Onaway girls clamp down on defense in convincing win over Trojans
The Onaway High School varsity girls’ basketball team improved to 3-2 (1-2 Ski Valley Conference) Tuesday with a convincing 42-22 win over visiting Central Lake.
Emily Estep paced the Cardinals with 10 points. Devin Bristley scored nine points, and Mariah Ehrke added eight. Ehrke also did an excellent job on Trojan center Allie Hines, helping hold her to just nine points.
It looked like the Cards might be in trouble early, as Trojans scored the game’s first five points. After that, though, it was all Onaway. An Emily Estep three started an 11-0 Cardinal run.
OHS led 8-5 at the end of period one, and 11-5 when Ehrke scored on an offensive rebound early in period two. The lead was 17-11 late in the period, but Onaway hit six free throws in its closing seconds to go up 23-11 at the half.
Hines made a pair of baskets to open period three, cutting the lead to 23-15, but Ashley LeCureux knocked down a jumper, Ehrke hit a pair of foul shots, and Emily Estep drilled a three, pushing the edge to 30-15.
The score was 32-16 heading into period four, and the Cardinals eliminated any chance of late drama by going on a 7-2 run to open the fourth, stretching the lead to 39-18.
Earlier in the evening, the OHS JV won its second straight, improving to 2-3, with 41-29 win over the Trojans. The Cards led 8-7 after one period, 19-13 at the half, and 28-20 through three quarters.
Lexi Szymoniak, who finished with 19 points, and Jade Galer, who finished with 11, combined to
Last Friday, the varsity fell at Gaylord St. Mary, 64-40. The Snowbirds led 19-15 after one period, 39-22 at the half, and 54-29 through three quarters.
Bristley and Kallie Shimel scored 10 points apiece, while Ehrke had seven. Kari Borowiak scored 18 points for St. Mary, Mary Spyhalski had 12, and Sarah Long had 10.
Earlier in the evening, the Cardinal JV won its game, 36-17, behind 21 points from Elise Arkwood and seven from Galer. Onaway led 5-2 after one, 16-8 at the half, and 23-13 through three.
The girls are scheduled to host Inland Lakes tonight (Friday) in their final action before the holiday break.