Posen?s rocky first quarter at regionals ends season

Posen could not recover from a rough first quarter Monday at the Class D regional semifinal game at Newberry High School against eighth-ranked Rapid River. The Vikings (16-7) were outscored 22-2 in the opening eight minutes and had their season come to an end three quarters later, never able to chip away at the Rapid River lead. The final score was 58-31. The lone bucket in the first quarter was from junior Megan Latz.

It was almost a reversal of roles at the regional tournament.

The Vikings won last week?s district championship by shooting well from the field, but it was the Rockets turning up the pressure and not missing many shots in the opening eight minutes.

The Rockets were paced by juniors Breanne Marshall with a game-high 20 points, 11 in the first quarter, and six-foot Cassi Rushford with 18, half of her points in the opening quarter. RR has three players who average in double figures, and all of them will be returning next season.

?They (Rapid River) are by far the best team we faced all year. Their press was good,? said coach Tom Schellie, 2-1 in this year?s playoffs. ?We didn?t lose to any slouch today. I?m proud of the girls.?

The Vikings were led by senior Shannon Ciarkowski with 11 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Fellow senior Michelle Bednarski had seven boards and four points. No other player had more than four.

RAPID RIVER (20-3) has turned the heat up on a number of opponents this season. They defeated Superior Central by 50 points. The only senior they lose didn?t score in the game against Posen. In addition, the JVs went undefeated.

RR was matched up with in the regional final Wednesday with cedarville, which, defeated Harbor Light Christian, 51-28, in the late game at Newberry High School.

Rocket coach Jon Miller, into his 12th campaign with the varsity, said it was important for his team to get off to a hot start because they?ve struggled when they haven?t.

The Posen program has nothing but great things to look forward to with a good group of juniors and freshmen, who received lots of quality playing time.

?I?m proud of the girls,? said Schellie. ?We are losing two of our seniors, two of the better players, Michelle (Bednarski) and Shannon (Ciarkowski). They are going to be missed but we?ve got a good group coming back next year, so Posen?s going to be very competitive again next year.?

The Vikes were second in the North Star League, reversed their 6-14 regular season record from 2002, and earned a district title against Johannesburg-Lewiston.

AFTER THE Vikings spotted Rapid River 20 points in the first quarter, they didn?t back down or quit working. They were only outscored 14-10 in the second quarter.

The girls would set up the play, moving the ball around and getting the open shots, but the ball wasn?t finding the mark, and some much-needed breaks just didn?t go the red and white?s way.

Schellie said, ?They kept working hard and that?s the way it has been all season long. Everybody has their heads up. Everybody knew whatever happened tonight, we still had a successful season and the girls said that in the locker room before the game.

?They said, ?Let?s go out there and try our hardest, because regardless of what happens, we still had a successful season.? I?m glad they won th

e district because they have something to hang their hat on.?

Three pointers from freshman Roxann Hincka and junior Katie Lewandowski in the second quarter, along with a field goal and a free throw from junior Dorothy Romel made the score 32-11 in favor of RR, but the Rockets ended the first half making four-of-six free throws to lead by 24 at halftime.

RR outscored the Vikes 15-8 in the third quarter, but Posen ended its season by coming out on top in the final eight minutes, 11-7, as some of the Rockets? top players were on the pine. The Vikings proved to be fighters to the finish and they held their heads high.

Latz finished with four; Hincka three; Lewandowski three; Dorothy Romel three; junior Kendra Krajniak two, five rebounds; and freshman point guard Mary Calhoun with one.

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