Marie Bunker The Mackinac Island girls basketball team, in just their third season of competition, captured the Northern Lights League tournament championship with a 49-44 win over the Beaver Island Islanders in the title game and a 62-37 decision against the host Hannahville Soaring Eagles in the semifinals Saturday, February 27.

The Lakers have experienced a strong February Fury after sharing the regular season crown with Beaver Island during a win Friday, February 19, and on a neutral court downed the Islanders for the tourney title.

Trio Scores 41 Points

In Title Contest

The trio of Morgan Brodeur- Bunker, Maggie Chambers, and Zhan’e Nash combined for 41 points in the win over Beaver Island.

"This group has worked and played hard all season and the team reached two of our goals by winning the tournament title, but had to share the regular season crown," said Lakers Coach Mary Patay. The Lakers took a 12-6 lead after the first eight minutes before the Islanders held 9-8 scoring edge in the second quarter to cut the Mackinac Island lead to 20-15 at halftime.

Morgan Brodeur- Bunker Mackinac Island, 14-4 on the season, led 31-27 going into the final eight minutes after Beaver Island held a 12-11 margin, but the Lakers posted the five-point win after completing the match-up with an 18-17 advantage in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers scored 19 field goals and Beaver Island answered with 18, but the difference came from the free throw line as Mackinac Island outscored the Islanders 11-8.

"We switched defenses during the game and that was a positive move for us, but overall, this group of girls are very special," added the coach.

Lakers statistics: Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, 17 points; four assists, three steals, two rebounds; Zhan’e Nash, double/double with 12 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals; Maggie Chambers, 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals; Marie Bunker, six points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals; Jane Finkel, two points, two steals, two rebounds.

Lakers Down Soaring Eagles

In Tourney Semifinals

The Lakers jumped out to a 17-

lead and never looked back during the tourney semifinal win over the Soaring Eagles.

Mackinac Island increased the advantage to 41-16 at halftime before both teams scored 21 points in the second half.

Lakers statistics: Marie Bunker, double/double with 15 points, 10 steals, three rebounds, two assists; Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, 14 points, four assists, two steals; Zhan’e Nash, double/double with 12 points, 19 rebounds, four steals, two assists; Jane Finkel, nine points, eight steals, two rebounds, two assists; Holly Leedke, Hailey Armstrong, and Hailey Bean, two points; Shelbie Mosley, three rebounds; Halee Tokarz, two assists.

The Lakers will travel to Brimley to face Pickford in the opening round of the Class D districts Wednesday, March 3.

Mackinac Island Boys

Fall To Soaring Eagles

The Mackinac Island boys squad fell to the host Hannahville Soaring Eagles 53-47 Friday, February 26.

The Lakers, 5-13 on the season, trailed 31-18 at halftime, 45-34 at the end of the third quarter before tieing the score in the final eight minutes, but fell to Hannahville.

The Lakers will travel to Cedarville and battle DeTour in the opening round of the Class D districts Monday, March 8.

Lakers statistics: Tymon Horn, 28; Thomas Rilenge, 10 points; Paul Fisher, seven points; Collin Armstrong, two points.