The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea loses two
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008
Chelsea's boys' basketball team lost to host Ann Arbor Pioneer 63-42 last Saturday. The Pioneers (12-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) are ranked No. 3 in the state in Class A.
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"They're a very good team," said Chelsea coach Robin Raymond. "We knew they'd be fired up, since we beat them twice last year."
Ann Arbor opened the game taking a 14-6 first quarter lead.
"They came out like a house ablaze," Raymond said.
In the second quarter, the Pioneers increased their advantage to 32-18 as the two teams headed to the locker room.
At halftime, Raymond knew Chelsea (8-5, 6-3) had a significant challenge ahead of itself in the third quarter.
"The third quarter has been their (Pioneer's) best quarter of the year," he said. "All year long they've come out and buried people. They did that to us."
In the third frame, Pioneer outscored the Bulldogs 27-9 taking a commanding 59-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth stanza, Chelsea kept battling, outscoring Ann Arbor 15-4 for the night's final margin.
"We knew they'd be a huge challenge," Raymond said. "But we kept fighting up until the end."
Leading the Bulldogs was junior guard Michael Roberts with 10 points. Junior forward Jake Mantel added seven points and three rebounds, while senior forward Greg Rebuldela had six points and three rebounds and senior guard Matt Schwarze six points and two assists for Chelsea.
Junior center Michael Stratman (6-foot-7) had five points, a team-high five boards and two blocked shots, while senior forward Stu Mann had four points and three rebounds.
Senior guard Elliot Marshall and junior guard Brett Everding each finished with two points for the Bulldogs.
Chelsea was 16-of-32 from the field for 50 percent. Ann Arbor was 24-of-50, including 9-of-12 from three-point land, for 48 percent.
At the line, the Bulldogs were 8-of-15 for 53 percent. Pioneer was 6-of-8 for 75 percent.
Ann Arbor out-rebounded Chelsea 28-21, including 11-5 on the offensive glass.
The Bulldogs committed 22 turnovers, while Pioneer had 16 miscues.
Raymond came away impressed with the Ann Arbor club.
"They play 32 minutes of all out basketball," he said. "They don't take a possession off. They play four guards and a center."
Raymond said the Pioneers like to spread opponents out offensively.
"They have Zach Williams (6-5, 215 pounds) at center and Matt Johnson (6-4) at the point," he said. "He's (Johnson) one of the best around. Then they position two guys in the corners. When they're knocking shots down from the outside they're tough to stop."
While Pioneer poses a challenge on offense, it's on defense where Ann Arbor really dominates.
"They go full court all game," Raymond said. "They trap you all over the court. They try and force you into a quick shot. If you lose concentration, you lose the ball. You can never slow the ball down."
Despite the loss, Raymond said his team would learn from the experience.
"Playing against the full court pressure will help us down the road," he said. "I was pleased with our field goal percentage. We played hard."
On Jan. 24, the host Bulldogs lost to Ann Arbor Huron 65-61 in overtime.
"It was an evenly played game," Raymond said. "The whole second half it was back and forth. I was very pleased with our effort."
The River Rats raced out to a 16-10 first quarter lead.
At halftime, Chelsea rallied to tie the game at 35-35.
Entering the fourth quarter, Huron led 45-41.
In the fourth frame, the Bulldogs outscored the River Rats 11-7 forcing overtime.
Mantel hit a shot with 25 seconds left to tie the contest and send it into the extra session.
In overtime, Huron outscored Chelsea 13-9 for the night's final outcome.
"We played well," Raymond said. "We were aggressive on the inside. We were able to take the ball to the basket."
Mantel paced the Bulldogs with 22 points, including 9-of-16 from the floor. He also had seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.
"Jake did a nice job posting up on the low block," Raymond said. "We recognized we had a mismatch."
Rebuldela added 13 points and six rebounds, while Marshall had 11 points and a team-high five assists.
Sophomore forward Tyler Zegarzewski had eight points and four boards, while Roberts had three points and Stratman and Mann each had two points. Mann also pulled down six rebounds for Chelsea.
The Bulldogs finished 21-of-48 for 44 percent from the floor, while Huron was 25-of-50 for 50 percent.
From the free throw line, Chelsea was 15-of-17 for 88 percent, while the River Rats were 9-of-14 for 64 percent.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded Huron 30-29.
Chelsea forced 18 River Rat turnovers, while committing 17 itself.
The Bulldogs next travel to Ypsilanti Lincoln for a game Thursday at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, Chelsea hosts Temperance Bedford at 7 p.m.
On Feb. 8, the Bulldogs host Ann Arbor Pioneer at 5:30 p.m. After Chelsea's game against the Pioneers, the Bulldogs' varsity girls' basketball team will take the floor against Pioneer's varsity at 7 p.m.
Prior to the Chelsea-Pioneer boy-girl basketball doubleheader, Bulldog softball will be holding a spaghetti fund-raiser dinner from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and $25 for a family of four. There will also be a silent auction, as well, during the fund-raiser.
"People will be able to come in and enjoy a spaghetti dinner before or after the game," Raymond said.
Sports Editor Don Richter can be reached at 475-1371 or at drichter@heritage.com.
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