Grace Wheeler (34), the Saints' leading rebounder with 11 against Pickford, plays strong defense against the Panthers' Krista Esslin (24) during the Saints' win Wednesday, December 17. St. Ignace Girls 5-1 Overall After Wins Over Panthers, Hurons

The St. Ignace Saints girls basketball team, in its last two games, defeated its opponents by a combined score of 138 to 36, providing assurance that Coach Dorene Ingalls' system on both sides of the ball is well oiled in the early part of the season.

The Saints disposed of the Pickford Panthers 61-20 Wednesday, December 17, and cruised past Straits Area Conference opponent Rogers City 77-16 Thursday, December 18.

"These were our best all-around games we have played," said Coach Ingalls. "It doesn't matter who is on the floor. Our half-court defense spearheaded our offense and everyone contributed in both games."

Against the Panthers, the Saints' defense and offense were in high gear from the opening tip-off as St. Ignace held a 12-6 lead after the first eight minutes and cruised to a 35-9 halftime advantage, outscoring the Panthers 23-3 in the second quarter.

Samantha Radecki St. Ignace Amanda Coveyou and Nicole Elmblad scored 10 points each in the first half.

St. Ignace continued to dominate with a 26-11 scoring advantage in the second half, including a 12-2 run in the third quarter and 14-9 edge in the final eight minutes.

"Sam Radecki played great de fense and held Jasmine Ledy, the Panthers' leading scorer, to three points," said Coach Ingalls.

The Saints' Grace Wheeler had her best game at both ends of the court, pointed out Coach Ingalls, who was also impressed with Chelsea Swope, who saw her first action this season since suffering a knee injury.

The Saints improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the league and will be off for the holiday break until a home game against the Charvlevoix Rayders Wednesday, January 7.

Saints statistics vs. Pickford: Nicole Elmblad, 18 points, eight rebounds, five steals; Amanda Coveyou, 14 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots, six assists; Samantha Radecki, 10 points; Mallory LaLonde, seven points; Grace Wheeler, six points, 11 rebounds, four steals; Kristen Olsen, six points.

Mallory LaLonde (40) scored seven points against Pickford and 10 during the Saints' win over Rogers City. Panthers statistics: Callie Smith, Krista Esslin, Jenna Ledy, four points; Jasmine Ledy, Abby Rose, three points; Megan Arbic, two points.

At Rogers City, the Saints rolled to a 52-6 halftime lead and outscored the Hurons 25-10 in the second half to post the SAC win.

Saints statistics vs. Rogers City: Nicole Elmblad, 22 points, eight steals, six rebounds; Amanda Coveyou, 19 points, six rebounds; Chelsea Swope, 10 points, three assists; Mallory LaLonde, 10 points; Grace Wheeler, nine points, four steals; Kristen Olsen, three points, five assists, four rebounds; Kayla Gustin, two points, three assists; Marcie Rickley, two points; Samantha Radecki, three steals.

Hooping for Cure Game Rescheduled for February 9

The Hooping for a Cure benefit basketball game between the St. Ignace Saints and Cedarville Trojans girls basketball teams that was scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, has been rescheduled for Monday, February 9, at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace.

Some members of the Cedarville varsity and junior varsity girls teams are planning to attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., during the original January date.

Pickford Girls Use Defensive Effort To Down DeTour

The Pickford Panthers girls basketball team bounced back after a disappointing outing against St. Ignace to down the DeTour Raiders 68-30 in an Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference contest Friday, December 19.

The Panthers used a strong defensive and rebounding performance to earn the conference win.

"We had a good practice on Thursday, and the effort paid off," said Panthers Coach Becky Arbic. "I was pleased with our rebounding and defense, and we didn't let up."

Pickford led 24-11 after the first eight minutes and increased the lead to 38-21 at halftime with a 14-10 scoring edge in the second quarter.

The Panthers' defense stepped up in the second half, holding the Raiders to nine points while scoring 30 points en route to the win.

Pickford, 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the conference, will entertain Newberry Monday, January 5, and travel to Pellston Monday, January 12.

DeTour, 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the conference, will battle Brimley Tuesday, January 6, in a non-league game, and travel to Engadine Friday, January 9.

