Advertisement

But, appearances were deceiving for the Blazers. Grayling weathered the storm, and came back to take a 64-56 win in overtime. Although the Blazers struggled on their offensive boards, so did the Vikings.

The game was eventually decided at the free throw line, where the Vikings' pulled away in overtime.

While the Blazers scored just two points in the extra four-minute period, Grayling tallied 10 - six of them free throws by Richard Schreiber.

Kalkaska enjoyed an 11-point lead at the half, and had the home crowd on its feet when it expanded that to 15 in the third period. But the Vikings sliced that down to just four points, 44-40, by the end of the quarter and seized the momentum away from the Blazers. Jake Heller penetrated the baseline for a layup that capped a 6-0 run by the Blazers that gave them a 7-point lead, 54-47 with 3:25 remaining in the game.

The Blazers opened the scoring in the fourth period when John Kasza turned a steal into a driving layup, and Jake Royston added a free throw for a 47-45 lead.

Grayling refused to flinch, however. The Vikings sank a pair of free throws to knot the game, 47-47.

Royston knocked down a 3-point shot for the Blazers that ignited the home crowd, and produced a 50-47 edge. But, the Vikings again roared back.

A steal and layup by Schreiber cut the Kalkaska lead to one, 54-53, and his free throw tied it, 54-54 with 43.1 seconds to play in regulation. Schreiber converted four straight free throws to push the Vikings out to a 6-point lead, 61-55 with 44.6 seconds left. Game over.

Back-to-back 3-point field goals by Travis Schuba vaulted the Blazers into a 15-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

It was only a one-point game, 22-21, late in the second quarter when the Blazers went on a 10-0 run to end the period, highlighted by another trey by Schuba, to take a 32-21 halftime lead.

Kasza stretched the Blazers' lead to 15 points, 41-26 with 5:26 to play in the third quarter. Grayling outscored the Blazers, 14-3 the rest of the way to climb back within four at the half.

Kasza led the Blazers (4-6, 3-2 LMC) with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Heller added 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Schuba had 12 points and 5 assists.

The Blazers were scheduled to be at Harbor Springs on Tuesday and Elk Rapids on Friday.