Redskin Boys Upset Red Raiders

By Dave Fredrick
Tribune Recorder Leader

It’s not wise to count the Sandusky boys basketball team down and out, even with a 13 point deficit. Just ask Marlette. The Redskins put on a furious fourth quarter rally to knot the game late and send it to overtime where they pulled out a thrilling 53-50 GTC-east win. With the Sandusky victory, the Redskins, Marlette and Harbor Beach are all near the top battling for a possible league title.
After the opening tip-off, it seemed as though Marlette was poised to win at the Mark S Hund gymnasium. Isaac Dale fired in six first quarter points while Hunter Kelly and Sean Quade launched three pointers as the Red Raiders took a 20-13 first quarter lead. Justin Miller (two triples) and Josh DeKam kept their team in the game with three balls of their own.
It was more offensive woes for Sandusky in the second quarter as the Marlette defense held them to just nine points. Marlette continued their hot shooting, adding 14 more points and held a 34-22 lead at halftime. Kelly finished the first half with 10 points for the Red Raiders.
Seniors Danny hale and Brandon Potter took over for Sandusky in the third quarter, combining to score 11 of their team’s 19 third quarter points, pulling their team a little closer. DeKam and Cade Seiler hit triples, narrowing the Marlette lead to 46-41 after three quarters.
In what turned into a defensive fourth quarter, Hale scored five of Sandusky’s seven fourth quarter points while Marlette only managed a pair of free throws by Andrew Storm to send the game to OT. In the extra session Miller his a clutch three point shot and DeKam sunk a pair of free throws to pull out the hard fought win.
Hale paced ther winning scoring attack with 17 points while Potter and DeKam scored 10 apiece and Miller scored nine. The Redskins were just 4 of 14 from the charity stripe. Marlette was led by Storm’s 11 points, Kelly and Dale (five rebounds) had 10 apiece and Ethan McKenny scored nine. Marlette finished an impressive 93% from the free throw line, converting 13 of 14 tries and shot 44% from the floor.
Sandusky returns to action Friday night, hosting Brown City in a GTC-east showdown. They hit the road next week, traveling to USA on Wednesday night and will be at Harbor Beach on Friday, colliding with league foe Harbor Beach. Marlette has a contest at Harbor Beach Friday night and will host undefeated Bad Axe (ranked #6 in the state polls) and Memphis next week.