By Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Sports reporter
CHEBOYGAN — Rudyard's march to Lansing was cut short by Charlevoix on March 23 in Class C quarterfinal play, but it took the Red Rayders most of the game to take the advantage over the 21-2 Bulldogs.
Rudyard came out strong against Charlevoix early in the game, quickly amassing a 10-point lead over the Rayders on shooting from Tyler Carruthers and offensive work by senior and 2004 Upper Peninsula Dream Team member Matt Miller.
Carruthers continued scoring in the second period, sinking the shot that gave Rudyard their widest lead over the Rayders — 30-13. Charlevoix, however, was not content to let its season end and began pushing back against the Bulldogs. By the end of the half, the Rayders had scored 14 more points and eroded Rudyard's lead to 11 points, going into the locker rooms with a score of 38-27.
Charlevoix took the game back in the third, hammering out 19 points to Rudyard's 10 and closing the score to within one basket, trailing the Bulldogs 48-46.
Foul trouble and faltering defense halted the Rudyard advance in the final quarter and Charlevoix took the lead and never gave it back. Starting with a single-point 52-51 advantage on a bucket by Bryce Daly, the Rayders soon shot ahead to 60-53 before the Bulldogs managed to score again.
By this point, only a little more than three minutes remained in the game, and Charlevoix began delaying action to hold their position and run down the clock. Rudyard's attempts to break the deadlock resulted in fouls against the Bulldogs which cost them free throw shots and eventually Carruthers and Dan Praasterink, as both players fouled out in the final quarter.
The Rayders' 27-15 run in the fourth brought Charlevoix to their 73-63 quarterfinal victory over Rudyard, ending Class C title hopes for an Upper Peninsula team.
Miller led scoring for Rudyard with 19 points, but was matched by Scott Friske, Charlevoix's All-State player. Carruthers added 16 points before he fouled out, and Bobby Lohff was good for 10. On the Rayders' side, Friske was joined by Jared Hunt with 14 points, Daly with 12 and Ben Bergmann had 11.
Charlevoix was not finished after downing the Bulldogs, as they went on to hammer the Kent City Eagles 85-49 on March 25 at the semifinals played at Michigan State's Breslin Center in Lansing. However, the Rayders fell to Saginaw Buena Vista 63-52 on March 27, giving the state Class C Championship to the Knights.
In the Class D tournament, Harbor Light Christian—the team that bumped Brimley out of the running—were themselves knocked out of play by Crystal Falls Forest Park as the Trojans beat the Swordsmen 66-53 at Sault High, also on March 23. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian downed the Trojans 56-38 in the semifinals on March 25, but the Defenders in turn were defeated by the Detroit Rogers Rangers 69-38 on March 27 for the Class D title.
