Mike Nadratowski stays one step ahead of the Novi press.

The Big Green

Novi's size, depth prove to be too much for Plymouth in 66-45 setback

BY ED WRIGHT
March 11, 2010, 12:45 p.m.

  Instead of dreading Wednesday night's first-round Class A District contest against high-powered host Novi, Plymouth coach Mike Soukup embraced it.

  "Hey, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best sooner or later, so it might as well be sooner," Plymouth's first-year coach rationalized.

  Soukup's Wildcats hung tough with the host Wildcats for one quarter before eventually getting worn down by Novi's size and depth in a season-ending 66-45 loss.

  Plymouth, whose roster included just two seniors, finished with an 11-10 record. Novi advanced to Friday's 7 p.m. final against Canton with a 16-5 mark.

  "We tried to learn something from every game we played this season," said Soukup, one of the most enthusiastic and energetic coaches you'll ever see pace a sideline. "The number one thing I think our guys can take out of this game was how hard you have to play to get to where Novi is now. They were hungry the entire game and it showed on the scoreboard.

  "The guys who are coming back know they have to have a good off-season. We don't want to settle for being a little better than average."

  Novi led 15-9 after one quarter before stretching its lead to 26-16 at the break.

  The green-uniformed Wildcats then scored as many points in the third quarter -- 26 -- as they did in the entire first half on the way to extending their cushion to 52-33.

  "They outrebounded us about three-to-one," Soukup said. They were getting three or four looks just about every time down the court and they made 11 threes."

  A trio of juniors paced the Plymouth scoring attack: Pat Salo led the way with 13 points, Brennen Beyer added nine and Mike Nadratowski contributed seven.

  Samier Ozier led Novi with 19 points, 12 coming on a quartet of treys.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.