Published: January 06, 2009 07:00 pm      

Basketball Roundup: West, Central prevail

PETOSKEY -- Traverse City West tightened up the defense in the third quarter Tuesday and held on for a 63-44 Big North Conference win over host Petoskey.

The Titans (3-2, 1-1 BNC) took a 33-24 lead into the break before holding the Northmen to just five points in the third quarter.

John Purdy led TC West offensively with 13 points while Greg Forrester had 10 points and four rebounds. Olsen also had nine points and six boards.

The game was the last for West heading into Friday's home game with TC Central.

For Petoskey, Nick Moore had 13 points.

In the JV game, TC West (4-1, 2-0 BNC) won 44-40 behind 13 points from Graeme Placek and nine points from Jake Fisher.

MORE BOYS

TC Central 64
Ludington 56

Traverse City Central jumped out to a 40-20 halftime lead en route to a 64-56 win over Ludington (4-1), ranked ninth in Class B.

Nick Roen led a balanced attack for TC Central (3-2) with 15 points. Kelly Long and Josh Heerdt each added 11 points while Doug Burke (11 rebounds) and Dylan Roe had nine.

Central lost 58-50 in the JV game. Erik Krueger had 13 points and Jack Stevens 12 for the Trojans (2-3).

Joe Prokes had 14 points and Ryan Vershuren 12 to lead the TC Central freshmen (4-0) to a 60-34 victory.

Grayling 62
East Jordan 44

In just its third game of the season against 27 practices, Grayling downed Lake Michigan Conference rival East Jordan by a 62-44 score.

Trent Larm had 16 points and Al Gabriel 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Vikings (1-2, 1-1 LMC). Colin Hamlin contributed nine points and five assists and Tyler Steffey nine points and nine rebounds.

Kalkaska 62
Boyne City 57

Kalkaska found a rhythm from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter for a 62-57 win over Kalkaska.

The Blazers (4-3) were 8-for-15 from the line in the first three quarters, but went 12-for-16 down the stretch to seal the win.

Travis Schuba had 29 points for Kalkaska while John Kasza added 10 points.

Tyler Urman had 15 points for the Ramblers.

Harbor Springs 73
Elk Rapids 64

Harbor Springs picked up a 73-64 Lake Michigan Conference win over Elk Rapids.

Josh Boeckman had 26 points for the Rams while Charlie Hoch paced the Elks with 25 points.

Central Lake 58
Onaway 52

Gus Meriwether poured in 26 points to lead Central Lake to a 58-52 Ski Valley Conference win over Onaway.

Ryan Crawley and Tyler Strange each had 10 points for the Trojans (3-2, 2-1 SVC). Strange also pulled down 10 rebounds for Central Lake.

Chad Curtis and Jan O'Bradovich each had 15 points for Onaway.

Mancelona 61
Pellston 59

After jumping out to a seven-point halftime lead, Mancelona held on for a 61-59 Ski Valley Conference win over Pellston.

Greg Blanco had 25 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Ironmen (2-2, 1-1 SVC). Nick Lockman added 18 points, Dan Johnson eight rebounds and Taylor Borst eight assists.

Inland Lakes 43
Bellaire 36

Steve Kolb had 14 points and Adam Cooley 12 as Inland Lakes downed Bellaire 43-36 in Ski Valley play.

Reece Koepke and Josh Sheneman netted 11 points apiece for Belliare (0-4, 0-2).

Mesick 50
Forest Area 47

Mesick recovered from a 16-7 deficit after the opening quarter to beat Forest Area, 50-47.

Mark Fortelka had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Mesick (3-1). Cody Wagatha added eight points and eight rebounds.

Tyler Denike had 19 points and Carl Snyder 10 for Forest Area.

Ellsworth 57
Wolverine 35

Jared Steenwyk held Wolverine's Josh Brush to two points as Ellsworth beat Wolverine 57-35 in a battle of unbeatens.

Jared Danbert had 19 points, 10 rebounds and four steals and Tyler Ingalls 18 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four steals for Ellsworth (5-0, 2-0 Northern Lights).

