Girls Basketball
St. Ignace Girls Close out Season With SAC Win
By David Latva

Seniors Jessica Massaway (left) and Jodie Langstaff along with coach Dorene Ingalls were honored during the final home game for the Saints Wednesday, February 13.

The St. Ignace Saints girls basketball team closed out the regular season on a positive note with a 61-26 Straits Area Conference (SAC) win over the Cheboygan Chiefs Friday, February 15.

The Saints (8-2 in the SAC, 14- 6 overall) opened district play at Manistique against the host Emeralds Monday, February 18.

"I was very pleased with our total effort," said Saints Coach Dorene Ingalls. "Playing well on the road was important to prepare for the tournaments."

Coach Ingalls' game plan was to play her entire squad of 11 players in uniform, which proved successful as she kept fresh players on the court throughout the game.

The Saints never trailed, scoring the first four points en route to an 18-9 lead after the first eight minutes, and held a 13-11 scoring edge in the second quarter for a 31-20 halftime lead. Marcie Rickley scored 10 points and Amanda Coveyou chipped in seven for St. Ignace during that span.

Marie Bunker Mackinac Island

Cheboygan opened the third quarter with a two-pointer to cut the Saints' lead to 31-22, but St. Ignace scored 10 unanswered points to build a 41-22 lead, taking a 45-24 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Saints' defense held the Chiefs to just six points in the second half, limiting them to two field goals in the third quarter, and two free throws in the final eight minutes, while outscoring Cheboygan 16-2.

Saints statistics: Marcie Rickley, 16 points, six rebounds, three assists; Amanda Coveyou, 13 points, five rebounds, six blocked shots; Kristen Olsen, eight points, seven rebounds; Grace Wheeler, six points, eight rebounds, five assists; Jodie Langstaff, six points, three rebounds; Mallory LaLonde, six points, four rebounds; Nicole Elmblad, two points, four steals.

Chiefs statistics: Courtney Hancock, eight points; Kristie Stacks, six points; Richelle Hiney, Victoria Burr, four points; Jessica Socolovitch, Nikki LaFrinere, two points each; Hailey Rozek, one point.

Billie McLeod (22) scores a short jumper over the outstretched arms of Grace Wheeler (34) during the first half of the Trojans' win over the Saints Wednesday, February 13. (Photograph by Brooklyn O'Shay Chambers)

Mackinac Island Girls Finish

Season With Winning Record

The Mackinac Island Lakers girls basketball team completed its first season since 1990 with a winning record, finishing 10-9 after a Northern Lights League (NLL) weekend split with the Beaver Island Islanders.

The Lakers won 27-20 Friday, February 15, but fell to the Islanders 32-23 Saturday, February 16, during homecoming weekend.

"Everyone contributed to the weekend effort and during the season," said Lakers Coach Mary Patay. "I am very proud of the girls and their success."

Arial Leeper and Caleb Straight were crowned homecoming queen and king Friday, February 15.

Lakers Win Weekend Opener

The Lakers held a 5-4 scoring edge after the first eight minutes and led 10-8 at halftime before outscoring the Islanders 17-12 in the second half to post the NLL win.

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

Statistics for Beaver Island were unavailable.

Lakers Fall to Islanders

Mackinac Island trailed 12-4 at halftime and never recovered as Beaver Island held a 20-19 scoring edge in the second half.

Lakers statistics: Marie Bunker, eight points, six steals, two rebounds; Michi Mullings, six points, seven rebounds, four steals; Shelbie Mosley, four points, four rebounds; Jane Finkel, three points, two rebounds; Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, two points, three rebounds, three steals; Maggie Chambers, five rebounds.

Mackinac Island girls will compete in the Northern Lights League Tournament that will be held at Manistique Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8. Pairings will be announced at a later date. Cedarville Girls Close

Season With 19-1

Overall Record

The Cedarville girls basketball team took revenge of its only loss of the season, against St. Ignace, defeating the Saints 59-54 Wednesday, February 13.

The Trojans, who had already clinched the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference (EUPC) title, used the free throw line as the springboard to victory with a nonconference decision over the Saints, who had defeated the Trojans (8-0 in EUPC, 19-1 overall) earlier this season.

The Trojans closed out the regular schedule with a 74-46 win over DeTour Friday, February 15.

Against St. Ignace, Jessie Duncan connected on four free throws and Jillian Collins made one charity shot in the closing 48 seconds to lift the Trojans over the Saints.

"I felt we have kept our composure in all of our close games this year and against St. Ignace, especially in the fourth quarter, we played well at both ends of the court," said Trojans Coach Sonja Duncan.

St. Ignace (8-2 in the SAC, 14- 6 overall) led 49-44 after three quarters, but both teams were held scoreless until Duncan drained a three-pointer at the 4:50 mark to spark the Trojans on an 8-0 scoring run for a 52-49 lead with 3:19 left in the game.

Marcie Rickley and Collins traded two-point baskets before Nicole Elmblad converted a threepoint play at 2:02 to notch the score at 54.

