Cedarville Trojans won their seventh regional championship with the win over Superior Central Saturday, March 18. Team members include (front, from left) Nathan Smith-12, Jim Eberts-5, managers Derek Griffin and Joey Duncan, C.J. Paquin-30, Sheldon Tassier-33; (back) Assistant Coaches Scott Barr and Kurt Duncan, Justin Baker-34, Jason Duncan-20, Jordan Sweeney-3, Kevin Thompson-42, Matt Hansen-10, Cory Wellnitz-32, Jordan Duncan-23, Keith Foster-50, manager Adam Dingman, and Head Coach David Duncan. Stingy defense lifted Cedarville to their seventh regional championship in the school's history after a 64-44 win over Superior Central at Brimley High School Saturday, March 18.

"This is a young team and I don't think that many people thought we would be in this situation," said Trojans Coach Dave Duncan. "I was pleased with our defense and when we got the lead we didn't let Superior Central back in the ball game."

The Trojans were led by Jason Duncan with 14 points and two steals. Justin Baker added 13 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals, Cory Wellnitz chipped in 13 points and seven boards, Jordan Duncan notched nine points, four steals, and three assists, Jordan Sweeney tallied eight points and five steals, Keith Foster came off the bench with four points, Matt Hansen charted two, and Nathan Smith marked one.

Left photograph: Trojan Jason Duncan (20) knocks down his second trey in the extra period in the regional semifinal against Pellston. Right photograph: Jordan Sweeney of Cedarville converts a steal into a layup in the championship game against Superior Central to spearhead the Trojans comeback in the overtime period. "I was happy with our effort. Our schedule against good quality teams that showed us different styles of basketball prepared us for the tournaments," the coach said.

Brandon Klyk scored 13 points, Ryan Maki added 11, and Justin Chartier chipped in 10 for the Cougars.

Cedarville, 23-2 on the season, never trailed in the regional final game at the Karl Parker Memorial Gymnasium after Wellnitz scored nine points to lead the Trojans to a 14-5 margin after the first eight minutes.

Superior Central, consolidated schools of Eben, Trenary, and Chatham, went scoreless from the 4:10 mark of the first quarter to 4:22 of the second period (total 7:48), while the Trojans extended their lead to 24-7 with a 18-0 run. Cedarville's defense played a factor in the scoring drought by the Cougars, forcing turnovers and allowing the Trojans to put together the scoring run.

The Cougars bounced back with seven unanswered points to slice the Cedarville lead to 26-14 with 2:01 left in the first half before Jason Duncan drained a triple and Baker hit two straight two-point field goals, for a 33-14halftime advantage.

The Trojans defense didn't let Superior Central gain momentum in the second half, after both teams scored 17 points in the third quarter as Cedarville maintained a 19 point lead of 50-31.

Cedarville connected on eight of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to edge out the Cougars 1413, as Foster scored four points and the Trojans posted the regional championship.

The Trojans scored 23 field goals, three treys, and 15 of 20 (75 percent) from the free throw line, while the Cougars made 17 field goals, three triples, and seven of 16 from the charity stripe.

Above photograph: Jordan Duncan hits this trey for the Trojans against Superior Central. Despite poor shooting from the field in the first half and at the charity stripe during the final 12 minutes, Cedarville overcame an 11point second quarter deficit to overtake Pellston 71-68 in overtime at the Class D regional semifinal in Brimley Thursday, March 16.

Before a standing-room-only crowd at the Karl Parker Memorial Gymnasium, the Trojans, ranked sixth in Class D, and Hornets, rated 10th, each held seven leads and the contest was tied seven times while Pellston held a 64-57 margin from the field and Cedarville outscored their Ski Valley opponent 14-4 from the free throw line.

Junior Justin Baker led the Trojans with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Jordan Sweeney added 20 points, five assists, and four steals. Jason Duncan chipped in 10 points, six boards, four steals, and two assists. Jordan Duncan notched nine points, six rebounds, and three steals. Cory Wellnitz tallied four points, five boards, and four steals, and Nathan Smith marked two points.

