Arik Hesselink (23) of Rudyard scores two first-half points during the Bulldogs district final win over the Manistique Emeralds Friday, March 12. Defenders are Gunnar Mickelson (32) and Nick Takala (54). (Photograph by Michael DeYoung) Rudyard is known for a strong scoring squad, but when the offense sputtered, the defense took over to lift the Bulldogs to a 61-39 win over the host Manistique Emeralds for the Class C district 93 championship Friday, March 12.

This was the 15th district title in the history for Rudyard High School since 1953, and their fourth regional appearance.

The Bulldogs, 21-1 on the season, are the top rated team in the Upper Peninsula Class A-B-C poll and ranked number five in the state poll. The Bulldogs opened the contest with an 18-11 lead before the Emeralds held a 14-12-scoring edge in the second quarter to slice the Rudyard lead to 30-25 at halftime.

Rudyard responded with one of their best defensive halves of the season to hold Manistique to 14 points.

Drew Otten (13) of Rudyard drives to the basket over the Saints’ Austin St. Louis (12) during the Bulldogs win over St. Ignace Wednesday, March 10. The Bulldogs outscored the Emeralds 16-9 in the third quarter for a 46-34 advantage and completed the district championship with a 15-5 margin in the final eight minutes.

"Our defense set the tone in the second half," said Bulldogs Coach Grant Ross. "We came off an emotional win over St. Ignace Wednesday in the district opener and I felt we could have a drop-off offensively, but this team never quits and stepped up our defense."

Three players scored in double figures for Rudyard, while the Bulldogs defense didn't allow one Manistique player to score in doubles.

Rudyard opened regional play at Marquette High School against Houghton and Gwinn and Norway battled in the second semifinal Monday, March 15, with the championship game scheduled for Wednesday, March 17. The Class C quarterfinals will be held at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday, March 23, the semifinals Thursday, March 25, and finals Saturday, March 27, at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University.

Gerrit Mortensen closed out his career with game high 28 points against Rudyard and a total of 1,680 points that ranked him second among LaSalle High School cagers. Bulldogs statistics: Scott Coffey, 20 points, six rebounds; Arik Hesselink, 17 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, five blocked shots, two steals; Davin Salo, 15 points, three assists; Drew Otten, five points, 10 rebounds, four assists; Ryan Hendrickson, three points; Tyler Wilson, one point.

Emeralds statistics: Matt Baker and Gunnar Mickelson, nine points; Kyle Tiglas, seven points; Anders Broullire, five points; Greg Vaughn, three points; Tyler Turan, D.J. Lambert, and Nick Takala, two points.

Scott Coffey (30) scored 36 points in the two district games for Rudyard. Balanced Offense Lifts

Rudyard Over St. Ignace Rudyard and St. Ignace played two exciting games during the regular season and in the Class C district semifinals at LaSalle High School, the Bulldogs converted the threegame sweep with an 81-63 decision over the Saints Wednesday, March 10. The Bulldogs advanced to the district finals at Manistique, which defeated Newberry 65-42.

The Saints setback ended a record-setting high school career for Gerrit Mortensen, who scored game high 28 points. Mortensen is ranked second all-time with 1,680 career points, behind Steve MacDonald with 1,972. One of the best clutch players in the history of LaSalle High School boys basketball program also tied the school mark with a single game of 45 points.

Dr. Susan Hepker assists the Saints’ Kevin Guillard, who dislocated his finger during the district game against Rudyard. "Gerrit is the best player Rudyard has played against in the last four years," said Rudyard Coach Grant Ross. "He is a class person with great composure and should hold his head high for his accomplishments."

St. Ignace, 14-7 on the season, started strong with a 7-0 lead at the 5:26 mark and held a 9-3 advantage before Rudyard scored their first field goal on an Arik Hesselink rebound and put-back with 3:50 left in the opening quarter.

The Saints built the lead to 19-9 at 1:26 as Austin St. Louis scored 10 first-quarter points, but Drew Otten answered with consecutive field goals and Ryan Hendrickson drained a triple at the buzzer to slice the St. Ignace lead to 19-16 after the first eight minutes.

Scott Coffey scored four points and Hendrickson added two to open the second quarter for a 22-19 advantage that the Bulldogs would never relinquish. Rudyard’s defense held the Saints to six points, while the Bulldogs scored 19 for a 35-25- halftime lead.

Mortensen scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half that included 10 in the third quarter and 12 in the final eight minutes. His final field goal came on a triple with 1:38 left in the game before he left the floor with a standing ovation from the Rudyard and St. Ignace fans.

Hesselink scored 15 points and Otten added 10 in the second half for Rudyard as the Bulldogs held a 19-17-scoring edge in the third quarter and 27-21 in the final quarter.

Four Rudyard players scored 16 or more points. If the Bulldogs are to continue along the tournament trail, the balanced offense and strong defense must continue.

Bulldogs statistics: Ryan Hendrickson, 22 points; Arik Hesselink, double/double with 20 points, 23 rebounds; Drew Otten, 16 points, nine rebounds; Scott Coffey, 16 points, six rebounds; Davin Salo, four points, seven steals; Ricky Gere, two points; Tyler Wilson, one point.

Saints statistics: Gerrit Mortensen, 28 points, two assists, two steals; Austin St. Louis, 20 points, nine rebounds; Cole Christiansen, six points, two steals, two assists; Evan Everson, five points, three steals; Grant Simmons, four points, five rebounds; Landon Marshall, two points; Kevin Guillard, two points, three rebounds, two steals, two assists.