), but Fetters had seen him play and knew he was a good player.

"Suzik plays hard and gets after it," Fetters said. "He has height and ability and we could pound it inside with him. So starting the third quarter, I said, 'why not'?" Suzik was our best surprise. It had been close all the way and this was the third time we played them in three weeks. It's hard to beat a team three times."

Suzik entered the game and scored 12 points in the third quarter and 14 points overall.

By the end of the third quarter, W-M took a 40-36 lead and never looked back.

Watersmeet coach George Peterson III said the reason the Nimrods fell behind were Suzik and an old bugaboo that has haunted them all season.

"No. 40 (Suzik) came in and was a difference in the game," Peterson said. "He had 12 in the third quarter and he looks like a good ball-player. But the game boiled down to rebounding and size. When you try to box out with a 5-9 guy versus a 6-3 player, it's tough. And when the 5-9 guy gets tired and can't jump as high, it's even harder to rebound. We also had mental errors from moving too fast sometimes. But this is a heart-breaker for our six seniors. We'll miss them. It was a good year for us."

Kevin Stevens led Watersmeet's scoring attack with 17 points, while Ryan Bain, a point guard who was an All-Conference First Team selection in the Porcupine Mountain Conference, finished with 13.

W-M was led by Kevin Lane's 17 points and he was also an All-Conference First Team selection in the PMC and Indianhead Conference East Division. Suzik and Collin Gagnon notched 14 points with Gagnon knocking down three 3-pointers.

The Nimrods finish the season with a 11-10 record.

The Cardinals (12-9) will play powerful Crystal Falls Forest Park in a semi-final battle in Wakefield on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Watersmeet - Michael McGrath 7, Rondell McKinney 11, Ryan Bain 13, Kayne Williams 6, Kevin Stevens 16. FTs: 4-9 , Fouls: 12, Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Kayne Williams 1, Ryan Bain 1, Michael McGrath 1, Rondell McKinney 1.

W-M - Kevin Lane 17, Tommy Libertoski 2, Shane Cole 6, Collin Gagnon 14, Jacob Suzik 14,Nick Tarro 3 ,. FTs: 7-11, Fouls: 14, Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Gagnon 3, Tarro 1, Kane 1.

Watersmeet 15 24 36 53

W-M 10 21 40 56