In a solid performance, Leland boys basketball defeated Benzie Central 51-45, notching their second win of the season.
“It’s awesome to do it on a senior night, just with everybody here, knowing it’s our last game at home; it was pretty cool,” Leland senior Brady Keen said.
Leland celebrated senior night for Keen, Colby Connor, and Liam Waskiewicz.
The Comets have been on the short end of close losses throughout the season, but on senior night, Leland wrote its own story, earning its first win since Jan. 13 against Mesick.
After a fast start, the Comets captured the win in the final moments.
Leland started the game hot with a 17-9 lead behind a stifling 2-3 zone and fast break points. The Huskies would fight in the second quarter to cut into Leland’s lead 20-18. The Comets went into halftime up 23-21. Benzie would take the lead immediately in the second half behind lethal 3-point shooting. The Comets would explode with a dozen points in the final half of the third quarter to take a 39-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Leland would lead by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter before the Huskies stormed back to within three points.
Leland junior Adrian Spencer led the effort with 25 points, while Bok Molter had 12 points, all from three-pointers in the second half. Spencer had nine points in the first quarter and eight in the fourth quarter to help secure the win.
Keen had four points, Connor had two points, and Liam Waskiewicz chipped in a free in the final moments to give the Comets a four-point lead with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
It was a team defensive effort.
“It’s such a good moment going into playoffs in all those close games. We know we could have done it; we know we can do it all season,” Waskiewicz said. “After losing (throughout the season), it almost becomes a habit, and now that we broke it, it’ll be easier to pick up those wins in the playoffs.”
Leland will play Frankfort in a pre-district game Monday at Suttons Bay.
“We just played a bunch of solid teams, and we’re close … we know we can do it, so we just gotta keep bringing it,” Connor said.