Panthers statistics: Jazmine Ledy, 25 points; Jenna Ledy, 13 points, five assists; Callie Smith, 11 points, five assists, three steals; Abby Rose, nine points; Megan Arbic, four points, six rebounds, five assists; Krista Esslin, four points, six rebounds; Rachel Schmitigal, two points, six rebounds.

Raiders statistics: Kiah Barbeaux, 14 points; Darci Wilson, six points; Nicole Melcer, Abby Stocking, four points; Ashley LaPoint, two points.

Bulldogs Survive Scare, Edge Indians in SAC Matchup

The Rudyard Bulldogs girls basketball team overcame the Newberry Indians' dominance at the free throw line to post a nail-biting 65-63 victory during a Straits Area Conference game Thursday, December 18.

The Indians outscored the Bulldogs 17-9 at the charity stripe, but fell one field goal short of tying the game at the end.

The Bulldogs scored 25 field goals, six treys, and made nine of 13 from the free throw line.

The Indians made 22 field goals, two triples, and made 17 of 27 from the charity line.

Rudyard held a 13-12 scoring edge after the first eight minutes and outscored Newberry 22-17 for a 35- 29 halftime lead.

Both teams scored 13 points in the third quarter for a 48-42 score before the Indians closed with a 21- 17 scoring run in the final eight minutes.

Bulldogs statistics: Kim Vallier, 25 points; Emily Jeffreys, 19 points; Erin Jarvie, 15 points; Lindsie LaPointe, four points; Melinda Mongene, two points.

Indians statistics made available: Colleen Hoy 18 points; Caryn Ducsay, 16 points.

Mackinaw City Girls Drop Pair of Games

Mackinaw City girls basketball team dropped a pair of Northern Lakes Conference games, losing to Boyne Falls Loggers 50-39 Wednesday, December 17, and to Ellsworth Lancers 60-10 Friday, December 12.

Against the Loggers, the Comets battled Boyne Falls to a 25-25 score at halftime before being outscored 25-14 in the second half.

In the loss against the Lancers, Cheyenne Withey scored six points, while Katie LaLonde and Kate Jaenicke each scored two points.

Comets statistics vs Boyne Falls: Sarah Rogala, eight points, six rebounds; Cheyenne Withey, six points, five rebounds, three steals; Mollie Frye, Taelar Steward, six points; Kate Jaenicke, five points; Jessica Sefton, four points; Ashley McArthur, Kim Jaenicke, two points.

The Comets will travel to Alba Wednesday, January 7, and host Vanderbilt Friday, January 9, and DeTour Monday, January 12.

Comets JV Split Games

The Mackinaw City Comets junior varsity team split its last two games, defeating the Boyne Falls Loggers 53-12, and losing to the Ellsworth Lancers 35-17.

Comets statistics vs. Loggers: Courtney Wallis, 20 points; Hailee Paquet, seven points; Tierney Bell, Nicole Lahaie, six points; Cassie LaLonde, Kiara Zynewicz, four points; Raelynn Terrian, Megan Lahaie, Claudia Alexander, two points.

Comets statistics vs. Lancers: Hailee Paquet, five points, Tierney Bell, Courtney Wallis, four points; Cassie LaLonde, Raelynn Terrian, two points.

Engadine Girls Split Games

The Engadine Eagles girls basketball team split its two recent games, defeating the Mid Peninsula Wolverines 49-38 Saturday, December 13, and falling to the Brimley Bays 70-56 during a Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference contest Friday, December 12.

Engadine 49, Mid Peninsula 38

The Eagles led 21-15 at halftime and held a 28-23 scoring edge in the second half to down the Wolverines.

Eagles statistics: Lauren Mac- Arthur, 21 points; Kayla Miller, nine points, six steals, five rebounds; Brenda Albrecht, seven points, nine rebounds, one block shot; Krista Metcalf, six points, six rebounds, three steals, one block shot; Morgan MacArthur, four points; Katie Hobbs, two points.

Brimley 70, Engadine 56

In the road game at Brimley, the Eagles led 34-31 at halftime before the Bays outscored Engadine 39-22 in the second half.

Eagles statistics: Lauren MacArthur, 28 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists; Krista Metcalf, 17 points, three steals, two assists; Morgan MacArthur, four points; Kayla Miller, three points, six rebounds; Kacie Rutledge, two points, seven rebounds, two assists; Brenda Albrecht, two points.

The Eagles, 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in the conference, will host Big Bay de Noc Tuesday, January 6, and DeTour Friday, January 9.