Woody Beardsley The Mackinac Island Lakers boys basketball team won the Northern Lights League (NLL) regular season title and captured the NLL tournament with a 73-48 decision over Grand Marais in the semifinals Friday, March 7, and defeated Paradise 66-54 for the championship Saturday, March 8, at Manistique High School.

The Lakers' 20-1 overall record this year sets a school record for most victories that was previously held from the 2003-2004 team that compiled a 19-1 record.

On the individual level, senior Woody Beardsley recorded his 1,000th point this year, ending his career with 1,104 total points.

"The records we had at school were just for his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, that totaled 1,004 points, that included the league tourney," said Lakers Coach Jim Fisher.

In his freshman year during the 2004-05 season, Beardsley scored 100 points.

Lakers Breeze

Past Polar

Bears The Lakers breezed to a 25-point win over the Grand Marais Polar Bears in the semifinals after establishing a 19-3 lead at the end of the first eight minutes.

The Mackinac Island Lakers won the NLLTournament March 7 and 8 in Manistique. Team members include (front, from left) Tymon Horn, Thomas Rilenge, Paul Fisher, Anthony Rickley, Dovon Hunt, (back, from left) Coach Jim Fisher, Robert Chambers, Andrew Chambers, Riley Chaffee, Woody Beardsley, Michael Gamble, and Tyler McLean. The Lakers took a 26-16 lead into halftime despite the Polar Bears holding a 13-7 scoring edge in the second quarter.

Mackinac Island outscored the Polar Bears 28-14 in the third quarter to increase the lead to 54- 30, closing out the contest with a 19-18 scoring edge in the final eight minutes.

Lakers statistics: Tyler Mc- Lean, 24 points; Riley Chaffee, 20 points; Woody Beardsley, 14 points; Michael Gamble, eight points; Tyman Horn, five points; Thomas Rilenge, two points.

No statistics were available for Grand Marais.

Lakers Down Rockets in

Championship Match-up

In the NLL championship game, the Lakers outscored the Rockets in three quarters, including a 16-10 run after the first eight minutes that held them to a 12- point win.

Mackinac Island extended the lead to 30-20 at halftime with a 14- 10 scoring run in the second quarter.

The Lakers built the lead to 12 with a 17-15 scoring advantage in the third quarter before both teams scored 19 points in the final eight minutes.

"This team had an outstanding season with and undefeated record and league title in the regular season and the tournament championship, and were seven points from winning their first Class D district contest," said Coach Fisher.

Two seniors, Woody Beardsley and Riley Chaffee, who played the final games of their high school career, were huge components of the team, said Coach Fisher.

Lakers statistics: Woody Beardsley, 27 points; Riley Chaffee, 16 points; Michael Gamble, 12 points; Tyman Horn, Tyler Mc- Lean, Thomas Rilenge, two points.

No statistics were available for Paradise.

Mackinac Island Girls

Finish 11-10

The resurrection of the Mackinac Island Lakers girls basketball team was a success this year, as the team finished its season 11-10 overall. The team ended its season with a 23-17 loss to Paradise in the NLL championship game at Manistique Saturday, March 8.

The team advanced to the title game with a 36-30 win over Beaver Island Friday, March 7.

The program was reintroduced to the Island this year after Michigan High School Athletics Associaton moved its girls basketball season into the winter while girls volleyball was moved into the fall, that left the school with no sports program for girls in the winter.

The team, coached by Mary Patay, had seven players, ranging from seventh grade to 11th grade.

Lakers Down Islanders

in Battle of Island Schools

Mackinac Island never trailed against Beaver Island in the semifinal contest with a 7-2 lead after the first eight minutes and held a 15-10 scoring advantage at halftime as both teams scored eight points in the second quarter.

The Lakers opened an 11-point lead after outscoring the Islanders 16-10 in the third quarter, and hung on as Beaver Island closed out the game with a 10-5 scoring run in the final eight minutes.

"The girls wanted this game and played well," said Coach Patay. "We shot and rebounded well."

Lakers statistics: Maggie Chambers, nine points, six rebounds; Jane Finkel, nine points, four rebounds; Morgan Brodeur- Bunker, eight points, four assists, four steals, three rebounds; Michi Mullings, seven points, eight rebounds, five steals, two assists; Zhane Nash, two points, five rebounds, two steals, one blocked shot; Shelbie Mosley, one point, five rebounds, one blocked shot.

No statistics were available for Beaver Island.

Fourth Quarter Foils Lakers'

Quest for League Title

The Lakers led the Rockets 15- 8 after three quarters of play, but could not overcome a streak of poor shooting and turnovers in the fourth quarter. The Rockets outscored Mackinac Island 15-2 to clinch the league title.

Mackinac Island led 9-2 after the first eight minutes and maintained a seven point advantage at halftime, 11-4, and after the third quarter, 15-8, before Paradise dominated the final eight minutes.

"This was a very coachable group of girls that improved every time they stepped on the court," said Coach Patay. "The girls are talking about basketball camps for the summer and we are all looking forward to next year."

The Lakers teams played without the services of Robert Chambers and Marie Bunker, who had suffered season-ending injuries.

Lakers statistics: Michi Mullings, four points, 17 rebounds, four steals; Morgan Brodeur- Bunker, four points, five rebounds; Jane Finkel, three points, five steals, four rebounds; Maggie Chambers, two points, 11 rebounds, one blocked shot; Shelbie Mosley, two points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocked shots; Zhane Nash, two points, two rebounds, one blocked shot.

No statistics were available for Paradise.