Lansing Catholic Defeats Portland 82-55 in Boys Basketball

The Lansing Catholic Cougars visited Portland on Friday night and put the game away early. The Cougars led 19-16 at the end of the first quarter and 39-27 at half-time. Lansing Catholic began to use their bench early in the second quarter, no doubt confident about the outcome considering an earlier season 82-27 defeat of the Raiders.

Aryan Virk and Owen Russell led Portland in scoring with 18 and 16 points respectively. Alex Waters had 15 to pace the Cougars followed by Charlie Nylander and Josh Risner with 12 and D. Ferguson with 11. Lansing Catholic improved their record to 14-2 on the year. The Cougars are 8-1 in the CAAC White Division and can win the title outright next Friday by defeating Ionia who is 7-2, after being upset by Lansing Sexton at home last night. Portland fell to 5-11 for the year and will visit Eaton Rapids next Friday.

The trip to Eaton Rapids will be without Raider Head Basketball Coach Jason Goerge. He was given a technical early in the third quarter of last night’s game and moments later was given a second technical, by what some fans thought was an overreaction by the official who called the first technical. Goerge was ejected from the game and by rule required to leave the gym. Assistant Coach Jamison Goerge took over coaching responsibilities for the remainder of the contest. The MHSAA requires a one game/next game suspension for any coach or player who receives two technicals in a game. Portland fans were not happy with Goerge’s ejection, especially the student section. PHS Principal Christine Rockey and other PHS staff immediately went to sit with the students and help them finish the game with an attitude of restraint and respect.