Jenna Ledy Pickford Class D District 124

at Brimley Karl Parker

Memorial Gymnasium

Panthers Edge League Rival

54-52 for District Title

By David Latva

The Pickford Panthers captured the Class D district 124 championship with a 54-52 road decision over the Brimley Bays at Karl Parker Memorial Gymnasium Friday, March 5.

This was a typical Eastern Upper Peninsula match-up between two conference rivals as the Panthers, league champions, had to defeat Brimley for a third time and a second win on the Bays’ home court. This was the first district crown for Pickford since 2004.

"I’m so proud of this team in their effort all season, but especially in the districts," said Panthers Coach Paul Griffin. "The reserve players stepped up their play after Callie Smith and Justine Hatfield got in foul trouble."

Kristen Cline Pickford The host Bays completed their season with a 19-4 overall record held a 15-14-scoring edge after the first eight minutes before the Panthers outscored Brimley 16-12 for a 30-27 halftime advantage.

Neither team held double-figure leads during the district final, but Brimley, with a 10-8 offensive margin in the third quarter, cut the Panthers lead to 38-37 going into the wild final eight minutes.

Pickford, 18-4 on the season, led 52-47 late in the fourth quarter before Stephanie Lynn scored four points to slice the Panthers lead to 52-51 inside the 40 second mark.

Callie Smith and Abbie Andrezjak made one free throw each to extend the Panthers offensive edge to 54-51, followed by a Lynn charity shot for a 54-52 score with 2.7 seconds on the clock.

Pickford passed the ball down court from under the Bays basket. Brimley stole the ball, but time expired and the Panthers celebration began.

Jessica Graham Brimley Panthers statistics: Jenna Ledy, 13 points, three steals; Kristen Cline, nine points, four steals, two rebounds; Callie Smith, seven points, three rebounds, two steals; Abbie Andrezjak seven points, two rebounds; Kelcie Brown, seven points, seven rebounds, one steal; Justine Hatfield, five points, six rebounds, two steals; Olivia Smith, five points, 11 rebounds, two steals.

Bays statistics: Jessica Graham, 21 points; Stephanie Lynn, 12 points; Sydney Beaune, seven points; Cortney Wilson and Lynnette Carrick, five points; Whitney Frazier and Cassie Wilcox, one point.

LaSalle High School

To Host Class D Regionals

LaSalle High School in St. Ignace will host the Class D regionals with Pellston and Johannesburg-Lewiston in the opener Tuesday, March 9, and Pickford and Posen in the second game of the doubleheader. The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11.

Marie Bunker Mackinac Island Panthers Down Lakers,

Advance To District Finals

The Pickford Panthers, champions of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference, breezed past the Mackinac Island Lakers, champions of the Northern Lights League, 67- 18 during the Class D district semifinals Wednesday, March 3.

The Panthers led 42-11 at halftime and outscored the Lakers 25-7 in the second half.

Panthers statistics: Justine Hatfield, 14 points; Melissa Stevenson, 10 points; Kristen Cline and Jenna Ledy, nine points; Olivia Smith and Kacie Brown, six points; Abbie Rose and Marlee Michalski, four points.

Jillian Collins Cedarville Lakers statistics: Zhan’e Nash, seven points; Maggie Chambers, Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, three points; Jane Finkel and Marie Bunker, two points.

Bays Upend Trojans,

Move To District Finals

The Brimley Bays outscored the Cedarville Trojans 44-19 in the first half en route to a 72-34 win during the district semifinals Wednesday, March 3.

The Bays closed out the contest with a 28-15 advantage in the second half.

Bays statistics: Stephanie Lynn, 19 points; Jessica Graham, 12 points; Cassie Wilcox, 10 points; Becca Carruthers, eight points; Lynnette Carrick and Shelby Leapley, seven points; Sydney Beaune, five points; Whitney Frazier, four points; Cortney Wilson and Megan Parish, two points.

Trojans statistics: Jillian Collins, 13 points; Holly Jaroche, five points; Lisa Roth, four points; Mary Eberts, three points; Hope Wittmus, Chelsea Grove, and Kharizma Labinski, two points.

