Lakers win overtime thriller

Th Laker faithful were treated to firesorks on and off the floor as EPBP came away with a 65 - 56 victory over the Reese Rockets.

The Lakers found themselves down 4 with about three minutes to go in he first half, but went on an 11-0 run to go up at the half 38-32.

Lakers found themselves comfortably up - but in the end the Rockets cae back to tie the game at the end of regulation at 54 all. Neither team could find hte bucket for the last 2:42

The Lakers came out running and scored the first six points of the extra peried. That's when the fireworks started. The Reese coaching staff was not pleased with a call and let the officials know it. Coach Gruber was promptly T'd up. During he timeout his assistant continued to plead the Rockets case and was T'd up as well. The final straw came after the assistant continued to voice his displeasure and was ejected. The net result was putting the Lakers at the charity stripe for 8 freethrows and completely putting the game out of reach as Kevin Dubs went 5 of 8 at the line to complete the scoring giving the Lakers a thrilling victory.

Dryden Dominates Bluestars

It was all Dryden from front to back in Port Hope as they ran the floor the entire game. Port Hope managed 42 points - but allowed 71 in their loss to Dryden.

BC 57, Ubly 52

Eric Booms
Mitch Cleary

Steven Weber

Jordan Kaufman

Eric Booms

Mitch Cleary

Tyler Kubacki

Ubly lost to Brown City 57-52 and have likely lost nay chance of winning a Greater Thumb East title as they trail the Green Devils by two games in the loss column with two games to go for BC. The Bearcats would need to win out and the Green Devils lose out to tie.

For Ubly, they got behind early and trailed by 11 at the half. They made a game of it in the second half, tying it up with 6:01 left in the fourth when #44 (Tyler Kubacki) tied the game up at 44-44.

BC regained the lead and led 51-47, when Justin cleary drained a triple with 1:01 left. Ubly continued their full court pressure and appeared to have created a turnover with 52 seconds left as from my vantage point the Brown Cityt player dribbled out of bounds, however, the official, who did have better position than I did, called a foul on Eric Booms, which was his fifth.

BC missed the 1-and-1 got the ball back out of bounds eventually going to the line and converting a pair to take a 53-50 advantage.

BC turned up the defensive pressure and Mitch Cleary missed a 3 that would have tied things up.

Coach Joel Leipprandt was very disappointed with a lack of energy and enthusiasm in the first half, but equally pleased with the second half effort. He believed they would have had a better chance at it had they played that way the entire game.

He was also dissappointed by several misses from the line in the fourth as the team was 2-for-5 from the line in the fourth, while the Green Devils were 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes

USA Rolls Over Hatchets

It was picture night in Bad Axe as the Hatchets hung around for a few minutes - but eventually were outplayed and outmuscled by the Patriots. USA ran the floor effortlessly with plenty of fast break baskets and an impressive press. The end of the first half saw the PAtriots up 33-12.

Ubly 51, Brown City 47

Alicia Leipprandt
Alicia Leipprandt

Alicia Leipprandt

Lyndsay White

Nicole Franzel

Camay Messing

Lyndsay White

Ubly coach Brent Wehner-he's getting my vote for All-Thumb Coach of the Year

Ubly needed a win at home to keep their hopes of earning a share of the Greater Thumb East title alive; they got it as they knocked off Brown City, who clinched at least a share of the title last week, 51-47.
Alicia Leipprandt had her best effort of the season scoring 37 points, one short of her season high, while grabbing 19 boards.

Girls District predictions

Leipprandt will lead Ubly to victory; can anyone beat BCAS?
BY CHRIS OGRYSKI
EDITOR

