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MIO – The Kirtland Community College mens basketball team started its season exactly the way it wanted, with an impressive 71-54 victory over the visiting Rochester College JV Warriors at the McGregor Athletic Complex in Mio on Monday, Nov. 2.
The host Firebirds (1-0 overall) won their season-opener by outgunning the visiting Warriors (0-1 overall) in the second half, 41-29. That after Kirtland had built a 30-25 advantage at half time.
“It wasn’t pretty,” said Kirtland’s third-year head coach Ty McGregor. “(But) we started the season off with a win. That’s a good thing.”
Some of the sloppy play might be due to the fact that there’s not even one returning hoopsters on the Kirtland roster. All 17 Firebirds suiting up for the start of the 2009-10 season are freshman.
“We are young,” McGregor said. “But I’m not buying into that excuse that the team is all freshman.”
A trio of Firebirds scored in double digits to lead Kirtland.
Guard Desmond Sain (Detroit Southwestern) hit for a game-high 14 points in the win, as well as recording a team-best 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Guard Wade Luxford (Frankfort) chipped in 13 points, 3 boards 2 steals and 1 assist, with forward Dmitry Martynenko (Moscow, Russia) adding 12 points, grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds and handing out 4 assists.
Other Firebirds contributing in Monday’s home win included: Ricky Odige (Glades Day, Fla.) with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist; Alvin Sitkiewicz (Gaylord St. Mary’s) with 6 points and 2 boards; Tariq Martin (Glades Day, Fla.) with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal; Taylor Smith (Cedarville) with 5 points and 2 boards; Xavier Walker (Flint Powers Catholic) with 2 points and 1 rebound; Zachary Kaul (Hartland, Calif.) with 2 points, 5 assists and 3 steals; Mario Williams (Bridgeport) with 2 points, 2 assists and 2 steals; Stanislav Unsa (Moscow, Russia) with 2 points and 1 board; Jeremy Taylor (Fairview) with 3 steals and 1 rebound; and Luke Lamond (Hartland/Howell) with 1 assist and 1 steal.
“I thought our guys played hard,” McGregor added.
Junior guard Tim O’Bryant (Advanced Technology Academy) tallied a team-high 12 points to help pace the Warriors.
For more information on Kirtland athletics, visit online at firebirds.kirtland.edu or call 989-275-5000, extension 385.
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