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UTICA — There’s that iconic intercom scene with John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction” that is since change into one of the vital relatable memes on the web.
Uma Thurman’s character is chatting with him over the intercom, and his character is trying across the room and has no thought the place she is. He appears to be like to his left. After which whereas he appears to be like to the correct, he raises his left palm towards the ceiling in a “the place are YOU?” movement.
Jenna Holzberger WAS Travolta’s character in Port Huron’s Macomb Space Convention-White women basketball recreation Tuesday at Utica. 4 of the Large Reds’ starters mixed for 11 fouls within the first half of the 35-28 close-call win.
The foursome every spent a lot of the half on the bench, whereas Holzberger was on the court docket trying round for her fellow starters and asking herself, “The place are YOU?”
Purchase PicturePort Huron’s Emma Trombly drives by way of the paint towards Utica in a Macomb Space Convention-Silver women basketball recreation on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. (Picture: Brandon Folsom/Port Huron Occasions Herald)
However that is why this group of Large Reds is particular. They’ve a deep bench with gamers reminiscent of Morgan James, Jaiden DeLong and Joslyn Williams, who’re simply pretty much as good because the starters and would seemingly begin on different groups, who can are available in and hold battling when issues get bushy. This squad works collectively when occasions get powerful, and it has proven.
Proper now, they’re 13-Zero general and 6-Zero within the division with a two-game lead within the standings. Plus Mick McCabe lately ranked them No. 9 — their first rating of the season — within the Detroit Free Press’ high 10 for Division 1 groups (they have been voted an honorable point out in Tuesday morning’s Related Press ballot).
Extra: Port Huron Northern boys basketball vs. St. Clair: Photos
In “Pulp Fiction,” Travolta’s character eventually figures out how to speak to Thurman’s through the intercom and so too did Port Huron sort out its foul trouble.
“It’s so frustrating not getting some of the calls you want,” said Madison Landschoot, who picked up her third foul with 6:13 left in the first half. “But it just shows you what kind of team we are. We just pushed through and tried to work past, just keep going and keep pushing.
“Everybody works so hard and is so talented on this team, and we’ve got a great bench. When the bench comes in, it’s like starters are in all over again. Even with us in foul trouble, we actually have people to back us up right there. It’s just perfect.”
In the third quarter, the Big Reds limited the Chieftains to only one field goal — a 3-pointer by Madison Barch — and scored seven-straight points to carry a 26-22 edge into the fourth. That included Holzberger burying a 3 of her own to tie it up, 22-22.
The fourth saw Emma Trombly score six of her team-high 12 points, which included her making a wide-open basket under the rim during a four-corners kill-the-clock play. Landschoot, who scored eight points, stepped up and made three key free throws down the stretch to ensure the victory.
It was a sloppy foul-fest to begin the game, but James made back-to-back field goals late in the first quarter to give Port Huron a 10-4 advantage.
And then Utica’s star guard, Lina Rea, stepped up and scored nine of her 14 points in the second quarter, helping the Chieftains scrap and claw their way back into the game. Utica played for the final possession of the half, but what looked like was their last shot rimmed out. However, somehow, someway, Rea was there to quickly corral the rebound and throw up a jumper that swished at the buzzer to knot the score at 19 as both teams jogged into the locker room.
“We just had to make sure we maintained composure,” coach Becky Gilbert said. “If we would’ve worried about the refs, it would’ve taken us out of our game. So we just had to keep maintaining composure.”
Port Huron did just that in the second half, even avoiding the foul bug that was going around earlier in the night.
It held Rea to only five points in the second half, thanks to some hard-nosed defense by Holzberger and some help-side defense by a few other Big Reds.
“Since she’s so fast, I’ve got to give her a few steps and keep moving my feet,” Holzberger said. “I absolutely could not foul her or touch her, so I had to play straight-up defense, something different that we really haven’t experienced this season.”
Up next for Port Huron is a trip Friday to Sterling Heights Stevenson. The Big Reds are just two division wins from clinching at least a share of the MAC-White title.
Briefly: The Port Huron boys basketball team beat visiting Eastpointe 84-83 in overtime on Tuesday night.
The win pushes the Big Reds (4-5) into a three-way tie for first place in the MAC-Silver, as Port Huron, Eastpointe and Marysville are each 3-1 in the division.
De’Ovion Price led with 28 points, while Ethan Balon scored 20 and Jace Mullins had 15.
Brandon Folsom is the sports reporter at the Times Herald. Do you have a story idea? Email him at bfolsom@gannett.com. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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