Free throws tipped the scale to the Trojans' advantage from there.

The Saints led 12-10 after the first eight minutes before Cedarville held a 22-16 advantage in the second quarter for a 32-28 halftime lead, as Ashley Sweeney and Duncan each scored seven points in the second period.

St. Ignace outscored the Trojans 21-12 in the third quarter as seven players scored for the Saints to take a five-point lead into the final eight minutes.

Trojans statistics: Jessie Duncan, 22 points, four steals; Billie McLeod, 14 points, 13 rebounds; Ashley Sweeney, 11 points, five assists; Jillian Collins, seven points; Caitlin Wright, five points.

Saints statistics: Nicole Elmblad, 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals; Marcie Rickley, 13 points, three steals; Mallory LaLonde, seven points, three rebounds; Amanda Coveyou, six points, 14 rebounds, three assists; Kristen Olsen, six points, three rebounds; Jodie Langstaff, four points, four rebounds; Jessica Massaway, two points, four steals; Samantha Radecki, two points; Grace Wheeler, three rebounds, two assists.

Trojans Down Raiders

Cedarville led 39-13 at halftime and outscored DeTour 35-33 in the second half to post the league win.

Trojans statistics: Billie Mc- Leod, 22 points, 14 rebounds; Caitlin Wright, 14 points, five rebounds; Jessie Duncan, 10 points, seven assists, three steals; Ashley Sweeney, eight points, six assists, four steals; Katie Bowlby, eight points; Rachelle Hanson, four points, five rebound; Brittany Kelley, four points; Jillian Collins, three points, five rebounds.

Raiders statistics: Jessie Mc- Clellan, 14 points; Kiah Barbeaux, nine points; Morgan Fierek, eight points; Nicole Melcer, seven points; Sabrina Tomlinson, Abby Stocking, three points.

Pickford Girls 10-10 on Season

The Pickford Panthers girs basketball team finished the season with a 61-58 non-conference overtime win over the Newberry Indians Tuesday, February 12, before falling to the Brimley Bays 61-49 during an Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference (EUPC) decision Friday, February 15.

The Panthers, 10-10 overall and 4-4 in the league, opened district play with Brimley at DeTour Monday, February 18.

Panthers Win in Overtime

Against Indians

Jenna Ledy and Callie Smith scored three points each, Jasmine Ledy chipped in three, and Courtney Bruni added one in the overtime period to down the Indians.

Newberry led 14-13 after the first eight minutes before Pickford outscored the Indians 13-9 in the second quarter to take a 26-23 halftime lead.

The Indians took a 39-36 lead with a 16-10 advantage in the third quarter, but the Panthers sent the game into the extra four-minute period with a 14-11 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes.

Panthers statistics: Jenna Ledy, 20 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists; Courtney Bruni, 15 points, 13 rebounds; Callie Smith, 11 points, five rebounds, three assists; Jasmine Ledy, 11 points, four rebounds; Krista Esslin, four points; Alli Priskorn, three assists.

Newberry's statistics were unavailable.

Panthers Fall to Bays

Brimley outscored Pickford 31- 17 in the combined second and third quarters en route to the EUPC win.

The Bays finished 5-3 in the league and 15-4 on the season.

Panthers statistics: Jasmine Ledy, 16 points, four rebounds, three assists; Courtney Bruni, 12 points, 12 rebounds; Callie Smith, nine points, five rebounds; Jenna Ledy, seven points; Alli Priskorn, three points, six rebounds, three steals; Rachel Schmitigal, two points.

Bays statistics: Jenna Somes, 25 points; Amber Aikens, 18 points; Jessica Graham, 11 points; Ashton Cameron, Ashlyn Kunenzer, Courtney Wilson, two points; Syndey Wilson, one point.

Eagles Split Final Games

The Engadine Eagles girls basketball team split its final two games of the season, defeating the Mackinaw City Comets 75-4 Thursday, February 14, and falling to the Superior Central Cougars 38-25 Friday, February 15, during non-conference contests.

The Eagles completed the season with a 13-7 overall record and were 3-5 in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference.

Eagles statistics vs. Mackinaw City: Shauni Rutledge, 23 points, six rebounds; Lauren MacArthur, 18 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, four assists; Tristina Browning, 10 points, six rebounds, four steals; Elisa Hobbs, 10 points, seven rebounds; Shannon Browning, eight points; Tiajanna Sherbrook, Kacie Rutledge, two points.

Mackinaw City statistics were unavailable.

Eagles Fall to Cougars

The Eagles trailed 15-12 at halftime and were outscored 18-13 in the second half.

"We played hard and never quit," said Eagles Coach Daryl Browning. "We are looking forward to the districts."

Eagles statistics vs. Superior Central: Lauren MacArthur, 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals; Shauni Rutledge, eight points, six rebounds; Tristina Browning, three points; Elisa Hobbs, two points, six rebounds.

Superior Central statistics were unavailable.

The Eagles will compete in the Big Bay de Noc Class D District Tournament.

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