The Panthers' Mckinley Portice scores a two-point field goal for his 1,000th career point at the one-minute mark of the first quarter Wednesday, February 18, at Mackinaw City. Mckinley Portice became the first junior from Pickford High School to score 1,000 career points during the Panthers boys basketball team's 53-40 road nonleague win over the Mackinaw City Comets Wednesday, February 18.

Portice needed nine points to reach the plateau. At the oneminute mark of the first quarter, he drained a two-point field goal from just outside the free throw line that gave him the milestone accomplishment.

Mackinaw City stopped the game. Pickford Athletic Director Chuck Bennin announced the feat to the crowd, and presented the ball to Portice.

Portice joins the elite group of 1,000-point scorers from Pickford that include Roger Hewer, Richard Hanna, Pat Brown, Casey Blenkhorn, Jason Peffers, and Matt Romatz.

Pickford led 15-11 after the first eight minutes as Portice scored nine points before Mackinaw City answered with a 9-2 run to open the second quarter, for a 20-17 lead with 5:37 left in the first half.

Fans were in full support of Mckinley with signs of congratulations. Fans include (from left) Connor Smith, Rachel Reich, Melissa Stevenson, Jenn Arnold, Callie Smith, Megan Arbic, Kelsie Brown, Abby Rose, Chelsea Spencer, and Jaelinn Soeltner. The Panthers outscored the Comets 10-7 during the final four minutes of the first half to send the game into halftime tied at 27.

Pickford completed the game with a 26-11 scoring run in the second half to post the win.

Panthers statistics: Mckinley Portice, 29 points; Burton Gough, nine points; Nathan Gregg, five points; Jamie Nettleton, Mickael Cantin, four points; Dylan Rye, two points.

Comets statistics: Adam Alexander, 20 points; Luke Alexander, 10 points; Eric Hinsman, eight points; Willie Vieau, four points.

Panthers JV Post Win

The Pickford Panthers junior varsity defeated Harbor Springs Freshmen 67-39.

Panthers statistics: Jacob Eddy, 17 points; Dennis Wondergem, 10 points; Charlie Halsey, eight; Issac Leach, seven points; Brandon Hickman, A.J. Brooks, six points; Jordan Lavigne, Kyle Decker, Tim Gough, three points; Josh Reid, Matt McBain, two points.

Mckinley Portice holds the ball used to score his 1,000th point, with Panthers Head Coach Shawn Bennin (left) and Assistant Coach Steve McConkey. Engadine Splits Hoops Games

The Engadine Eagles boys squad split its two recent games, defeating the Mackinaw City Comets 53-47 in a home nonleague game Monday, February 16, before falling to the Pickford Panthers 74-60 in a road Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference contest Friday, February 20.

The first half was key for the Eagles against the Comets as Engadine led 32-19 at halftime after a 15-8 advantage in the first eight minutes and 17-11 in the second quarter.

Mackinaw City held an 11-9 scoring edge in the third quarter to cut the Eagles' lead to 41-30, and closed the final score to six points with a 17-12 run in the final eight minutes.

At Pickford, the Eagles trailed by 24 points early in the third quarter before cutting the Panthers' lead to nine points, but ran out of gas.

Pickford led 24-17 after the first eight minutes and outscored Engadine 20-8 in the second quarter for a 44-35-halftime advantage. The Eagles held a 35-30- offensive margin in the second half.

Eagles statistics vs Comets: Killian Frisch, 21 points, 18 rebounds; Phillip Hood, 13 points, four assists; Devon Derusha, 11 points; Kyle Bednarski, Michael Klobucher, Tyler Bennett, Michael Beaudoin, two points.

Comets statistics: Luke Alexander, 15 points; Adam Alexander, 14 points; Justin Campbell, eight points; Eric Hinsman, six points; Willie Vieau, Brandyn Clemens, two points.

Panthers statistics: Mckinley Portice, 23 points; Mickael Cantin, 16 points; Jamie Nettleton, 14 points; Burton Gough, eight points; Dylan Rye, seven points; Nathan Gregg, six points.

Eagles statistics vs Panthers: Killian Frisch, 20 points, 11 rebounds; Phillip Hood, 17 points, eight rebounds; Devon Derusha, 13 points; Michael Klobucher, seven points, five assists; Kyle Bednarski, three points, five assists.

Mackinac Island Clinches

Boys NLL Championship

The Mackinac Island Lakers boys team clinched the basketball championship of the Northern Lights League (NLL) with a 73-43 road win over Beaver Island Friday, February 20, and earned the weekend sweep of the Islanders with a 52-43 non-conference decision Saturday, February 21.

The Lakers, 7-0 in the league and 14-1 overall, raced out to a 24- 7 lead after the first eight minutes and increased the advantage to 46- 22 at halftime with a 22-15 scoring run in the second quarter. The Lakers completed the league championship with a 27-21 scoring edge in the second half.

