By DAVID COOK
It’s not how you start, but how you finish.
Those words were taken to heart by the Powers Catholic boys basketball team this season.
After starting the season with a 3-9 record, the Chargers not only closed the season strong to even their record at .500, but they also collected district and regional championships on their way to a berth in the elite eight in Class B.
Anchored by a strong senior class led by Nick Sullivan, Ethan Wiskur, and Eric Thompson, the Chargers went 5-3 down the stretch of the regular season to enter the state playoffs with an 8-12 record. The playoffs brought a new and exciting chapter to the season. After opening district play with a 60-42 win against LakeVille, the Chargers won a thrilling 54-53 game against neighbor Flint Northwestern. Powers rallied from a five-point deficit in the final two minutes to win the game on a shot by Wiskur with six seconds remaining. Wiskur led the team with a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Sullivan added 26 points.
The Chargers then won the district title with a 59-56 win against Millington.
Powers continued its tournament run at the regional level. The Chargers defeated Swan Valley 65-49 in the semifinals and then defeated St. Clair 54-39 to win the regional.
The tournament run finally came to an end in the Class B quarterfinals, when eventual state champion Detroit Country Day defeated the Chargers 79-61.