Joe VanDusen is one of the biggest fans of Rudyard athletics. He displays a “Beware of the Dogs” sign before the Bulldogs win over Cheboygan. Rudyard Ties for SAC With Win Over Cheboygan;

Downs Raiders, Panthers

The Rudyard Bulldogs took matters into their own hands with a decisive 72-53 Straits Area Conference (SAC) home win over the Cheboygan Chiefs for a firstplace tie Friday, February 12. The Bulldogs defeated the Pickford Panthers in road non-conference contest Wednesday, February 10, and upended the DeTour Raiders in a home match-up Monday, February 8.

Bulldogs Dominate Chiefs

Playing with heart, defensive intensity, and determination will lead athletic teams to victory and Rudyard used all three to carry the Bulldogs to the SAC win at Harris Kahl Gymnasium.

"This was a total defensive effort," said Bulldogs Coach Grant Ross. "We took care of business and I told the players after that if we bring that type of game each night, it will give us a great chance to win and will carry us deep into the season. This was our best overall performance this season."

Kaden Barbeaux DeTour The win improves the Bulldogs to 7-1 in the league and 13-1 overall and sends Rudyard into the closing weeks of the season tied with Cheboygan in the SAC, with a 7-1 mark and 12-2 on the year. Both teams have two conference games remaining on their schedules, with Rudyard against Sault Ste. Marie and Rogers City and Cheboygan with St. Ignace and Rogers City.

In the first meeting at Cheboygan Friday, January 8, the Chiefs took control with their combination inside and outside shooting, but this time the Bulldogs dominated the offense and defense. The exception was the 29-point performance by Trevor Closs as the Cheboygan team struggled with its shooting. Rudyard used a strong defensive effort and balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures.

Landon Marshall St. Ignace Rudyard opened the game with a 16-10 lead after the first eight minutes and outscored Cheboygan 16-11 in the second quarter, which included a 12-4 run in the final four minutes of the first half for a 32-21 halftime advantage.

Davin Salo scored nine points and Arik Hesselink and Drew Otten chipped in eight for Rudyard, while Closs answered with 13 for the Chiefs.

The Bulldogs offense clearly dominated the second half as an 11-2 margin in the third quarter increased the Rudyard lead to 50- 35 going into the fourth quarter.

Rudyard increased their lead to 72-43 at the 2:00 mark with a 13- 0 run before the Chiefs scored the final 10 points to bring the score closer.

Bulldogs statistics: Arik Hesselink, 23 points, 20 rebounds; Drew Otten, 19 points; Davin Salo, 13 points; Scott Coffey, 10 points, 10 rebounds; Ryan Hendrickson, four points; Ben Harter, three points.

Davin Salo (22) scored 13 points for Rudyard and quarterbacked the Bulldogs to the SAC win over Cheboygan. Chiefs remaining statistics: Jordan Spohn, seven points; Isiah Woodard, six points; Derek Ferris, five points; Austin Cole, Kollin Currie, and Nick Hancock, two points.

Bulldogs JV Team Remains

Perfect

The Rudyard Bulldogs junior varsity team remains undefeated on the season with a 64-49 win over the Cheboygan Chiefs.

Bulldogs statistics: Tyler Wilson, 25 points; Caleb Salo, 15 points; Garrett LaPonsie, 12 points; Brandon Radle and Scott Smith, four points; Jared Meehan, two points.

The Bulldogs’ Drew Otten (13) scores two first-half points over the Chiefs’ Trevor Closs (15) during the Rudyard SAC win over Cheboygan Friday, February 12. Rudyard Upends Pickford

The Rudyard Bulldogs outscored the Pickford Panthers 21-3 in the third quarter to pull away for the non-league win.

Bulldogs statistics: Arik Hesselink, 18 points, 22 rebounds; Drew Otten, 13 points; Ryan Hendrickson, eight points; Ricky Gere, seven points; Davin Salo and Ben Harter, five points; Jared Clark, one point.

Panthers statistics: Mckinley Portice, 12 points; Jordan LaVigne, five points; Josh Reid and Nathan Gregg, four points; Dylan Rye and Cody Becks, three points; Kyle Decker and Tim Gough, one point.

Bulldogs Down Raiders The Bulldogs led by four points at halftime before taking control with a 22-6 advantage in the third quarter en route to the nonconference win.

Jake Strait Cedarville DeTour held an 11-9-scoring edge after the first eight minutes before Rudyard took a 23-19-halftime lead with a 14-8 margin in the second quarter.

Rudyard outscored DeTour by 16 points in the third quarter and closed out the game with a 15-11 offensive edge in the final eight minutes.

Bulldogs statistics: Davin Salo, 17 points, five triples; Arik Hesselink, 14 points, 15 rebounds; Drew Otten and Ryan Hendrickson, eight points; Ben Harter, six points, seven rebounds; Scott Coffey, four points; Ricky Gere, three points.

Raiders statistics: Sam Peterson, nine points; Tyler Anderson and Chase Livingston, eight points; Ian Burton, five points; Kaden Barbeaux, four points; Harry Reinfelder, two points.

Saints Down Sault in SAC,

Breeze Past Brimley The St. Ignace Saints posted pair of road wins, defeating the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils 64-49 in a Straits Area Conference (SAC) match-up Friday, February 12, and breezing past the Brimley Bays 74- 35 Tuesday, February 9.

