Comets Drop First League Game to Boyne Falls

The Mackinaw City basketball team trailed by 18 points early in the third quarter before sending the Northern Lakes Conference (NLC) contest into an extra period, only to fall to Boyne Falls 66-64 in overtime Friday, January 19.

The defeat by the Comets leaves a logjam at the top of the NLC standings, with Mackinaw City, Boyne Falls, and Ellsworth, all with one defeat.

Mackinaw City struggled in the first half, with the Loggers taking a 15-10 lead after the first eight minutes and outscoring the Comets 16-9 in the second quarter, for a 31-19-halftime advantage.

"We played poorly in the first half and had to use so much energy in the third and fourth quarter, but we did force the overtime period," said Comets Coach Garth Law. "We had our opportunities in the second half and in the extra quarter. We will learn from this game."

Boyne Falls opened the second half with two consecutive three-point field goals to build the lead to 37-19 before Mackinaw City closed out the third quarter with a 20-10 margin and cut the Loggers lead to 47- 39.

The Comets sent the game into the four-minute extra period tied at 59, with a 20-12 advantage, and had a chance to win in the closing seconds, but couldn't connect on free throws.

During the final seconds of the overtime period, Mackinaw City should have had the ball for a final shot, but the officials failed to consult with the clock operator and ruled the game was over.

Comets Stats: Trevor Closs, 29 points, three steals, three assists, Chase Closs, 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists; Austin Martin, eight points, seven rebounds; Klaus Jaggi, six points; Barry Paquet, two points, four rebounds, three steals, Zach Milholin, six rebounds.

Mackinaw City is off Friday, January 26, and will travel to Alba to face the Wildcats in a league contest Tuesday, January 30.