Photo by Lesli Zorn
Chance Stewart had a strong all-around performance Friday night and the Sturgis boys basketball team collectively exhaled when Lakeview’s last-second shot failed to drop.
On Senior Night the host Trojans came out on the winning end of a middle-of-the-pack, Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division tussle with the Spartans, 49-47.
Chance Stewart challenges Lakeview’s defense Friday.
(Photo by Lesli Zorn)
Stewart led all scorers with 27 points along with 15 rebounds and five assists. He was 10-for-20 from the field and a near-perfect 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
Jack Scheske was second-leading scorer for Sturgis (11-6, 6-6) with 10 points. Tristen Stewart added seven, Andrew Airgood pitched in with four and Ryan Schuller dropped in a free throw for a point.
Sturgis led 39-35 before holding off a well-rounded Lakeview team in the fourth quarter. The Spartans hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to cut the deficit to just two points.
When the Trojans couldn’t convert on the one-and-one opportunity at the free throw line, Lakeview was able to put up a potential game-tying try in the paint, but the shot was unsuccessful.
“It was crazy,” Stewart said. “It was a very physical game. [Their last shot] was right in the paint, kid spun off me and Ryan [Schuller] was right there to kind of alter the shot. It wasn’t a bad look. It was a little too close.”
The Spartans, which finished 18-for-45 (40 percent) from the field, were led by Camden Hames and his 12 points. Hames was the only player for Lakeview to score in double figures.
Sturgis outrebounded Lakeview 33-25 and shot 39.5 percent (17-for-43). Both squads knocked down six 3-point shots.
After the game Sturgis coach Keith Kurowski said he was especially pleased with the play of Tristen Stewart. Kurowski recently called up some junior varsity guards to challenge the sophomore, who is brimming with talent but hadn’t quite found his role.
Tristen Stewart
Kurowski wanted to see a more aggressive effort, which is exactly what happened Friday.
“I just came out tonight with a mindset of scoring and driving to the basket,” said Tristen Stewart, who added two rebounds and two assists. “Coach Kurowski was on me the past week to be more aggressive and to drive more. I also heard some Lakeview players saying how No. 12 doesn’t shoot. The guy guarding me usually played off so I took advantage of it. I have a lot more confidence after that game; close-game wins like that always boosts up your confidence.”