Nate Peterson chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds while Steenwyk finished with five assists and five steals.

Justin Evans led Wolverine (4-1, 1-1) with 13 points.

Manton 55
Evart 27

Ryan Bredahl scored 16 points as Manton opened Highland Conference play with a 55-27 win over Evart.

Cody Emery added 14 points and Jasper Woodcock 13 for the Rangers (2-2).

Northport 54
Cadillac Heritage 18

Quenten Buss had 21 points to lead Northport to a 54-18 victory over Cadillac Heritage Christian.

Christian Gochez and Jason Tropf added 10 points for the Wildcats (3-2).

Onekama 66
B.R. Crossroads 61

Levi Capper led a balanced attack with 17 points as Onekama edged Big Rapids Crossroads Academy 66-61 in overtime.

Hunter Slade contributed 14 points, Ryan Miller 11 and Joe Kosiboski 10 for the Portagers (3-0). Skyler Kimple grabbed 14 rebounds and Miller 10.

GIRLS HOOPS

TC Central 57
Ludington 46

Dori Lansbach had 25 points and six steals as Traverse City Central improved to 5-2 with a 57-46 victory over Ludington.

Sara Lang added seven points and six rebounds and Kortney Bower six points and five boards for the Trojans.

TC Central won the JV game 61-24. Stephanie Berreth had 13 points, Brianna Podsaid 12 points and Kaitlyn Dusell 10 rebounds for the Trojans (5-2).

The Central freshmen improved to 3-3 with a 35-29 triumph. Olivia DeBartoli had 21 points.

Benzie Central 75
Mesick 27

Maria Blazejewski became the sixth Benzie Central girl to surpass 1,000 points Tuesday in a 75-27 Northwest Conference win.

Blazejewski finished with 35 points for the Huskies (5-0, 3-0 NWC) and got the milestone basket off a 3-pointer in the third quarter.

Taylor Nugent had 14 points, six steals and seven assists for the Huskies while Sara Thurkettle added 11 points.

Clare 49
TC St. Francis 34

Clare took a 24-12 lead into the break and used it for a 49-34 non-conference win over Traverse City St. Francis.

The Glads (4-2) had eight points, 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists from Lyndsay LaCourse while Ellen Kendziorski had seven points.

McKealy Ludka had 17 points and six rebounds to lead St. Francis (6-0) to a 34-11 win in the JV game.

Buckley 45
Leland 25

Buckley earned its first win of the season with a 45-25 Northwest Conference victory over Leland.

The Bears (1-2, 1-1 NWC) were packed by 21 points and 15 rebounds from senior Stephine Burkett while Jenny Olds added 11 points and five assists.

Glen Lake 63
Suttons Bay 37

Paige Stachnik and Kaelyn Thayer each had 16 points as Glen Lake improved to 3-0 in the Northwest Conference with a 63-37 triumph over county rival Suttons Bay.

Thayer added nine rebounds and Stachnik five assists for the Lakers (6-1).

Olivia Raftshol paced Suttons Bay with 11 points.

Kingsley 51
Frankfort 38

Ashley Slade scored 20 points, hitting all 11 of her free throws, as Kingsley defeated Frankfort 51-38 in Northwest Conference play.

Hannah Bach added 12 points and Sam Zubalik 10 for Kingsley.

Sara Loney had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers (2-4, 1-2).

TC Christian 64
Northport 38

Kelley Ritsema had 14 points, six assists and four steals as Traverse City Christian upended Northport 64-38 in a Cherryland Conference game.

Rachel Hagelberg added 14 points, Mary Raetz 13 and Jenna Finney 10 for the Sabres (4-4). Raetz chipped in four steals and Finney four assists. Nicole Shanoski pulled down 12 rebounds.

Emily Stowe's 24 points led Northport.

Lake Leelanau SM 63
GT Academy 16

Christy Miller netted 17 points and Brooke Fortner 10 as Lake Leelanau St. Mary defeated Grand Traverse Academy 63-16.

Elise Campbell had six points for the Academy.