Latunski Reaches 1,000 Career High School Points

I couldn’t have reached this achievement without the support of my coaches, teammates, family, and all my supporters.”

Matthew Latunski

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

On Thursday, Feb. 19, Lakeview High School gym was full of an unusual number of Hornet spectators for an away game. The crowd was waiting with balloons, posters, and signs ready to celebrate junior Matthew Latusnki’s anticipated 1,000^th point of his high school career. Latunski needed just ten points to reach 1,000 and accomplished his goal within ten minutes and on a second shot a free throw.

Latunski was also the Harrison Community Schools All-Sports Boosters Athlete of the Week.

“Matthew is a true floor general out on the court” said his athlete of the week profile “With a high basketball IQ and a relentless work ethic, he leads by example and is constantly putting in extra work to elevate his game and his team.”

 Latunski joins only five other hornets that have reached 1,000 points. One of those five is Latunski’s cousin, Alexys Carlstrom who reached the 1,000 milestone in her senior year in 2019.

Ultimately, the Hornets were defeated at Lakeview 58-52.

Harrison boys end post-season drought, top Farwell in district opener

by BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Monday’s Division 3 district opening win was certainly a long time coming for the Harrison boys’ basketball team. The Hornets took down tourney host Farwell 53-37, in what was their first post-season victory since 2012.

The first quarter was a tight one, and Farwell had four points from Brayden Travis and an and-one play by Seth Burkhart. The Hornets meanwhile only scored on threes in the frame, with Collin Dennis burying two from behind the arc and Matt Latunski and Peyton Gallo had one three each, though Farwell led 13-12 after one.

The Hornets held Farwell to just three points in the second quarter. The Harrison offense had Dennis drill a three pointer and a pair of free throws and Latunski and Kelton Carlstrom knocked down shots from the floor as well, and the Hornets went in front 21-16 at the half.

Carlstrom knocked down a pair of threes in the third, part of his eight points in that frame and Latunski buried one three, and the Hornets began to take control with a 36-19 advantage entering the fourth.

Latunski finished the game with 12 points, 10 assists and four rebounds, Dennis netted 11 points, Carlstrom hit double figures as well with 10 points, to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Jayden Bobzien contributed nine points and he pulled down 10 rebounds, Gallo also had nine points, and four boards and Andrew Teebo added two points and two rebounds.

For the Eagles, they had Tristan Szott lead them with 11 points, Travis netted seven, Walker Brown put in six and Blake Sholes, Burkhart and Mason Esterline all had four points. Rylee Sprague also contributed with two points.

The loss of course ends the season for the Eagles, who just weren’t quite able to keep up with the Hornets.

“Harrison again shot the ball well and go the best of us,” Farwell head coach Mike Rocha said. “They’re a solid group and well coached.”

Harrison also played at Lakeview in their regular season finale on Thursday, Feb. 19. They lost the non-league contest 58-52, but they did have the night highlighted by Matt Latunski reaching 1000 career points. [See front page.]

“This puts him rare Hornet company,” head coach Brad Carlstrom said. “He is a great competitor and works extremely hard on his craft to get better every day. He deserves recognition for this accomplishment, and it comes as no surprise that he was able to reach it. He has a lot more in store for his basketball career, but taking time to celebrate this feat at this point is an honor and we as a team are proud of Matthew.”

Harrison was behind 16-12 after the first quarter, 28-25 at the half and 33-28 entering the fourth.

Latunski finished his historic night with 26 points, six rebounds and three assists, Gavin VanBuren had 12 points and eight rebounds, Dennis chipped in with six points, Carlstrom finished with five points and Bobzien had three points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Alex Erskine tracked down four rebounds, and Gallo hit the glass for three boards.

Harrison (11-12 overall) took on Beal City in the district semi-finals on Wednesday, while Beaverton and Evart were in the other semi-final. The winners of those contests play on Friday in the district finals, with the champion advancing to a regional semi-final game in Houghton Lake on Tuesday.

Farwell did win its regular season finale on Thursday, when they won a non-conference game in Ashley, 51-45.

“It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win,” Rocha said. “It is rewarding as a coach when everyone in the book has a score.”

The Eagles led the game 11-3 after the first quarter and held leads of 22-14 at the half and 38-20 entering the fourth.

All 11 players scored for the Eagles, led by Aiden Barkley and Travis with eight points each. Esterline scored seven points, Szott had five and with four apiece were Sholes, Dylan Mitchell, Sprague and Burkhart. They also had Brown get three points and Asher Yarhouse and Conner Cousineau had two points apiece.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Farwell lost its home Jack Pine crossover game to Clare, 47-33.

Esterline was able to hit double figures for the team with 10 points Barkley had nine and Brown put in four. Adding three points was Mitchell; while netting two points each was Travis, Yarhouse and Cousineau. Burkhart also had one point.

Farwell ends the season 4-19 overall and saw a big-time uptick in their competitiveness in games this season; something Rocha hopes carries over into next year as well.

“I’m very proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished this year,” he said. “We were competitive and won more games than this program has in the last handful of years.”