The Comets' Austin Martin (14) scores over Kyle Maki (5) of Superior Central during the second half. The combination of outside and inside shooting by Superior Central proved too much for the Mackinaw City Comets boys basketball team as it fell to the Cougars 67-58 during the Class D regionals at LaSalle High School Monday, March 3.

"The guys played hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer, and that is all I can ask for," said Comets Coach Garth Law.

Mackinaw City led 22-18 after the first eight minutes. Logan Paquet scored at the buzzer to lead the Comets with 10 points in the quarter.

Superior Central sunk five three-pointers in the first half, including three in the second quarter, to lift the Cougars to a 17-12 advantage and a 35-34 halftime scoring edge as Justin Chartier scored 14 points.

Mackinaw City, playing zone defense in the first half, employed a man-to-man defense in the second half in an attempt to diffuse Superior Central's hot shooting, but to no avail.

"We needed to try and contain their outside scoring, but the change of defenses allowed their inside offense to prevail in the second half," said Coach Law.

Klaus Jaggi (20) of Mackinaw City drives to the baseline against the Cougars' Christian Vitale (3). During a low-scoring third quarter, the Cougars held a 10-6 scoring advantage to take a 45-40 lead into the final quarter.

Superior Central outscored Mackinaw City 11-4 to open the final eight minutes and increase its lead to 56-44 at the 3:33 mark. Ben Richard, who scored 13 points, helped the Comets cut the final score to nine points with a 14-11 scoring edge to finish the game.

Mackinaw City recorded 21 field goals, seven three-pointers, and 9 of 14 from the free throw line. Superior Central made 27 field goals, five triples, and connected on 8 of 14 free throws.

This was the final game for starting seniors Logan Paquet, Austin Martin, Klaus Jaggi, and Barry Paquet.

"We had two outstanding seasons, winning districts during the last two years, and sharing the Northern Lakes Conference this season," said Coach Law.

Garth Law (left), head coach for Mackinaw City's boys varsity basketball team, received some brotherly assistance during a game in February from his older brother Brett, a 1988 graduate of LaSalle High School. Comets statistics: Logan Paquet, 25 points; Adam Alexander, nine points; Austin Martin, Barry Paquet, eight points; Klaus Jaggi, four points; Nick Dullack, three points; Zach Milholin, one point.

Cougars statistics: Justin Chartier, 25 points; Ben Richard, 19 points; Kyle Maki, nine points; Ethan Richmond, eight points; Arleigh Johnson, six points.

Logan Paquet (10) of Mackinaw City is sandwiched between Justin Chartier (21) and Ben Richard (33) during the second half of the regional semifinals.