Lutheran North holds off Marine City in district basketball semifinal game

By George Pohly

ST. CLAIR | Troy Tiseo was in the right place at the right time for Lutheran North. The senior who scored a game-high 18 points intercepted Marine City's inbounds pass with four seconds left to preserve the Mustangs' 66-63 victory in a Division 2 district semifinal basketball game at St. Clair on Wednesday night. Caleb Hardies had 15 points and Cole McClelland and Colin Moldenhauer 13 apiece for the Mustangs in what might have been the final district game the public will witness.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association in a statement issued during the game said it will likely "prohibit or allow limited spectators" into tournament games through Saturday due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus.

Lutheran North (17-3) plays Richmond in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday.

"We'll deal with it," Lutheran North coach Jeff DeMasse said of a possible game without fans. "I do what I'm told. Whatever my (athletic director) and others tell me, that's what we'll do.
"I know we'll show up to play Friday night. I'm good either way."

Lutheran North is trying to win a district championship for the first time since 1995.

"We made some mistakes today, but the kids stepped up and got the job done," DeMasse said. "This was a game of spurts."

Johnny Mistretta scored 24 points and Angelo Patsalis 16 for Marine City. The Mariners, who shared the championship of the MAC Bronze Division, finished 15-5.

"We just came up short," Mariners coach Scott Hand said. "It was a tough loss.
"We had a good season. I'll take 15 wins. Marine City isn't known for basketball, but I think we're going to be able to sustain this."

Marine City almost pulled off an improbable comeback that could have sent the game into overtime.

Aubrey Comment's 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play cut Lutheran North's lead to 66-61, and the Mariners forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass. Mistretta was then fouled shooting from behind the arc, and he made two of his three free throws to make it 66-63 with nine seconds left.

And the Mariners weren't done.

They forced a held ball with four seconds left and got possession and got the ball out of bounds under the basket Lutheran North defended.

But Tiseo stepped in front of the inbounds pass and held the ball to melt the final seconds.

"He was in the right spot," DeMasse said. "He brings a lot of energy every day."

Lutheran North led 66-58 when McClelland canned two free throws with 30 seconds left. Earlier in the fourth quarter, his 3-pointer gave the Mustangs a 60-54 lead.

Marine City missed six free throws in the final 3:10.

McClelland made a 3-pointer to open the scoring in the third quarter and touch off an 8-1 run that gave the Mustangs a 40-33 lead.

Hardies' 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Lutheran North the 51-47 lead it carried into the fourth quarter.

Marine City trailed most of the game, but took a 45-44 lead when Jack Kammer scored with 1:51 left in the third quarter. That basket followed consecutive triples by Mistretta and Charles Tigert Jr. that cut into the Mustangs' 44-37 lead.

Hardies' jumper gave Lutheran North a 32-19 lead with 4:20 left in the second quarter, and it looked like the Mustangs were about to take control.

Marine City had other ideas.

The Mariners' whose ball movement got sharper, outscored the Mustangs 13-2 to close the half, and Lutheran North's lead at the break was 34-32.

Mistretta had nine of his 13 first-half points in the second quarter. Conner Allam added five in the quarter.

Hardies scored 10 points to lead Lutheran North in the first half. Moldenhauer added eight.