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Mancelona began the game looking unprepared.Ê Despite the struggles, they were only down 8-9 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.Ê Adam Duerksen and T.J. Harcourt found some twine to gain the 12-9 lead. But that was where MancelonaÕs lead became tenuous.Ê Forest AreaÕs Greg Kinney spotted up for a basket to tie the game up, then Zach Roys scored three points after the bucket and foul.Ê With the Ironmen down with the seconds ticking down, Warriors point guard Tyler Denike lofted a throw from five feet behind the line as the buzzer sounded to give his team an 18-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

Mancelona was down six points, mainly because of Forest Area hitting four baskets in the first quarter alone.

Duerksen came out and hit a two-pointer to begin the second quarter, but as was the case in the first quarter, Warriors guard Tyler Lane hit a three to respond promptly.Ê Jeremy Howard scored after a nice pass from Steve Sheridan to make the score 18-21 with just under six minutes to play in the half.

But Forest Area continued their stellar ball movement, which resulted in a Jeremiah Stocker kick-out to a wide open Kinney.Ê Lane went at it again, knocking down an open three to make it 26-18, Forest Area.Ê The Ironmen scored a bucket to inch closer, but Forest Area again reacted with a bucket from a slashing Lane..Ê After at after the score, Mancelona turned it over and allowed Denike to get to the free throw line.Ê After hitting both shots, the half ended with the disappointed Ironmen down, 20-30.

Ironmen Greg Blanco ignited the crowd after successfully airing a three-pointer to start the third quarter.Ê After Kinney scored for the Warriors, Howard and Duerksen went about some business of their own to bring Mancelona to within seven points, 28-35.

However, the Ironmen didnÕt seem to have an answer for Lane, allowing the elusive guard to split between three defenders for the layup.Ê Denike added to the lead with a running floater that pulled Forest Area up 39-28.Ê To make matters worse for Mancelona, Denike went down the court on their next possession and sank a threepointer to give Forest Area their largest lead of the night at 14.Ê Duerksen scored a bucket down low with 10 seconds left in the quarter to make the score 30-42. The start of the fourth quarter was in the favor of the Warriors again, as Roys got to the charity stripe numerous times after going hard to the basket.Ê With the score 4732, the Ironmen needed baskets.Ê Blanco started something for Mancelona, scoring a bucket and going to the free throw line.Ê Although he missed the shot, Howard capitalized, grabbing the offensive rebound and getting to the line himself.Ê After hitting both shots, the Ironmen were down, 39-48.

With less than two minutes to go in the game, the Ironmen had to intentionally foul to stay in the game.Ê Although the tactic generally worked, they couldnÕt get any closer than six points from the lead.Ê Blanco hit a late three to make things interesting, but time proved deadly, and the game ended with the score 47-53.

ÒWe just couldnÕt seem to get on track,Ó said Mancelona head coach Rick Duerksen. Ò(We) struggled with closing the margin to single digits. We did a good job of limiting turnovers and ball control, but it just wouldnÕt fall for us tonight.Ó

Howard led the team with 12 points and nine boards, while Blanco scored 11 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Duerksen finished with nine points and five rebounds.

On Tuesday, the Ironmen took on Manton and, similar to their endeavors against Forest Area, could not get on the path they needed to get on.

Mancelona struggled in the first quarter and found themselves down 10-19. The second quarter saw much of the same, as the Ironmen struggled to shoot well. Their score was doubled up by Manton at halftime and the Ironmen were in trouble.

However, the tide began to turn in the second half, as shots started to fall.

ÒWe had a good third quarter, scoring 23 points to their eight to tie it up,Ó said Ironmen coach Rick Duerksen.

Mancelona ended up outscoring Manton 37-24 in the second half, but they couldnÕt overcome the shaky start. They fell by the score of 52-54. Howard led the team with 16 points and six rebounds. Blanco finished with 10 points, two assists and three steals. Duerksen added 10 points and five rebounds.