Michael Gamble Mackinac Island Mackinac Island opened the basketball season with five victories with the most recent wins being during a the weekend series with Paradise. The Lakers swept the Rockets 66- 61 Friday, December 15, and 69-48 Saturday, December 16, improving to 5- 0 overall and 2-0 in the NLL.

In the opener on Friday, the Lakers trailed 15-12 after the first eight minutes before outscoring the Rockets 25-8 for a 37-23-halftime advantage.

Mackinac Island increased the margin to 53-29 after three quarters with a 16-6 score, but had to hang on as Paradise outscored the Lakers 32-13 in the final period to cut the final margin to five points.

Lakers Stats: Woody Beardsley, 29 points, 16 rebounds; Michael Gamble, 16 points, five rebounds; Robert Chambers, 11 points, five assists, five steals, four rebounds; Tyler McLean, 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals.

During the Saturday morning contest, the Lakers led 36-18 at halftime and held a 33-30 scoring edge in the second half.

Robert Chambers suffered an ankle injury and it is questionable whether he will play for the game against Maplewood Baptist Academy Thursday, December 21.

Karlena Mosley Mackinac Island Lakers Stats: Woody Beardsley, 22 points, 19 rebounds, seven blocked shots, five assists, three steals; Tyler McLean, 21 points, five rebounds; Robert Chambers, 13 points, nine rebounds; Michael Gamble, 12 points, eight assists, five rebounds.

Lakers Sweep Rockets

During Volleyball Series

Mackinac Island volleyball team swept Northern Lights League (NLL) conference rival Paradise during a weekend series at Mackinac Island Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16, earning a conference win and a non-conference win.

The Lakers defeated the Rockets 25-15, 13-25, 25-23, 22-25, and 15-9 Friday, and, during Saturday’s rematch, d e f e a t e d Paradise 25-17, 25-19, 19-25, and 25-19. In the NLL, during a two-day regular season match-up between two league teams, Friday matches are considered a conference matchup, while Saturday games are considered non-conference matches.

"This was a huge improvement from previous matches," said Lakers Coach Mary Patay. "We played as a team and the effort showed."

Mackinac Island improved to 1-1 in the NLL.

Lakers Stats (Friday): Karlena Mosley, 21 points, two aces; Kristi Kamphuis, 11 points, five aces, 14 kills, two blocks; Danielle Wightman, nine points, one ace, 11 kills; Marie Bunker, nine points, one ace, three kills; Shayleen Mosley, eight points, five kills, two digs; Arial Leeper, five points, Shelbie Mosley, one point.

Lakers Stats (Saturday): Karlena Mosley, 19 points, one ace; Shayleen Mosley, 13 points, one ace, three digs, two kills; Kristi Kamphuis, nine points, one ace, 12 kills, two blocks; Danielle Wightman, seven points, three aces, seven kills; Arial Leeper, six points, one ace, three kills, two digs; Marie Bunker, six points, three aces, two kills, one dig, Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, three digs.

Mackinac Island will entertain Maplewood Baptist Academy in an afternoon matinee Thursday, December 21, with the volleyball match to begin at noon. The Lakers boys basketball game will follow.