Hornets Fall at Ann Arbor Huron

Sometimes, you can neutralize a team that’s bigger and faster than you. But if that team shows up to play, like the Ann Arbor Huron River Rats did Tuesday night, all bets are off.

Playing at home on "seniors night," the River Rats, ranked second “Class A” schools by Associated Press, lived up to their billing. They jumped to a 17-7 lead after the first quarter and cruised to a 68-33 victory over Saline.

Matt Hastings scored 12 points, while Mike Lewis and AJ Matthew each tallied 11 points for Ann Arbor Huron. Lucas Graves led Saline with eight points. Reece Dils and Michael Smutny each scored six points.

Huron jumped to a 4-0 lead within the first minute. Dils sank a three-pointer and Michael Smutny made a short jumper for a 5-4 Saline lead three minutes into the contest. But it was clear the Hornets were having a tough time with the ferocious River Rat defense. The River Rats scored on their next three trips up the floor, while the Hornets were foiled three straight times. And from then on, this was Huron's game. With a minute left in the first quarter, the River Rats forced a turnover at mid-court, and then made a couple sharp passes ended with a thunderous slam dunk by 6’6 Kyle Baker. Huron got a three pointer from Hastings just before the quarter ended for a 17-7 lead. Things didn’t get any easier in the second as the River Rats ran to a 36-15 half-time lead.

The first time these two teams met this season, Huron defeated Saline 71-61. Saline coach Jay Plitzuweit said his Hornets fell into a hole early and couldn’t find a way to come back against Huron’s aggressive defense.

“We missed some layups early and missed some shots that we needed to make and before you knew it, we were down by 10 points. You’ve got to give them credit, because they are a very good team and they play a very good and aggressive defense,“ Plitzuweit said.

The Hornets finish their regular season schedule at home Thursday against a very tough Ann Arbor Pioneer team and begin districts against seventh-ranked Ypsilanti on Monday at Monroe.

“It’s a very difficult part of the schedule. But we’ve shown we can play with these teams. We’ve got to get back do doing the things we do well,“ Plitzuweit said.