BRECKENRIDGE Hemlock grabbed momentum early and never relented in its 52-20 Class C girls basketball district win over Breckenridge on Monday. <\/p>\n
Hemlock led 16-2 after the opening eight minutes and 32-9 at halftime. <\/p>\n
It wasnt our best offensive night, but defensively we really set the tone to start the game, said Hemlock coach Scott Neumeyer. We were able to pressure them and get them to turn it over, and at least in the first half, we shot well from the free-throw line. <\/p>\n
At the line, Hemlock was 13 for 18 in the first half, but finished the game just 19 for 32. <\/p>\n
Sam Krauss led Hemlock with 12 points, four steals and three assists, while Morgan Mulvaney had 11 points and four steals, Sydney Peake added eight points and eight rebounds, Natalie Hoffman contributed seven points and eight rebounds, and Olivia Watson also finished with seven points. <\/p>\n
Kylie Federspiel led Breckenridge with nine points, but had to play through foul trouble that forced her to the bench for the whole second quarter with three fouls. <\/p>\n
That didnt help us any, said Breckenridge coach Cory Hurt of trying to close the gap on its first-half deficit without its leading scorer. It wouldnt have changed the outcome any, but we maybe couldve kept it a little closer (with Federspiel in the game). <\/p>\n
They just came out with good pressure on our guards tonight right from the get-go, and we couldnt get through that pressure tonight, he added. <\/p>\n
Hemlock (17-4) advances to face Saginaw Valley Lutheran in a 6 p.m. Wednesday semifinal at Breckenridge. The teams met twice in the regular season, with Hemlock winning 63-42 at home on Dec. 16, but losing 42-35 on the road Feb. 3. <\/p>\n
Theyve been playing very well lately, said Neumeyer, citing Valleys nine wins in its last 10 games. Hopefully we learned some lessons from our loss at their place. <\/p>\n
Breckenridge finishes the season at 7-14. <\/p>\n
Gladwin 58, Pinconning 49 <\/p>\n
CLARE Carly Hickey posted career highs with 24 points and 26 rebounds in leading Gladwin to a 58-49 Class B girls basketball district quarterfinal win over Pinconning on Monday. <\/p>\n
It was a huge game for her and a huge confidence builder, Gladwin coach Emily Cot said of Hickeys performance. Shes got good size and has been demanding the ball better for us. She was dominant. <\/p>\n
The Flying Gs led 12-8 after the first quarter and 30-15 at halftime, but the Spartans outscored Gladwin 20-12 in the third quarter to pull to within 42-35. Pinconning got as close as four in the fourth before the Gs pulled away at the end. <\/p>\n
They started collapsing with two or three girls on (Hickey), and we struggled finding the open girl a little in the third quarter, said Cot. <\/p>\n
Gabby Airbets added 12 points for Gladwin, while Gabriella Ries had seven points. <\/p>\n
Next up for Gladwin (14-7) is a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday semifinal against Clare at the Pioneers gym. The teams shared the Jack Pine Conference title this year and traded home victories over each other in their two regular-season encounters. <\/p>\n
Gladwin won the first meeting with Clare 48-33, but lost the second one 57-53. <\/p>\n
I think we can beat Clare, theres no doubt, but weve got to make some things happen first, said Cot. We hope to be there Friday night for the district championship. <\/p>\n
Harrison 51, Coleman 45 (OT) <\/p>\n
BEAVERTON Colemans season came to a tough end on Monday with a 51-45 loss to Harrison in overtime of Mondays Class C girls basketball district opener. <\/p>\n
The Comets gradually took control of the opening half, taking an 11-10 lead after the first quarter and leading 29-20 at halftime. <\/p>\n
However, Harrison chipped away at the deficit in the second half, cutting Colemans lead to 35-30 after three quarters, and finally catching the Comets to force overtime tied at 42. <\/p>\n
In the extra period, the Hornets outscored the Comets 9-3 to leave with the win. <\/p>\n
It wasnt the way I wanted our season to end, said Coleman coach Nick Katzinger. We started the game out strong, but came out flat in the second half. <\/p>\n
Senior Liz Dana, a three-year starter, had 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists to lead Coleman in her final high school game, while Jaden Berthume contributed 14 points, Megan Fettig grabbed 10 rebounds, and Faith Barden had four steals and three assists. <\/p>\n
Coleman, which defeated Harrison 55-33 at home on Dec. 6 but lost to the Hornets 48-45 on the road Jan. 24, shot just 5 for 17 at the free-throw line in the second half. <\/p>\n
It was just one of those nights for us in the second half, said Katzinger. <\/p>\n
The Comets should expect to see some improvement next year behind four returning starters, said Katzinger. <\/p>\n
We were a young team, and the underclassmen got a lot of varsity experience that I hope carries over to next year, said Katzinger. <\/p>\n
Being a first-year coach, I learned a lot from these girls, he added. Seniors Liz Dana and Megan Fettig will be missed. <\/p>\n
Coleman finishes the season at 9-12. <\/p>\n
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Hemlock and Gladwin girls win district openers, Comets lose ... - Midland Daily News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BRECKENRIDGE Hemlock grabbed momentum early and never relented in its 52-20 Class C girls basketball district win over Breckenridge on Monday. Hemlock led 16-2 after the opening eight minutes and 32-9 at halftime. It wasnt our best offensive night, but defensively we really set the tone to start the game, said Hemlock coach Scott Neumeyer Continue reading