![]() ![]() The Colts were up 52-42 with 4:30 left to play, but the Chieftains center, number 22 Ali Hasan had fouled out. Whiteside was finishing with contact, grabbing tough rebounds, and diving for loose balls. It was Whiteside’s second game back from injury, but it did not seem like it. The fourth quarter began with another Carter Cusmano assist to Darius Whiteside layup while being fouled. The Colts had a 46-38 lead with eight minutes to go. Sloppy turnovers from the Colts were the only reason the Chieftains were still in the game. Luckily for the Colts, the Chieftains did not capitalize. A backcourt violation from the Colts gave the Chieftains the ball. The third quarter ended just like the first, with another costly turnover. The run was fueled by Carter Cusmano with four points, three assists, and two steals. A Colts timeout did wonders for them, as the Colts switched to a 2-3 zone defense and went on an 11-5 run of their own after a three from Zach Penoza. A 9-3 run finished off by two triples cut the Colts lead to 35-33 with 4:58 left in the third quarter. However, the Chieftains were about to go on a run. The second half started with another Mason Parker three from Chase Kuiper. The Colts would take a 29-24 lead at the break. Carter Cusmano got a steal and dished it to Mason Parker while Jon Whiteside finished the half with a buzzer-beater. However, the final minute of the half was a momentum changer for the Colts. On the very next possession, the Chieftains scored to cut the deficit to one. The Chieftains went on a 12-3 run in just 3:30 to force a Colts timeout with 3:27 until halftime. However, the Chieftains full-court trap was starting to work now, as the Colts were making sloppy passes and helping the Chieftains whittle away at the Colts lead. Parker started the second quarter by making three shots from way beyond the arc for the Colts to take a 22-10 lead and force a Chieftains timeout. The second quarter started just as the first quarter ended, with Mason Parker having the hot hand. The Colts led after the first quarter 16-10, with Mason Parker scoring nine. The quarter did not end so well for the Colts, as a costly five-second rule (guarded player cannot hold the ball for more than five seconds) led to a Chieftains bucket to end the quarter. Two possessions later, Mason Parker nailed a deep three from the right wing, as he was almost out of bounds, to force a Chieftains timeout after taking a 14-7 lead. Chase Kuiper had a bucket to end the scoreless streak, and that is when the Colts offense started to roll. For the next 3:13, the Colts went scoreless while the Chieftains scored four points. It was a defensive battle for most of the first quarter, but Jon Whiteside opened the scoring for the Colts after two minutes by making a layup he was fouled on and converted the free throw. The game started with the Chieftains in a full-court trap defense to try and force the Colts into turnovers, while the Colts were in a half-court trap defense. Also, we have to offensive rebound a lot better than we have been.” We have to move it around and make them work a little bit. We cannot be shooting the ball really quick unless we have an open look. “Utica likes to run up and down the floor with you. “We have to control the tempo,” said Coach Gary Fralick before the game. Senior Carter Cusmano had a great all-around game with four points, five rebounds, dishing out six assists, and four steals, while senior Zach Penoza added three points. Junior Chase Kuiper added eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Senior Darius Whiteside finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. ![]() Junior Jon Whiteside added a double-double with 13 points and dominated the glass with 10 rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore Mason Parker powered the Colts with 28 points, four rebounds, while shooting 6/10 from long range. The Colts never looked back and held off the Utica Chieftains by a final score of 66-51 to advance to the MHSAA District 28 Finals. The third quarter ended with the Colts taking a 46-38 lead. Then, Carter Cusmano stole a pass and passed it to Darius Whiteside who scored another layup for the Colts. Darius Whiteside started the run with a layup after a nice pass inside from Bryce Parker. However, the Colts responded by scoring very quickly after the timeout to then go on an 11-5 run. Moments earlier, the Chieftains hit two threes in a row to go on a 9-3 run and trail by only two with 4:58 left in the third quarter. The Utica Chieftains players were all starting to celebrate, while the Chieftains student section was loud after the Colts called timeout. Colts Move on to District Finals with Win Over Chieftains
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