Leland boys basketball earned a come-from-behind victory over Suttons Bay Thursday, 50-48.
“We started out slow to start the game against Suttons Bay, and just did not execute well,”
Leland coach Ryan Knudsen said. “We created a double-digit deficit in the first half, and that grew to as many as 15 in the second half. However, this group showed their resilience and continued to persevere as they stepped up to the challenge that was in front of them.”
The Comets were first on the board with junior Hayden VanSteenhouse swishing a 3-pointer as Suttons Bay senior Urijah TwoCrow answered with a 3-pointer of his own. Suttons Bay continued their run throughout the first quarter as the Norsemen took a 12-4 lead.
Suttons Bay senior Zachariah Raphael opened the scoring in the second frame, which would start a back-and-forth quarter.
Comet senior Adrian Spencer would get his first basket of the night, followed by a Comet junior Christopher Knudsen basket to finally get some momentum and reduce the Norsemen’s lead to nine. Suttons Bay wouldn’t shy away as TwoCrow made back-to-back 3-pointers along with a layup as time expired to give the Norsemen a 27-16 lead.
Raphael opened the second half with a deep 3-pointer, while TwoCrow followed it up with a block that turned into a Raphael layup. A couple of possessions later, the Comets came to life as sophomore Luigi Maresca hit a massive 3-pointer to bring the Comets within 10 points once again, which would end the third quarter 36-28.
To start the fourth quarter, the Comets would work the ball around before attempting a shot that was blocked by Raphael. On the following possession, Leland would turn the ball over to the
Norse and get a technical foul with TwoCrow making one of the free throws. After getting a stop, Leland senior Bok Molter would make a 3-pointer to cut the lead to four points. The score to within four points. The Comets would make multiple crucial stops as Maresca hit another 3-pointer. Eventually, Knudsen would hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, and Maresca would hit another to give Leland the lead.
“I missed my first shot, but I knew that if I worked with my teammates and I got rebounds, moved the ball well, it all would come together,” Maresca said. “It gave me confidence, and we all just built up from there.”
The Norse were unable to convert the buzzer-beater shot, and the Comets grabbed the rebound, securing the 50-48 win as time expired.
TwoCrow led the offense for Suttons Bay with 18 points, and Raphael had 17.
“I felt we played really good in the first half,” coach Phillips said. “I felt like we put ourselves in a position to win the game and it came up short,” Suttons Bay coach Noah Phillips said.
Knudsen led the Comets with 18 points, while Vansteenhouse had nine, Maresca had seven, and Spencer had six.
The Comets are off until the new year, when they battle Lake Leelanau St. Mary at home January 5 at 7 p.m.
Suttons Bay will travel to Brethren on January 7 at 7 p.m. to tip off 2026.
