Cads finish regular season with win, host districts next week
The Onaway High School varsity girls’ basketball team finished the regular season Wednesday with a 49-47 victory at Central Lake. The win improved the Cardinals’ record to 15-5 (11-5 Ski Valley Conference).
Onaway will host the district tournament next week, and will play Atlanta in an opening round game Monday at 6 p.m. If the Cards win that one, they’ll play Rogers City in a semifinal Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Undefeated, state-ranked Posen will play Hillman in the other semifinal, Wednesday at approximately 7:30 p.m., with the winners of the semis playing for a district championship next Friday at 6 p.m.
The victory at Central Lake marked just the second time this season the Cardinals have allowed more than 40 points but still won. OHS is allowing an average of just 31 points per game on the year.
The Trojans led 16-8 after one period, 31-24 at the half, and 39-37 after three quarters. The Cardinals outscored their foe 12-8 in the fourth to complete the come-from-behind win.
“We played poor defensively in the first half, giving up 31 points, but that was partly my fault,” said coach Marty Mix. “I had us in a couple defensive sets that just weren’t working.
“We made adjustments at halftime, picked up the defensive intensity, and held them to just 16 points in the second half, which is much closer to our season average.”
Kallie Shimel and Mariah Ehrke scored 16 points apiece for Onaway, which took its first lead of the night with two minutes left, stretched that lead to four points, and then held on.
The OHS JV lost to Central Lake, 41-28, to finish the season with a record of 15-5. The Cards trailed 14-9 after one quarter, 23-17 at the half, and 33-20 through three. Morganne Badgero scored 12 points and Elise Arkwood had nine.
Last Thursday, the girls played at Bellaire, with the varsity dropping its contest, 35-34. Onaway trailed 8-6 after one quarter, but led 24-14 at the half, and 30-25 through three frames.
The Cardinals connected on only one of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter, and missed a shot and four free throws in the final seconds. A few costly turnovers also hurt the cause.
The JV won its game with the Eagles, 44-34. Onaway led 15-6 after one period, 26-14 at the half, and 38-24 after three quarters. Jade Galer scored 15 points and Lexi Szymoniak scored 14.