11/15/2006

Roundup

Sabres, Comets advance to district final

Ellsworth also moves to district title game

from staff reports

TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Christian outscored Lake Leelanau St. Mary 46-19 in the middle two quarters to breeze to a 68-33 win over the Eagles in the opener of a Class D district basketball doubleheader Tuesday night.

Leland beat Northport 55-30 in the nightcap.

Christian and Leland split a pair of Cherryland Conference games during the regular season.

The home team prevailed in both games. Leland won the first meeting 44-35 with the Sabres bouncing back with a 55-50 triumph.

"That will be a war,” Christian coach Steve Morgan said. "Leland's a very good team. It's going to be a very interesting Thursday night.”

Christian had split a pair of games with St. Mary's during the season, too, winning by 41 at home and losing by two on the road. On Tuesday, however, it was all Sabres.

"We played well from start to finish,” Morgan said. "I was very proud of the girls. But we have to keep playing better because it gets tougher every game.”

The Sabres (17-4) stretched an 11-8 first quarter lead to 34-15 at half. It was 57-27 after three quarters.

"I thought a real key was that we were able to shut their guards down,” Morgan said.

Alyssa Korson, who picked up four first half fouls, was held to four points.

"We didn't let her penetrate to the basket,” Morgan said. "She's very quick. And when she does penetrate she's deadly.”

Kara Finney led a balanced attack for Christian. She had 22 points, six assists, three steals and five rebounds. Kelley Ritsema added 11 points, three steals and two assists; Abby Streeter 10 points, six rebounds and two assists; Megan Ritsema 10 points and 11 rebounds; and Emily Morgan eight points, four assists and two blocks.

Sarah Schaub's 15 points topped St. Mary's.

In Leland's triumph over Northport, Erica Breen led all scorers with 21 points. Erin Sneed added 10 points for the Comets.

Cecilia Kohler topped Northport with 17 points.

more class D

Ellsworth 59
Bellaire 38

Ellsworth won the season series from Bellaire to keep its season alive with a 59-38 victory over the Eagles.

The two teams split in the regular season.

"This was a big one tonight,” Ellsworth coach Mark Essenberg said.

The victory advances the Lancers (16-5) to Thursday's district final against Central Lake. Ellsworth won both of its meetings with the Trojans this season.

"You know that means nothing,” Essenberg said.

Anna Eggebrecht led Ellsworth with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Courtney Howes added 17 points and four steals and Liz Peterson nine points and eight steals.

Molly Poel paced Bellaire with 15 points. Aubrey Hocking added 10 points.