OSCODA – Oscoda was unable to dethrone North Star League Big Dipper champion Charlton Heston Academy (CHA) on Friday. The Owls were playing a boys basketball game on the Patriots home court, where they lost 49-28.

“It was senior night and Heston played with great energy,” head coach Mike Poland said of the game. “We cut it to three in the third and they hit five threes and made some good shots to close the game.”

CHA led 13-8 after the first quarter and 19-13 at the half. The Patriots hot third quarter led them to take a 37-19 advantage entering the fourth, and that all but decided Oscoda’s fate.

Randey Eschenburg led the Owls with 10 points, Crue Weisenstein had six, Zayne Altz netted four while Jon Sexton, Hunter Vincenty-Cole and Reed Curley all had two points. Dustin Filipiak and Tyler Kretchman added one point apiece.

Things went much better for the Owls on Tuesday, Feb. 17, when they slipped by visiting Rogers City (R-C) in NSL Big Dipper play, 37-36.

This avenges a 27-point loss to the Hurons just two weeks prior.

“I’m so happy for our seniors Randey Eschenburg, Tyler Kretchman and Dustin Filipiak,” Poland said. “Crue Weisenstein struggled early on, Jack Poland and Reed Curley both gave us good minutes until he took over in the fourth. It was a great team effort by all of our guys.”

R-C went on an 8-0 run to start the game and led 12-7 after one. The Hurons led 21-8 late in the half, but the Owls went on a 9-0 spurt to close out the half down just 21-17. R-C was still ahead 34-27 entering the fourth, but Oscoda dominated the final eight minutes of play to get the hard-earned victory. Oscoda took its lead at 37-36 with about four minutes to play and neither team scored the rest of the way.

Weisenstein scored all eight of his points in the fourth, while Curley also had eight points in the game. Eschenburg and Vincenty-Cole had eight points as well, Poland finished with five and Filipiak and Altz had two points each.

For the Hurons, Jacob Catalano had 17 points while Justin Romel and Max Zavala added seven points apiece.

The win was also a milestone for the program, as it was Poland’s 100th career victory. He had plenty of thoughts on that feat, and what it meant for the recent history of the team.

“I’m appreciative of the milestone but feel it represents more of the accomplishments of our program and players over the last several years,” he said. “It also represents what (previous head coach) Seth Alda started in 2012 when he took over our program. Reaching a 100 would not be possible without the program he built. What we have done together in his seven years and my next seven years as the varsity Coaches at Oscoda Area High School, with nearly 180 wins means the most to me, our program, and 14 years of our outstanding players. He mentored me, we worked together to build a program that allowed me 100 sub varsity wins with some of the same players that have built these last 100 varsity wins means the most. I hope our players, alumni and fans are able to celebrate the success of our program tonight, it is truly about all of them.”

Oscoda (8-13 overall, 4-6 NSL Big Dipper) opened Division 3 district action at Tawas Area on Monday, taking on Roscommon. The winner of that game plays in the semi-finals today (Wednesday) against top seed Charlton Heston Academy, with the finals set for Friday. Tawas Area, Johannesburg-Lewiston and Alcona are also in the district, and the district winner will head for Houghton Lake on Tuesday for a regional semi-final game.