The key to making a run in the post-season is to peak at the right time and that is exactly what Ubly’s Alicia Leipprandt is doing. Leipprandt, who has scored 30 points or more in three straight games (38 vs. Mayville, 35 vs. Harbor Beach and 32 vs. Bad Axe) and seven times this season, is one of the Thumb’s most well-rounded hoops players ever. Not only is she averaging around 27 points per game, she is also grabbing around 11 rebounds pg, dishing three or four assists and adding two or three steals.
When you add in the supporting cast that is starting to emerge around her in Lyndsay White, Nicole Franzel and Camay Messing, I think they have just enough to win in a tough field.
Class C Districts @ Bad Axe
Monday, March 2
EPBP vs. Ubly
This one should be tough one as the Lakers beat Ubly 55-46 in their only meeting of the year. EPBP has a pretty diverse cast of players who are capable of leading the team in scoring on any given night including Stephanie Maxwell, Ashley Hatfield, Shelby Pietruck, Chelsea Dubey and Jamie Kohr.
In that early season win, Pietruck led the team with 21 and was within six of Leipprandt, who had 27. If someone on the Lakers, anyone on the Lakers, can keep within six of Leipprandt, EPBP will have a great chance in this one.
However, Leipprandt is on such a roll at this point, I don’t know who, if anyone, can slow her down, let alone stop her. Prediction: Ubly wins a close one by six or seven.
Cass City vs. Bad Axe
In their first meeting of the season, the Red Hawks escaped with a 46-41 win.
While the Hatchets have won just one league game this season and three overall, I like what I’ve seen from Bad Axe in the last month or two, as Sam Breault has really emerged as a scoring threat for the Hatchets.
If Bad Axe can get another scorer to step up and get into double figures (in their first game against the Red Hawks, Taylor Breault scored 14 and two other players had seven points apiece) added to the fact they are playing home, I think it spells upset win for Bad Axe. Prediction: Hatchets win a squeaker.
Wednesday, March 4
USA vs. Ubly
The Patriots are dangerous with their version of the triple threat, Jillian Williamson, Dani Gremel and Estey Ruppal. But earlier in the season, USA lost to Ubly by 13, with Gremel being the only player to reach double figures with 13.
While the Patriots are on a nice win streak right now, having seen them play against All Saints and reading about their struggles against Reese, I just don’t think they will have enough to knock off the Bearcats. Prediction: Leipprandt breaks 30 and the Bearcats win by 8-10.
Harbor Beach vs. Bad Axe
The Pirates were 51-37 winners when they two teams faced off in Bad Axe earlier this season, I see a similar result coming in this one. Harbor Beach has been playing some of their best ball of the season during recent stretches and should have enough to knock off the Hatchets. Look for a balanced scoring effort led by Kaylee Lochrie in this one. Prediction: Pirates by 12.
Friday, March 6
Ubly vs. Harbor Beach
Look for another close game similar to the overtime contest these two teams had a few weeks back. Prediction: The Bearcats win a tough one, closer than most would expect, by about five points.

Class D Girls @ North Huron
Monday, March 2
Caseville vs. Port Hope
These two met last week and went to double O.T., this one ends in regulation…this time it goes Caseville’s way. Look for Meaghan Fortsch, Bethany Grates and Rebecca Janke to all hit double figures for the Eagles. Prediction: Caseville by 5.
OG vs. NH
Amanda Faist has come on in the second half for the Bulldogs, but doesn’t have enough talent around her to pull off the upset. The Warriors win this one big. Prediction: North Huron by 15.
Wednesday, March 4
BCAS vs. Caseville
I think the Eagles hang with them early, but in the end the Cougars have too much depth and too much experience against Class C teams. All Saints win big, too. Prediction: Cougars by 17.
Akron-Fairgrove vs. North Huron
The Vikings have yet to win a game against a league opponent this year, they won’t win one her either. Prediction: North Huron by 15.
Friday, March 6
BCAS vs. North Huron
Seeing how Bad Axe beat North Huron and that All Saints are ahead of the Hatchets in the standings…I see this one going the Cougar’s way, but not as lopsided as the BA vs. NH game from the holiday tourney. Prediction: Cougars win by 16.

Warriors Roll Over Owen-Gage

Tonight was picture night in Kinde where it was all North Huron as they put up 34 points in the first quarter against the Bulldogs. It was an impressive show of offense and a solid full court press that got them off to a quick start.

THis week' sports front...

Patriots maintain control in GTW

Heath Schmidt
Brandon Bitzer

Jake Holland

Ryan Zimmer

Josh Lakie Schmidt

Bitzer

Scott Fletcher

Bitzer

Bitzer

USA piccked up a huge 62-49 win over Reese last night, eliminating the Rockets from title contention while maintaing a one game edge in the league title race.

Brandon Bitzer led the way with 20, while Holland, Schmidt and Fletcher all added 11 points apiece.

We'll have full coverage in this week's paper.

Lady Warriors Topple Dryden

It was a long four quarter battle, but in the end, the North Huron D stepped up and came away with a 60-53 victory over the NCTL North division leading Cardinals. Both teams played tough D but also wasted opportunities under the basket. The Lady Warriors effectively made their way through the Dryden press and managed to hit some key freethrows at the end to put the game out of reach and maintain their lead in the NCTL South.