Despite a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt by visiting Byron, the Goodrich basketball squad notched a league victory Jan. 6.
Wayne Coulman scored 13 points and Craig Van Wagoner added 10 points, three steals and three assists as the Martians defeated Byron 49-41.
The two teams started out slowly, with Goodrich taking a 6-5 lead at the end of the first period. However, Coulman scored 11 of his 13 points in the second period (including three three-point shots) as the Martians asserted command of the game, taking a 20-11 lead at halftime.
The Martians turned up the offense even further in the third quarter, as seven different players scored on their way to an 18-point period. Goodrich held a commanding 38-24 lead at the end of the third.
However, Byron would not go away. Led by Justin Burt’s six points in the fourth, Byron scored 17 points in the final frame. Nonetheless, it was the Martians who held on for the win.
In addition to Coulman and Van Wagoner, several other Martians played a part in the win. Kirk Elsworth led the team in rebounding with nine (including three offensive rebounds) and contributed three steals, while Michael Skinner added eight boards. Adam McAuliffe had four steals to lead the Martians in that department.
Goodrich returns to action when they host North Branch Tuesday, Jan. 13.