Imlay City clamps down on Notre Dame Prep for district title

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

IMLAY CITY — There was a mandated overtime session Friday in Imlay City and the host Spartans were rewarded with a district trophy for their extra work.

Imlay City outscored Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 18-2, in the overtime period to lift it to a 57-41 victory the Fighting Irish in a Class B district final.

The Spartans will face state powerhouse Birmingham Detroit Country Day in the regional semifinals Monday at Notre Dame Prep.

Matt Vandyke, Imlay City’s 6-foot-8 senior center, powered his way to 21 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Notre Dame Prep had difficulty stopping the Spartans’ big man.

“Vandyke is the difference for their team,” said Notre Dame Prep coach Brandon Jezdimir. “He does a lot for them down low.

“We struggled to score. It was just one of those nights where nothing was going in,” offered Jezdimir. “I thought both teams had a hard time scoring, but they were able to pull away in overtime.”

The Spartans (17-6) opened overtime with a three-pointer from senior guard Zach Darnell that kickstarted the decisive run that put the game away for the Spartans.

“That three kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit,” admitted Jezdimir. “They hit some shots (in overtime) and then hit a bunch of free throws. We couldn’t match it in overtime.”

Ryan Piece led Pontiac Notre Dame Prep with 14 points and Daniel Durkin scored 10. The Irish (10-12), which closed with a seven-game skid, were missing 6-foot-5 senior post player Troy Sassack, who is out with mononucleosis.

The Irish were forced to shift 6-foot-8 senior Kellen McCormick around during the game, but the Spartans held McCormick to only four points. Ryan Gloasa scored nine for NDP.

The third quarter saw an offensive surge from each team. PNDP scored 20 points and .

Imlay City led 13-8 after the first quarter and 20-14 at the half.

“I would have thought that would have been the score after the first quarter,” said Jezdimir.

Notre Dame Prep went on a 20-17 run in the third quarter to close the gap down to 37-34, then outscored the Spartans 5-2 in the fourth quarter.

It was all Imlay City in overtime.

“We did a nice job coming back on them and we finally got going some in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter we just couldn’t hit the big shot to kind of put us over the hump or get on a run to close them out,” said Jezdimir.

“This is disappointing, because if we won, we would have played on our home floor (for regionals),” added Jezdimir.”

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