Cedarville Girls Win First Regional Crown Since 1998
Cedarville Girls Use Patience, Balance Scoring For Title
By David Latva

The Cedarville Trojans girls basketball team won its first regional title since 1998 with a 59-43 win over Superior Central Thursday, February 28. Team members include (front, from left) Cara Hakola, Jessie Duncan, Katie Bowlby, Ashley Sweeney, Rachelle Hansen, Alexis Barr; (back) Mary Beth Paquin, Head Coach Sonja Duncan, Savannah Madigan, Brittany Kelley, Jillian Collins, Stephanie Leach, Caitlin Wright, Billie McLeod, Brittany Lee, Kacie Simpson, and Assistant Coach Tony Hakola.

The Cedarville Trojans girls basketball team used patience and balanced scoring to post its first regional championship since 1998 with a 59-43 decision over the Superior Central Cougars at Sault Ste. Marie high school Thursday, February 28.

The Cougars, champions of the Central Upper Peninsula Conference and 20-4 on the season, played slow, deliberate offense as both teams scored seven points in the first eight minutes. At 5:25 of the second quarter, the score remained tied at 11-11.

The Trojans, 23-1 overall and heading for the Class D quarterfinals at Negaunee against North Dickinson, failed to convert easy shots inside the paint, but their persistence paid off with a 11-0 scoring run to take a 22-11 lead at 1:34 of the second quarter, holding on to a 24-16 halftime advantage.

The Trojans' Ashley Sweeney (3) drains a three-pointer as official Joel Peffers watches her feet and signals the success of the shot during the win over Superior Central.

"I felt we rushed our offense and we were tight early in the game, but after slowing things down, we got into our offensive flow," said Trojans Coach Sonja Duncan.

Jesse Duncan scored 11 firsthalf points before the junior picked up her third foul at 5:05 of the third quarter and was forced to sit the bench for the remainder of the period.

"We held our pose after Jesse went to the bench and senior tricaptain Katie Bowlby stepped up to run the team while Ashley Sweeney and Billie McLeod scored six points each," added Coach Duncan.

Cedarville took a 43-30 lead into the fourth quarter after a 19-14 scoring advantage in the third quarter and held a 16-13 scoring edge in the final eight minutes to clinch the regional crown.

Katie Bowlby (10) scored the first field goal for the Cedarville Trojans during the Class D regional championship game against Superior Central.

Trojans statistics: Jessie Duncan, 19 points, four rebounds, three assists; Billie McLeod, 14 points, 10 rebounds, three steals; Ashley Sweeney, 13 points, eight rebounds, six steals, five assists; Caitlin Wright, five points, 10 rebounds, five assists; Katie Bowlby, four points, seven rebounds, two assists; Jillian Collins, four points, three steals, three rebounds.

Cougars statistics: Samantha Towbridge, 16 points; Elizabeth Flesher, eight points; Lindsey Coleman, six points; Brooke Verbrigghe, Brierra Ruska, Sheena Richmond, four points; Emily Doyle, one point.

Coach Wilson Leads Trojans to Last Regional Title

The last time the Cedarville Trojans girls won the Class D regional crown was in 1998, with Coach Tom Wilson.

The Trojans were led by seniors Jesse Torsky, Jill Causley, Greta Freel, Ariel Huff, Ellen TerHaar, and April Huff, and juniors, Ashleigh Scherer, Melissa Andress, and Erica Moses.

Jillian Collins (32) of Cedarville attempts a three-point field goal over the outstretched arms of Brierra Ruska (11) of Superior Central.

Cedarville defeated Engadine 64-39 in the regional semifinals and upended Gaylord St. Mary 63- 62 in the championship game. The first two regional crowns won by the Trojans came in 1991 and 1992.

Final Four Scheduled at EMU's Ypsilanti Convocation Center

The Cedarville Trojans-North Dickinson Nordics winner will take on the winner of the Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Irish- Johannesburg-Lewiston Cardinals winner in the Class D semifinals Thursday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

The state championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. The Class Agame is set for noon, Class C at 4 p.m., and Class B at 6 p.m.

Offensive Blizzard Lifts Trojans Over Snowbirds

The Cedarville Trojans opened the Class D regionals with an impressive 62-32 win over Gaylord St. Mary Snowbirds Tuesday, February 26.

The Trojans' offense was in high gear and the defense put together a stingy effort to allow the Trojans to establish a 16-2 lead after the first eight minutes. The Trojans' offensive onslaught continued with a 16-6 scoring run in the second quarter for a 32-8 halftime lead.

Coach Sonja Duncan substituted freely in the second half as her Trojans held a 14-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter for a 46-19 lead, closing out the contest with a 16-13 scoring edge in the final eight minutes.

Trojans statistics: Billie McLeod, 23 points; Jessie Duncan, 10 points; Caitlin Wright, eight points; Jillian Collins, Ashley Sweeney, seven points; Katie Bowlby, four points; Rachelle Hansen, three points.

Gaylord St. Mary statistics were not available.

Cougars Down Hornets

Superior Central defeated Pellston 48-33 in the second regional semifinal Tuesday, February 26, to face Cedarville in the championship game.