Two long droughts ended on the same night.
Ida’s last victory in a boys basketball regional tournament game came in 1965. The last time Summerfield did it was the year before.
Both are now preparing to play in regional championship games.
Ida survived 34 turnovers to slip past Redford Westfield, 45-43, and Summerfield turned back 22-win Webberville 55-42 on Tuesday, March 3.
Neither coach was looking for style points.
“In March, a win is a win,” Ida coach Jared Karner said.
Whiteford, meanwhile, had its season halted with a 54-33 loss to Onsted.
DIVISION 2 AT DIVINE CHILD
Owen Snyder hit all seven of his free throws in the fourth quarter to help Ida hold on.
“I’ve been saying all year that this team is so resilient,” Karner said. “They do not quit. We overcame some sloppy basketball tonight.”
Ida trailed 25-21 at the half but clamped down on defense in the third quarter, allowing just five points to take a 4-point lead.
Ida connected on 23-for-31 free throws (74.1%) in the game.
Jacob Towne finished with a double-double, posting 17 points and 12 rebounds. Snyder came close with 8 points and 10 boards.
“Hazen Vogt came off the bench with a huge spark in the first half,” Karner said.
The Blue Streaks will take an 18-7 record into the Division 2 regional finals at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 to play No. 1 Summit Academy. Summit beat Dearborn Divine Child, 62-52, on its home floor in the second semifinal Tuesday.
“Thursday will be an incredibly tough challenge, but this is a group of kids I’d never bet against,” Karner said.
Ida’s other regional victories came in 1951 against Morenci and 1965 vs. Stockbridge.
DIVISION 4 AT CONCORD
Summerfield jumped out to a 16-7 lead after one quarter, then doubled its 6-point halftime lead after three periods.
Brody St. John had a big game with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Rylee Schiffler added 15 points.
“Our boys were able to survive and advance,” Summerfield coach Phil Schiffler said. “I am really proud of these kids, as we have some kids playing through some pain right now, and they’re doing for this team who is just finding ways to win.”
Thursday’s 7 p.m. championship game will have the 18-7 Bulldogs paired against 21-4 Concord.
“Up next is a state championship caliber Concord at their home gym,” Schiffler said. “It’s going to be a challenge that we are blessed enough to receive.”
DIVISION 3 AT CLINTON
Whiteford ended its first season under former Dundee and Bedford coach Jordan Bollin with a 21-4 record.
“I thought Onsted did a really good job of taking away our strengths,” Bollin said. “Onsted was a really poor matchup for us because like us they play through their bigs.
Whiteford trailed by just 7 points at halftime, but two quick fouls in the third quarter ballooned the deficit to 12 points.
Cole Griffith led Whiteford with 10 points.
“I told the boys after the game that that one of the things I don’t love about coaching high school sports is that 99-percent of the teams end with a loss,” Bollin said. “Although tonight was frustrating, it doesn’t diminish all the great things we achieved this season.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of this group in their story. I genuinely enjoyed going to practice every single day and couldn’t have asked for a better group of young men to coach.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Ida, Summerfield boys basketball end long regional tourney droughts
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