Intensity, Team Effort Keys

To Saints Win Over Blue Devils

Second-half intensity and team effort were key for the Saints during the SAC win over the Blue Devils.

"We played much better in the second half and stepped up our intensity," said Saints Coach Jason Marshall.

The Saints, 5-3 in the league and 11-4 overall, led 15-11 after the first eight minutes before the Blue Devils held a 16- 13-scoring edge to cut the St. Ignace lead to 28- 27 at halftime. St. Ignace turned the game around with strong play, outscoring Sault Ste. Marie 21-11 in the third quarter to increase the lead to 49-38 and completing the conference victory with a 15-11 advantage in the final eight minutes.

Four players scored in double figures and Gerrit Mortensen and Grant Simmons recorded double/ double.

Saints statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 19 points, 12 assists, six steals, three rebounds, one blocked shot; Austin St. Louis, 17 points, eight rebounds, four steals, two assists; Grant Simmons, 11 points, 10 rebounds, two steals; Evan Everson, 10 points, four rebounds; Cole Christiansen, four points, three rebounds, two steals; Kevin Guillard, three points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocked shots; Landon Marshall, two rebounds.

Saints JV Post Win

The St. Ignace Saints junior varsity defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils 64-46 Friday, February 12.

Saints statistics: Curtis St. Louis, 18 points; Eric Hepker, 13 points; John Eby, 12 points; Parker Simmons, 10 points; Chris Belonga and Aaron Colegrove, three points; Brennan Danielson, two points.

St. Ignace Defeats Brimley

The Bays held a 6-2 lead early during the first two minutes of the game before St. Ignace outscored the Bays 21-9 for a 23- 15 advantage after the first eight minutes.

St. Ignace scored the final four points of the first quarter and answered with 14 consecutive points to open the second quarter for a 50-19 halftime lead. The Saints outscored Brimley 24-16 in the second half to post the win.

Saints statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 27 points (25 in first half), seven assists, three rebounds; Austin St. Louis, 12 points, five rebounds, three assists; Evan Everson, nine points, three rebounds; Curtis St. Louis, seven points, five rebounds, two assists; Grant Simmons, six points, eight rebounds; Kevin Guillard, six points, four rebounds; Landon Marshall, four points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals; Cole Christiansen, three points, two steals.

Bays statistics: Jared Parish, 10 points, 11 rebounds; Dylan Graham, 10 points, seven rebounds; Michael Kuenzer, seven points, eight rebounds; Dylan Schroeder and Brandon Carrick, three points; Dakota Bowen, two points.

Trojans Remain Perfect

In EUPC With Win Over Bays

The Cedarville Trojans remain perfect in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference with a 7-0 record and 12-3 overall after defeating the Brimley Bays 90-64 during a road game at the Karly Parker Gymnasium Friday, February 12.

The Trojans took off early with a 24-9 lead after the first eight minutes and cruised from a 48-31 lead at halftime, outscoring the Bays 42-33 in the second half.

Trojans statistics: Connor McLeod, 26 points; Jordan Baker, 15 points; Tyler Kanitz and Zach McFarlane, 11 points; Matt Schlosser and Jake Strait, eight points; Michael Kenny, five; Jeremy Sherlund, four points; Trent Pitko, two points.

Bays statistics: Dylan Graham, 20 points; Michael Kuenzer and Donnie Lewis, 11 points; Jared Parish, 10 points; Dakota Bowen, nine points; Josh Graham, two points; Jason Aikens, one point.

Balanced Effort Lifts

Raiders Over Eagles

Five players scored for Coach Rob Anderson as his DeTour Raiders defeated the Engadine Eagles 75-47 during a home Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference (EUPC) contest Friday, February 12.

"This was one of our best efforts this season as a team," said Coach Anderson. "We played with confidence and stayed focused."

The Raiders led 12-8 after the first eight minutes and outscored the Eagles 28-18 in the second quarter to open up a 40-26 halftime lead.

DeTour continued to dominate the offense with a 22-9 advantage to increase their lead to 62-35 and held a 13-12-scoring edge in the final eight minutes.

Raiders statistics: Tyler Anderson, 17 points; Sam Peterson, 16 points; Kaden Barbeaux, 15 points; Chase Livingston, 13 points; Ian Burton, 11 points; Brandon Kurkierewicz, two points; Brandon Melcer, one point.

Eagles statistics: Connor Frisch, 18 points; Michael Klobucher, 13 points, six rebounds, three assists; Phillip Hood, nine points, six steals; Tyler Bennett, five points; Michael Ramelis, one point, four rebounds; Luke Smith, one point; Joey Swider, four rebounds.

Raiders Fall to Cougars

The DeTour Raiders dug themselves into a hole, trailing 24-5 after the first eight minutes, but then outscored the Superior Central Cougars during the final three quarters before ultimately falling 60-42 during a home non-conference contest Saturday, February 13.

The Raiders held a 14-8 margin in the second quarter to slice the Cougars lead to 32-19 and closed out the second half with a 23-18 advantage.

Raiders statistics: Ian Burton, 11 points; Tyler Anderson and Chase Livingston, nine points; Brandon Melcer, eight points; Sam Peterson, four points; Harry Reinfelder, one point.