There are no pigs, chickens or bales of hay in the Sundman family barn.
There is just a basketball hoop, a few ATV’s and plenty of room for Hartland sophomore Parker Sundman to work on his mid-range game, up and under moves and three-point shots. And now and then you get mom or dad yelling instructions and word of motivation.
All of his underground barn training came into play Friday night as Hartland (7-2 overall, 1-1 in the KLAA) rallied to beat arch rival Brighton (3-6, 0-2) in a hotly contested, 53-51 boys basketball victory at Hartland.
Sundman, who pumped in 24 points, put Hartland up 52-51 with 8.8 seconds on a cross over move in the lane, finished with an underhand scoop near the basket. That tied the game 51-51. Sundman also practices free throw shooting during his barn storming sessions. He was fouled on the play and his free throw put Hartland up for good.
The public is now just seeing those moves born on a dirt track in the family barn.
Sundman is the leader of a kiddie core which includes fellow sophomores Brady DeLaBarre and 6-foot-7 forward Layne Broker.
Sundman moved up to varsity his freshman season to help bolster a sputtering offense that averaged roughly 43 points a game. He responded by scoring 14 and 17 points his first two games. He has not looked back and is considered a top five player in Livingston County.
“We are capable of going far in the (state) playoffs,” Sundman said. “And its great having everyone on the same page.”
The Eagles want to get back in the habit of challenging for the KLAA title and advancing to at least the district finals after taking a 7-17 dip last season.
Sundman is the leader on offense, but Hartland does not rally from a six-point fourth quarter deficit without defense. The Eagles grew tired of turning the ball over without challenging Brighton more. This is where senior guard Brady Quinn steps in.
He baited the Bulldogs into a throw to senior guard Trevor Viau (23 points) late into the game. Quinn tied Viau up, forcing a held ball. The possession arrow favored Hartland with 6.7 seconds remaining. Still Brighton got a chance to win the game but Brandon Lovejoy’s desperation three-point attempt hit the back of the rim at the buzzer.
“I knew they were trying to get the ball to two,” Quinn said. “He had been scoring a lot in the fourth quarter. I was just trying to get up on the ball.”