Portland Boys Basketball Fall at Hastings

The Hastings Saxons (2-3) won their second game in a row tonight at the expense of the visiting Portland Raiders by a score of 63-52.

Coach Dave Pettit said after the game, “In the second quarter we turned the ball over too much. Ertner, their post player gave our young post defenders a lesson as he scored 25 points. They were a more physical team than us. Owen Russell shot it well and Aryan Virk started scoring in the second half. Defensively Zach Pier, Gavin McGregor and Tate Dziewiatkowski really played well in our full court press.”

Hastings led by 13 points at half-time and even though the Raiders made adjustments and outscored the Saxons 29-27 in the second half….it wasn’t enough to overcome the Saxons first half lead. Sr. Cameron Ertner scored 15 first half points and was perfect at the free line hitting 3 out of 3 to lead Hastings. Ertner and his Jr. teammate Elijah Smith combined to score 39 of Hastings total points.

Portland fell to 2-4 on the year and were led tonight by Juniors Owen Russell with 21 points and Aryan Virk with 16.

The Raiders will now get an almost three-week Holiday break, following a hectic season start that saw them play six games in a little over a two-week period, due to their successful football season that ended in the State Championship game at Ford Field. They resume CAAC-White play on January 4th with a 6:00 home game against league rival Lansing Catholic which is 4-2 on the season.

“Over the break we will be conditioning and working on rebounding at both ends of the floor as well as taking care of the ball” Pettit said, in describing what the Raider goals will be during practices over the Holiday Break.