The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea rallies for victory
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: February 22, 2007
Chelsea's boys' basketball team faced a situation it hadn't encountered all season long, midway through the second quarter against visiting Ann Arbor Huron last Thursday.
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The Bulldogs (16-0, 10-0 Southeastern Conference), ranked No. 2 in the state in Class B and No. 7 in the Detroit News Super 10 poll, trailed 29-14 in the second quarter against the River Rats. The 15-point margin was the first double-digit deficit Chelsea had faced this year.
"Huron was playing extremely well," said Chelsea coach Robin Raymond. "We needed to make things happen. We needed to pick up our energy level."
Consider it done.
Behind a suffocating defense and a will to win unrivaled in the area, the Bulldogs promptly outscored Huron 44-15 the rest of the game for a convincing 58-44 victory.
"The team decided it (losing) wasn't going to happen," Raymond said.
Chelsea has made that decision often this season remaining unbeaten after 16 games this year.
To begin the contest, it looked like the Bulldogs' perfect record might be in trouble as Huron raced out to an early 9-2 first quarter lead.
"We knew they'd be excited to play," Raymond said. "We wanted to weather the early storm."
At the end of the first quarter, Chelsea trailed 20-14.
At halftime, the Bulldogs rallied cutting the River Rats' lead to 31-27.
"At halftime, we talked about establishing our tempo during the first four minutes of the third quarter," Raymond said.
Chelsea senior guard Nate Schwarze began the third quarter with a steal and basket trimming Huron's lead to two points. From that point on, it was all Bulldogs.
Entering the fourth quarter, Chelsea grabbed the lead 43-40.
In the fourth frame, the Bulldogs outscored Huron 15-4 for the final margin.
"We were able to keep the pressure up," Raymond said. "We only allowed 13 points in the second half. The second half was one of our best of the season. We put the pedal to the metal. We didn't let up."
Senior forward Micah Hudson paced Chelsea with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Schwarze added 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Senior guard Adam Connell had 10 points and two steals for the Bulldogs.
"Adam's energy on defense inspired everybody else," Raymond said.
Senior forward Benny Johnson (6-foot-2) finished with six points, while senior forward Mike Sauers (6-2) and sophomore center Mike Stratman (6-6, 210 pounds) each had two points for Chelsea. Sauers also had a season-high eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs ended up 20-of-43 from the field for 47 percent. Huron was 19-of-41 for 46 percent.
At the free throw line, Chelsea was 14-of-19 for 74 percent. The River Rats finished 4-of-7 for 57 percent.
In the fourth quarter alone, the Bulldogs were 7-of-8 from the line.
Chelsea out-rebounded Huron 27-24.
The Bulldogs forced eight turnovers, while losing the ball themselves a season-low five times.
"We did a good job of taking care of the basketball," Raymond said.
On Feb. 14, host Chelsea defeated Adrian 52-43.
"It was a workmanlike performance," Raymond said.
The Bulldogs trailed 10-8 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Chelsea kicked it into another gear, outscoring the Maples 19-7 entering the break up 27-17.
"Our defense picked up the defensive pressure," Raymond said. "We were able to get our fast break going."
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs continued leading 36-32.
In the fourth quarter, Chelsea outscored Adrian 16-7 for the contest's final tally.
Schwarze led the Bulldogs with 19 points, including three three-pointers, four assists and three steals.
Hudson added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Connell and Sauers each chipped in eight points.
Junior forward Greg Rebudela finished with two points for Chelsea.
The Bulldogs ended up 19-of-37 for 51 percent from the floor. The Maples were 15-of-32 for 47 percent.
At the line, Chelsea was 9-of-14 for 64 percent. Adrian was 8-of-14 for 57 percent.
The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards out-rebounding the Maples 18-15.
Chelsea next travels to Tecumseh for a game Friday at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs host Ypsilanti Lincoln at 7 p.m.
On March 2, Chelsea visits county rival Dexter in the regular season finale at 7 p.m.
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