Polfus Goes Wild As NCA Winning Streak Continues

POWERS---When most people talk about the North Central High School basketball team, they mention Jason Whitens. Or Dawson Bilski. And rightly so, as both boys have turned in numerous outstanding performances over the past couple of seasons.

Not as many people mention Seth Polfus. Maybe they will from now on.

Polfus nailed seven three-point baskets Tuesday night as the North Central Jets raced to a 48-12 lead and cruised to a 64-42 win over the Menominee Maroons in Powers.

Polfus had his career night of 21 points just hours after he was announced as one of the statewide winners of the Class D scholar athlete scholarship award by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Polfus, a multi-sport athlete with a straight "A" grade point average, will attend the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse this fall.

Polfus made three three-pointers in the first quarter, and fellow senior Dawson Bilski also made three triples as the Jets rolled to a 25-4 lead after the first eight minutes.

Then in the second quarter, senior Jason Whitens got going with ten points of his own, putting the Jets ahead of the Maroons, 48-12, at halftime. Whitens ended up with 18 points.

Menominee (4-9) played better in the second half, outscoring the Jets, 18-8, in the third quarter, and 12-8 in the fourth quarter. Tanner Mathias had 16 points for the Maroons.

There was a scary moment for the Jets in the second quarter as Bilski raced up-court to block a Marcus McKenney shot. Bilski smacked the ball off the backboard, and as he fell, he landed the wrong way on his ankle.

He rolled around in pain for a moment and was helped into the locker room. Bilski did not return to the game and finished with nine points.

Bobby Kleiman added ten points for North Central (14-0), which won its state-record 69th straight game.

The Jets will host Big Bay deNoc Friday night.

North Central's JV team also won Tuesday night, beating Menominee, 65-49.

POLFUS GETS STATEWIDE HONORS---The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA-Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.nFarm Bureau Insurance, in its 28th year of sponsoring the award, will give $1,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament.

Quote from Polfus's essay: “When a team has sportsmanship, (athletes) are learning more than just the athletic value of sports. They are learning a lesson about life. They are learning that one should treat others how one would want to be treated.”

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Tuesday night's game.