Mackinaw City Wins 2nd Consecutive District Title
Defends District Crown With Win Over Pellston
By David Latva

The Mackinaw City Comets won the Class D districts at Pellston. Team members include (front, from left) Zach Milholin, Barry Paquet, Adam Alexander, Logan Paquet, (back, from left) Nick Dullack, Klaus Jaggi, Austin Martin, Luke Alexander, and coach Garth Law. (Photograph by Beth Alexander)

The Mackinaw City Comets' balanced attack of both offense and defense helped the boys basketball team to clinch the Class D district championship after a 67- 42 win over the host Pellston Hornets Friday, February 29.

Pellston led 13-10 after the first eight minutes, but that is when the game took a turn in favor of Mackinaw City.

"I felt we played outstanding defense the entire game and our offense revolved around our defense," said Comets coach Garth Law, whose team also defeated the Hornets in the season opener, 47-43. "We stepped it up at both ends of the court in the second half. I am very proud of the way the entire team played."

Mackinaw City, 18-4 on the season, outscored Pellston 57-29 during the final 24 minutes, that included 18-9 in the second quarter for a 28-22 halftime lead.

Logan Paquet

The Comets continued to build on their offensive advantage with a 19-10 scoring advantage for a 47-32 lead after the third quarter, and extended the lead to 35 points with three minutes left in the game, before settling for a 25- point win after outscoring the Hornets 20-10 in the final eight minutes.

Comets statistics: Logan Paquet, 23 points; Austin Martin, 18 points, 12 rebounds; Klaus Jaggi, nine points; Adam Alexander, eight points, six rebounds; Barry Paquet, six points; Justin Campbell, two points; Willie Vieau, one point.

Hornets statistics: Ridge Hahn, 20 points; Jake Campeau, Justin Litzner, seven points; Alan Huyck, four points; Jake Burkhart, Branden Lewis, two points. Balance Scoring Lifts

Comets Over Vikings

Balanced scoring was key to the Comets' 65-29 victory over the Alanson Vikings in the district semifinals Wednesday, February 27.

The Comets had an easy time with Alanson, after leading 18-4 at the end of the first eight minutes and 41-8 at halftime. The team outscored the Vikings 24-21 in the second half.

Austin Martin

Comets statistics: Austin Martin, Logan Paquet, 19 points; Barry Paquet, 10 points; Klaus Jaggi, eight points; Adam Alexander, five points; Zach Milholin, Justin Campbell, two points.

Statistics for Alanson were unavailable.