Upper left photograph: Referee Joel Peffers makes the call as the ball is knocked out of bounds after the Trojans' Matt Hansen (10) and Trevor Green (32) of Pellston battle for possession in the semis. Lower left photograph: Trojans Coach David Duncan accepts the regional trophy from Brimley athletic director Dick Amble. "We didn't shoot the ball very well from the field, but the players never quit on themselves," said Trojans Coach Dave Duncan. "We just kept playing hard, and eventually the effort paid off."

Richard Blair scored 23 points, Trevor Green added 16, and Justin Litzner chipped in 11 to lead the Hornets.

Pellston held a 46-45 scoring edge going into the final eight minutes of regulation before Baker made two free throws and a twopoint field goal and Jason Duncan hit a trey with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter, for a 56-51 lead.

The Hornets scored six unanswered points to take a 57-56 margin at 1:37, followed by a Baker field goal, and Wellnitz made one free throw for a 59-57 edge with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Cedarville didn't take advantage of the free throw line, with three for eight in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans missed two from the charity line with 15 seconds on the clock that would have sealed the win, but with 6.9 seconds left Jared VanOrman took the inbound pass and had a clear path to the basket to notch the score at 59.

Cedarville called time out with 1.5 seconds and attempted the game-winning field goal. Baker took the pass just beyond halfcourt and his three-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

During the jump ball to start the game, the Hornets' Ridge Hahn won the tip, but the young sophomore fouled out in the fourth quarter. Wellnitz and Blair jumped center to start the extra four-minute period. Sweeney took the tip and scored four seconds into the overtime and Baker added two free throws at 3:46, for a 63-59 lead.

"Before the jump ball situation I told the players it would be a key to get a field goal off the tip and the effort by Cory Wellnitz and Jordan Sweeney paid off," added Duncan.

Blair made two free throws and Green chipped in a two-point field goal to tie the score at 63 at the 2:56 mark. The Trojans took the lead for good on consecutive triples by Sweeney and Jason Duncan for a 69-63 advantage, and in the closing 37 seconds, Baker and Sweeney tallied single free throws. The Trojans connected on four of eight from the line and seven of 16 during the combined fourth quarter and overtime period.

Trojan Justin Baker scores this first-half lay-up after a steal against the Cougars. Pellston came out firing, with a 13-5 lead at 2:30 of the first eight minutes, but Cedarville scored eight consecutive points to send the game into the second quarter tied at 13.

Green scored three triples in the second quarter to extend the Pellston lead to 30-19 at the 2:41 mark, but again the Trojans regrouped to outscore the Hornets 14-6 and cut the lead to 36-33 at halftime as Sweeney converted a three-point play and drained a triple, Baker added six points, and Smith off the bench with a key two-point basket.

Baker answered with a threepoint play for a 41-40 margin and the Trojans second lead of the game at 6:04 of the third quarter, before Pellston took a 47-45 advantage into the final period.

Cedarville's Keith Foster makes this free throw during the fourth quarter against Superior Central. "We have played in two other overtime games this season and a number of close games with our tough schedule, that has helped us down the stretch," the coach said.

Tournament Notes

Ludington Orioles defeated Gladwin 66-55 to win the Class B regionals at Houghton Lake Saturday, March 18. The Orioles 22-3 on the season, are coached by Thad Shank, son of Gene and Diane Shank, both former teachers in the St. Ignace school system. The elder Shank coached the Saints for one year (1964-65) as an assistant before taking over as head coach for six seasons and led St. Ignace to the Class C finals in 1970. Thad was born in St. Ignace before the Shanks moved to Petoskey after the 1970-71 season. They later settled in Gene's hometown, Ludington.

Nathan Smith drives to the hoop during the fourth quarter of the Trojans win over the Hornets. Cedarville High School cheerleaders include Kate Koster, Courtney Cruickshank, Abbey Izzard, Casey Hakola, and Charlene Brissette. The Trojans Cory Wellnitz (light jersey) and Pellston's Trevor Green battle for position during the second half.