Members of the St. Ignace Fire Department team are (back row, from left) Willie LaLonde, Justin Litzner, Karl Yoder, Dave “Shady” Giacherio, Bill Fraser, Dean Stadlberger, Fred Feleppa; (front row) Tom Colegrove, Steve Paquin, water girl Lydia LaLonde, team manager Mallory LaLonde, water girl Lauren Yoder, Bryce Tracy, and Matt Bowlby. It took every second of the 48minute game for the St. Ignace Fire Department basketball team to clinch bragging rights for the second consecutive year during a charity basketball game at LaSalle High School Saturday, February 11. The home team defeated the TV 9&10 All Stars 65-64 on a last second Matt Bowlby shot underneath the basket.

Both teams were neck-andneck after the first quarter and only five points separated them at half-time, with the news crew leading 30-25.

The firefighters were able to gain the lead at the end of the third quarter, leading 48-43, and, in the fourth quarter, pulled ahead by 10 with 6:44 to go.

With 27 seconds left in the game, the 9&10 crew began a fast-break off of a block and, with 10 seconds to go, sharp-shooter Scott Michael Trager nailed a three-point shot at the top of the key. With the crowd excited, and the remaining seconds ticking away, the Fire Department hurried down the court and attempted two shots before Bowlby rebounded the second shot in the paint and desperately shot the ball up. Just before the ball passed through the rim, the buzzer sounded.

Referee Mike Grisdale (left) calls a foul on the St. Ignace Fire Department team for not having a female on the team. TV 9&10’s Jim LeHocky (middle) enjoys the Fire Department’s protest. It was another close win for the Fire Department, who defeated TV 9&10 last year, 78-75.

A crowd of nearly 500 people were entertained by LaSalle High School’s steel drum band, which performed at half-time and after the game, led by director Jason Byma. The St. Ignace Dance Team also performed at half-time.

Referees for the game were Mike Grisdale of Cheboygan and Ed Paquin of St. Ignace. Katie Springsteen performed the national anthem before the game. The public address announcers were Fish and Ted Cramer.

The charity game raised $1,300, which will go toward the Mackinac County Walk for Warmth program and the St. Ignace Volunteer Firemen Association.

Members of the TV 9&10 basketball team are (back row, from left) Nate McLaughlin, Tom O’Hare, Scott Michael Trager, Jim LeHocky, Ryan Scott, Stephanie Heuker, Bruce Wilson, Rebecca Norris; (middle row) Tawney Saylor, the game’s water girls, Lydia LaLonde and Lauren Yoder; (kneeling) Luke Notestine. The Fire Department’s Justin Litzner soars toward TV 9&10 Luke Notestine’s jump shot. TV 9&10’s Jim LeHocky (left) and St. Ignace Fire Department’s Matt Bowlby share a moment together during the charity basketball game. Mr. Bowlby hit a last-second shot to win the game for the Fire Department, 65-64.