Lakers statistics game one: Michael Gamble, 25 points; Tyler McLean, 18 points; Paul Fisher, 12 points; Robert Chambers, 10 points; Thomas Rilenge, Tyler Cherwonka, four points.

On Saturday, the Lakers struggled early and trailed 24-22 at halftime before outscoring the Islanders 30-19 in the second half to post the win.

Lakers statistics game two: Michael Gamble, 20 points; Robert Chambers, Paul Fisher, 11 points; Tyler McLean, six points; Thomas Rilenge, four points.

Mackinac Island Girls

Fall to Islanders

Mackinac Island Lakers girls dropped their NLL game to Beaver Island 49-25 Friday, February 20.

Lakers statistics: Michi Mullings, Marie Bunker, eight points; Morgan Brodeur-Bunker four points; Shelbie Mosley, Maggie Chambers, two points; Zhane Nash, one point.

Mackinac Island Girls

Sweep Grand Marais

The Mackinac Island Lakers girls swept the Grand Marais Polar Bears 64-30 Friday, February 13, and 56-47 Saturday, February 14.

Lakers statistics game one: Zhane Nash, 16 points; Michi Mullings, 15 points; Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, 14 points; Maggie Chambers, nine points; Marie Bunker, eight points; Holly Leedke, two points.

Lakers statistics game two: Marie Bunker, 19 points; Michi Mullings, Zhane Nash, 13 points; Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, eight points; Holly Leedke, two points.

Laker Boys Breeze

To Win Over Polar Bears

The Mackinac Island Lakers boys breezed to an 80-43 NLL win over Grand Marais Friday, February 13.

The Lakers led 39-23 at halftime and outscored the Polar Bears 41-20 in the second half to record the conference win.

The Lakers will battle Paradise in a home weekend series Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28.

Lakers statistics: Robert Chambers, 25 points; Tyler McLean, 19 points; Michael Gamble, Paul Fisher, 12 points; Thomas Rilenge, 10 points; Tyler Cherwonka, Collin Armstrong, two points.

Bulldogs Get Confident

Win Over Raiders 54-35

Junior Emily Jeffreys scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Rudyard Bulldogs to a 54-35 home non-league win over the DeTour Raiders Tuesday, February 17.

The Bulldogs led 16-10 after the first eight minutes before both teams scored 15 points in the second quarter for a 31-25 halftime score.

Rudyard held a 15-10 scoring advantage in the third quarter and DeTour closed out the game with a 6-5 offensive edge in the final eight minutes.

Bulldogs statistics: Emily Jeffreys, 28 points; Leah Wallis, 11 points; Erin Jarvie, 10 points; Crystal Brownlee, five points.

Raiders statistics: Nicole Melcer, 15 points; Darci Wilson, Kiah Barbeaux, 10 points; Abby Stocking, five points; Jesse Kelleghan, one point.

Black Bears Sweep Eagles

The Maplewood Baptist Academy Black Bears swept Ojibwe Charter Eagles of Brimley 56-43 in the boys basketball game and 34-33 in the girls contest Tuesday, February 16.

Black Bears boys statistics: Brad Shaw, 20 points; Jon Kelly 13 points, 20 rebounds.

Black Bears girls statistics: Becky Rader, 11 points; Charyse Reinfelder, 11 points; Bethany Burton, 10 points, 16 rebounds.

Saints JV Downs Bulldogs,

Falls to Brimley

St. Ignace defeated Rudyard 37-25 but fell to Brimley 62-32 in the junior varsity games.

Saints statistics vs Bulldogs: Anna St. Andrew, 12 points; Alexa Thibault, Mikaela Kelly, seven points; Kayla Fulgenzi, five points; Lori Beth Luepnitz, four points; Cassie Leveille, two points.

Bulldogs statistics: Hunter Perry, 10 points; Morgan Zeeryp, nine points; Jenna Bywater, three points; Samantha Raffaele, two points; Gracie DeYoung, one point.

Saints statistics vs Bays: Heather Beaudoin, Anna St. Andrew, eight points; Martina Beaudoin, Mikaela Kelly, six points; Lori Beth Luepnitz, four points; Ashley Campbell, two points.

Bays statistics: Taylor Wilson, 20 points; Whitney Frazier, 14 points; Megan Parish, 11 points; Shelby Leapley, seven points; Becca Carruthers, three points; Jorja Carrick, Jessica Noyce, Christina McKerchie, two points; Renae Carrick, one point.

Panthers Down Comets

in JV Game

Pickford defeated Mackinaw City in the junior varsity game, 44-28.

Panthers statistics: Marlee Michalski, eight points; Jessie Barras, Payton Mastaw, six points; Amber Colosky, Stacey Beard, Miranda Schwab, Kristi Gough, five points; Abbie Andrzejak, four points.

Comets statistics: Courtney Wallis, nine points; Hailee Paquet, seven points; Claudia Alexander, Nicole Lahaie, three points; Tierney Bell, Cassie LaLonde, Kiara Zynewicz, two points.