Junior forward Jackson Vohwinkle and sophomore Romen Williams do not play much when Howell’s basketball team battles on the basketball floor. They both average about one-point per game mostly in mop up duty.
However, they provided a much need spark during the Highlander’s 58-47 home victory over Hartland Friday night. Vohwinkle and Williams fill the gym with loud claps and loud shouts of support whenever their teammates are working hard on the defensive end.
It only gets louder as the possession is extended. Howell basketball is about the screetches of sneakers digging in on the defensive end and the roar of the bench, a short-lived tradition begun by another high motor guy Jack Metz.
“They give us that enthusiasm we need,” said Howell ooach Nick Simon. “That’s why I love having them around. And to have that enthusiasm and team support when they don’t play is amazing.”
Teammates notice the love from the bench. The Highlanders clamped on to the Eagles of Hartland like a rabid dog in heat, holding Hartland to 13 points in the first half and five in the second quarter. They failed to keep up the intensity in the second half which allowed Hartland to shrink a 20-point halftime deficit (33-13) to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter.
Hartland outworked Howell on the boards in the second half, grinding for 14 offensive boards. Hartland also seemed to come up with every loose ball after falling way behind.
Senior guard Logan Leppek certainly notices the support from the bench. He not only played great defense but filled the stat sheet with 21 points, seven rebounds and a steal. He made 6-of-10 field goals, made all eight free throw attempts and hit his only three-point attempt.
“The thing for us is embracing the struggle,” Leppek said. “That is kind of our model. It pretty much means that any adversity that is thrown our way, we face it every day and I think we bring that every single day and that is the face of our program.”
Howell (11-7 overall, 8-5 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East Division) had designs of winning the conference this season. However, it must settle for third place behind conference champion Canton (12-2) and Brighton (11-3).
Hartland (6-14, 3-10) finished seventh in the eight-team race. Guard Michael Pennala paced Hartland with 16 points and seven rebounds.