L’Anse Creuse North holds off Chippewa Valley for MAC Red hoops win
Coach Kurt Wilson wasn’t in a mood to celebrate even though his L’Anse Creuse North basketball team won a key basketball game.
“To go up 20 and then to be in a dogfight in the last two minutes is absolutely a lack of heart,” Wilson said after the Crusaders held off Chippewa Valley 51-44 in a Macomb Area Conference Red Division game Friday night.
“We have to be disciplined enough to understand what is going on,” Wilson added. “We’ve got to refocus, make our layups, make our free throws. The performance by us tonight was unacceptable.”
L’Anse Creuse North, trying to nail down a berth in the MAC Red/ White tournament, led 45-25 after Bryce Kiser made a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:03 left in the game, but a rash of turnovers, including four on consecutive possessions, helped Chippewa Valley go on a 16-0 run capped when Dennis Barth’s two free throws cut the L’Anse Creuse North lead to 45-41 with 1:56 to go in the Crusaders’ Coaches vs. Cancer game.
“I’m glad the building was electric, that the fans came out to see good basketball,” Wilson said. “But as a varsity coach, I want to come to the gym, play all 14 guys and go home. This was unacceptable.“This is not November. We’re a senior-laden team, and we’re supposed to be able to weather the storm.”
Aaron Koch, Lucas Clyne and Drew Kozel answered the Chippewa Valley run by splitting a pair of foul shots apiece. Clyne then added a basket and Kozel another free throw as the Crusaders improved to 4-5 in the division, the same record as Chippewa Valley.
L’Anse Creuse North and the Big Reds are tied for third place in the Red with one game to play. The top four teams qualify for the tournament.
“We’re in a dog fight,” Wilson said.