Smith surpasses 1,000 points, sets records in wild hoops game
After passing 1,000 career points, Gavin Smith set Staples-Motley basketball records scoring 43 points with 10, three pointers as he fueled an incredible comeback against Detroit Lakes on Feb. 10, only to fall short by two points in a 84-82 loss.
“Gavin’s performance in the last two minutes was something none of us will likely see again,” said Coach Micheal Poncelet. “He was hitting every shot he was taking.”
Smith’s point total in the game surpassed Jordan Riewer’s school record of 42 and the 10, three pointers tied Erik Kelly’s school record. He had 16 rebounds, four shy of the school’s record.
Poncelet said Smith scored 18 points in the last two minutes, after the team was down 14 with four minutes remaining. It wasn’t just Smith. “It was as if the guys were willing themselves to win,” said Poncelet. Josh Lombard made some key steals, Trey Skeesick pulled in the rebounds, Derek Kennedy made a big three point shot and Mason Rychner added a clutch basket. Even when it looked like the team had run out of time, Jack Fietek “had the where-withall to slap the ball and take a delay of game to stop the clock with 4.9 seconds left,” said Poncelet.
DL made their free throws down the line to maintain the lead. Smith made a half court shot at the buzzer for the final score of his historic night. He earned his 1,000 point on a free throw in the first half.
Poncelet said the Cardinals fell behind 26-7, early as DL made a lot of outside shots. He said the team’s defense was pretty good from that point on.
The Cards played Crosby-Ironton on Feb. 7, falling 68-54. Poncelet said Staples-Motley played better than their first meeting with C-I, but so did Crosby-Ironton. “We improved our shooting percentage from 38 to 50 and our three point percentage from 36 to 46, but a lot of credit to C-I,” said Poncelet, “they just didn’t turn the ball over.”
Skeesick had 13 rebounds in that game.
Team results
S-M 54, C-I-68
Scoring: G. Smith 22, T. Skeesick 16, J. Fietek 8, D. Kennedy 3, Josh Lombard 3, Max Giza 2
S-M 82, DL 84
Scoring: Smith 43, Skeesick 15, Lombard 8, Kennedy 6, Fietek 6, Rychner 2, Hunter Carlson 2
