11/17/2006

TC Christian claims district

Third-quarter flurry downs Leland, 56-32

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe
Leland junior Erica Breen, left, and TC Christian senior Megan Ritsema keep an eye on a loose ball.

TRAVERSE CITY — Steve Morgan walked out of the locker room at halftime and made a prediction.

"The next three minutes will decide who wins this game,” the Traverse City Christian girls basketball coach said.

He was a minute off.

The host Sabres, already ahead by 13 points but expecting an all-out blitz from Leland, went on a 14-5 in the first four minutes of the third quarter and cruised to a 56-32 victory over their Cherryland Conference rivals on Thursday night.

The win gave Christian its first Class D district basketball title since 2001 and only its second overall.

"I'm just so happy for these kids,” said Morgan, whose team will carry an 18-4 record into Monday's regional at Johannesburg. "Two years ago, we didn't have any juniors. We didn't have any seniors. This was our team right here.

"They've worked so hard,” he said. "Man, you should see them in practice. They're so fun to coach. They're just a classy bunch.”

Considering the Sabres and Comets split two regular season games and tied Lake Leelanau St. Mary's for the Cherryland crown, both teams expected Thursday's game to go down to the wire.

But after Leland held a 2-0 lead for over three minutes in the first quarter, Christian went on a 10-0 run to finish the period and the Comets were never closer than six points the rest of the way.

The Sabres held a 21-8 halftime lead, but Morgan wanted to make sure his players didn't coast.

"I told them, 'The first three or four minutes they're going to come at us with everything they have. They want to make a statement, but we can't let them. We have to answer back,' ” Morgan said.

The Sabres listened — and performed. Emily Morgan, Abby Streeter, Kara Finney and Kelley Ritsema all scored during a 14-5 run.

Leland closed out the period with six straight points, then hit first basket of the fourth quarter, but Morgan scored inside on a pass from Megan Ritsema and followed with a three-point play to put Christian back in control.

Morgan, the coach's daughter, led three seniors in double figures with 20 points. Finney added 14 points, four assists and four steals, and Streeter contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Ritsema had seven rebounds and four steals.

Leland coach Jon Kiessel said Emily Morgan was the key.

"I told the girls, 'Finney cannot beat us; someone else has to,” Kiessel said. "Hats off to Emily Morgan. She played a great game.”

Steve Morgan said his daughter "is just one of those kids who may not be the most talented but certainly leaves her heart and soul on the court.”

"Because she's my daughter, I'm tougher on her than any other player. I have to be,” Steve Morgan said. "But she turns every negative into a positive that will benefit the team.

"She never gets down; she's always positive. I'm proud of her for that.”

Emily Morgan said the Sabres never expected a 22-point victory Thursday, but "we all played amazing.”

Now the seniors will have a district banner of their own.

"Ever since the seventh grade we've tried to follow in their footsteps,” Emily said of the 2001 squad. "We have two banners (including the conference title). Our goal is three.”

The Sabres' quest for a regional championship begins Monday when they take on Bay City All Saints in the second game of the regional at Johannesburg. All Saints defeated Fairview 66-49 to win its district Thursday.

Leland (10-11) was led by a pair of juniors — Erin Sneed (18 points) and Erica Breen (7).

"Our kids played such a hard physical game that I can't be disappointed with their effort,” Kiessel said. "The score doesn't show it, but I thought we played well defensively.

"(Christian's) press gave us trouble. By the time we sorted it out they already had us in a hole.”

For more photos from the game, visit www.record-eagle.com