Foresters capture Rotary crown

BY JOBY FAWCETT
Times-Shamrock Writer

Matt Nevins and Noah Fedak wanted to spend the rest of their holiday break celebrating a championship win in their final Forest City Rotary Tournament.

Both seniors turned in all-star efforts, combining for 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the host school, Forest City, to a 52-45 win over Mountain View in Friday’s championship game.

“This is a huge deal for us,” said Nevins, who was chosen as the tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring five points and contributing six rebounds and five assists in the final and finishing with 11 points in the two games. “We have been through some ups and downs and this really means a lot to get this in front of our home crowd.”

Forest City (4-3) seized control of the game in the middle two quarters, outscoring the feisty Eagles, 29-17. The run featured an 11-2 burst to start the second half that built a 39-26 advantage.

In the second and third quarters, sophomore Jared Paulin scored all seven of his points, junior Dylan O’Dell had seven points, and freshman center Noah Yates scored four points and grabbed five of his 10 rebounds to also earn a spot on the all-tournament team.

“I just went in, got position and went up for the rebounds when I saw the shots go up,” said Yates, who had 14 points in a semifinal win over Western Wayne on Tuesday.

Mountain View (1-7) kept pace with the Foresters by hitting timely 3-pointers.

Cody Hollister hit one at the buzzer to end the first quarter and give the Eagles a 13-11 lead. He also connected on one with 7 seconds remaining in the third quarter that pulled Mountain View to within 40-30.

Hollister, who had a game-high 18 points and was selected to the all-tournament team, added his third 3-pointer and Jesse Gerfin had one during a 13-2 start to the fourth quarter that tied the game, 42-42.

Chris White also contributed to the surge with four of his seven points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.

“The last two games we played well on the offensive and defensive ends, but in the first two or three minutes of the third quarter we weren’t doing the little things,” Mountain View coach Spencer Lunger said. “We started realizing that if we do the little things, we could come back and make a game of it and we were able to do that.

“Credit Forest City for taking on our charge and coming right back. It was a very good game.”

Forest City stayed poised down the stretch, particularly from the free-throw line.

After Cody Barrese scored off of an offensive rebound, Fedak drilled a basket and hit all four of his free throws in the final minute to finish with a team-high 16 points. Nevins made two free throws as the Foresters pulled away for the title.

“Coming in this was one of our season goals to win the Rotary,” said Fedak, who had 29 points in the two wins. “Free throws are very important and it felt good to come in and hit some to seal the win.”