Hardwick carries the load

By Lenny Sementi
Coach Justin Bozarth and his Warriors notched win number two on the year on the road against a good Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond squad this past Tuesday the 4th, dropping the Knights 57-41. Sophomore Grant Hardwick led the way scoring a game high 17 points off the bench. The off guard attacked the basket and found his way to the free throw line seven times in the game sinking 11 of 14 from the charity stripe.

“Grant was tremendous off the bench for us vs ALAH,” commented Bozarth. “His stat line was incredibly efficient scoring 17 points on just four shot attempts.”

Tuscola ended the first down by one 11-10 but gave up the first five points of the second quarter and trailed 16-10 before Hardwick went on a tear. He fueled the come back midway through the second quarter by repeatedly attacking the lane, and, when the defense sagged off him, he stepped outside the arc for a pair of crucial threes, as the Warriors erupted for a 19-point run. Cade Kresin had a pair of buckets, as well to help the cause, and Jake Kibler put the cherry on top taking a steal coast to coast for a layup with five seconds left in the half making it 29-16 Warriors at the break.

Kibler, who was right behind Hardwick in the scoring department, hit two early in the third, and Brayden VonLanken pounded the paint for a pair of baskets, as well, helping give coach Bozarth a double-digit advantage heading to the fourth on top 42-32. Kibler scored a season best 16 points on 7 of 9 from the field, including one three, while VonLanken and Kresin each tallied nine points. Luke Sluder secured three offensive rebounds in the period and a game high nine.

Kibler, Will Little, VonLanken, and Kresin scored early in the final stanza forcing the host Knights to foul to get back in the game, but Harwick and Little had the answer going 6 for 6 from the line in the last three minutes of the game. Bozarth’s bunch moves to 2-0 on the year with the victory.

Coach Jacob Hilgendorf’s JV came out on the right side of the scoreboard, as well, dropping the Knights 54-32. Silas Hortin was on top of the score sheet with 11 points, hitting all three of his attempts from outside the arc. Ben Dixon reached double-digits also donating 10 points to the cause as nine players in all scored for Hilgendorf.

The full story can be found in the Wednesday, Dec. 12 edition of The Tuscola Journal.