Kiah Barbeaux DeTour Free Throws Make Difference

In Bays Win Over Raiders DeTour outscored Brimley 43- 42 from the field, but the Bays held a 12-5 advantage from the free throw line for a 54-48 win over the Raiders during the district quarterfinals Monday, March 1.

The Raiders suffered through a scoring drought in the first two quarters as the Bays held an 11-4 advantage in the first eight minutes and 11-5 in the second quarter for a 22-9 halftime lead.

DeTour outscored Brimley 39- 32 in the second half that included 23-14 in the third quarter before the Bays held an 18-16 margin in the final eight minutes for the sixpoint win.

Bays statistics: Stephanie Lynn, 13 points; Jessica Graham, 11 points; Whitney Frazier, 10 points; Lynnette Carrick, seven points; Sydney Beaune, six points; Cortney Wilson, five points; Becca Carruthers, two points.

Morgan MacArthur Engadine Raiders’ statistics: Kiah Barbeaux, 16 points; Darci Wilson, 15 points; Nicole Melcer, 10 points; Abby Stocking and Nicole Bouwma, two points.

Class D District 125:

Eagles Fall to Cougars

In District Finals

Engadine had to win three games to capture the district championship and the Eagles won the first two, but were conquered by the Superior Central Cougars 58-44 in the road title game Friday, March 5. Engadine defeated Big Bay de Noc Black Bears 68-58 in the semifinals at home Wednesday, March 3, and handed the Mid Peninsula Wolverines a 67-53 setback during a road quarterfinal game Monday, March 1.

Krista Metcalf Engadine Shooting Slump Hurts

Eagles in District Finals

Engadine, 13-10 on the season, held an 18-16-scoring edge after the first eight minutes and scored the first five points of the second quarter for a 23-16 lead before the Eagles went into a shooting slump for the remainder of the first half and into the third quarter.

Superior Central led 30-23 at halftime and increased the lead to 41-31 with an 11-8 advantage in the third quarter, closing out the district championship with a 16-13 margin in the final eight minutes.

"We accomplished a lot this year, and I feel we over achieved," said Eagles Coach Dave McNeil. "We have three strong players that will return next year that include Kacie Rutledge, Morgan MacArthur, and Krista Metcalf to build the 2010-11 team."

Eagles statistics:

Morgan MacArthur, 17 points; Krista Metcalf, 14 points; Lynzee Bigelow, seven points; Elisa Hobbs, four points; Kayla Miller, two points.

Eagles Down Black Bears

In District Semifinals

The Eagles used a strong fourthquarter offensive advantage and balanced scoring to defeat the Black Bears in the district semifinals.

Engadine led 20-16 after the first eight minutes before Big Bay de Noc outscored the Eagles 13-12 in the second quarter and 15-10 in third period for a 44-42-scoring edge going into the fourth quarter.

The Eagles bounced back to outscore the Black Bears 26-14 in the final eight minutes to clinch the district win.

Eagles statistics: Krista Metcalf, 25 points; Elisa Hobbs, 18 points; Morgan MacArthur, 15 points; Lynzee Bigelow, six points; Leah Blanchard and Randi Jo Gribbell, two points.

"We didn't take Big Bay de Noc lightly. They are a good team, but we took over in the third quarter," said Coach Mc- Neil.

Eagles Defeat

Wolverines

In District

Q-Finals

The Eagles outscored the Wolverines 28-15 in the fourth quarter to lift Engadine to the win during the opening round of the districts.

Engadine led 13-6 after the first eight minutes before Mid Peninsula sliced the Eagles lead to 26-25 with a 19-13 advantage in the second quarter.

Both teams scored 13 points in the third quarter for a 39-38 score, but the Eagles’ Morgan MacArthur took control with 14 of her career high 26 points in the final eight minutes as Engadine held a 13- point advantage to record the win.

The team learned Kacie Rutledge would be unable to play for the remainder of the season after suffering injuries from a car accident.

"The girls responded with a strong team effort," said Coach McNeil.

Eagles statistics: Morgan MacArthur, 26 points; Elisa Hobbs, 16 points; Krista Metcalf, 15 points; Lynzee Bigelow, five points.