SPORTS

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Elks win big on road trip 

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Zak Bolde (2) goes up and over the St. Francis defender. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
A successful three game road trip for the Elks ended with three wins, coming against conference rivals Harbor Springs, St. Francis and Boyne City. The Elks didn’t just win, they dominated the competition, winning by an average of 22 points a game. The final leg of the away stretch was played in Harbor on Tuesday night with the Elks coming out on top 58-33. Preston Ball had 15 points, Jack Spencer added 10 and Gordie LaFontaine chipped in eight. The Elks led 12-10 after one, then broke the game open in the second quarter scoring 20 while holding the Rams to just two points for a 32-12 halftime lead, stretching to 46-25 after three.

Playing at St. Francis on Friday the Elks slayed the Gladiators 54-31, the first win over St. Francis by Elk Rapids since February of 2015. The Elks were down 4-0 to start the game, then LaFontaine scored inside followed by Mason Travis hitting on a driving layup plus a free throw put the Elks up 5-4 and they did not trail again, leading 15-8 after one, 34-20 at the half and 44-29 after three quarters of play. Ball scored 25, LaFontaine added 14, Travis chipped in 10 and Zak Bolde pulled down 16 rebounds.

The road trip began last Wednesday at Boyne City, with the Elks looking to avenge their lone loss of the season to the Ramblers at home five days earlier. The Elks trailed by as many as seven in the opening quarter but trimmed the deficit to 14-10 after one. Starting the second quarter, Spencer Ball went coast to coast to score after grabbing a defensive rebound, LaFontaine followed with a baseline drive bucket to put the Elks up for good. The Elks reeled off 21 points in the quarter while holding Boyne to just six for a 31-20 lead at the half, increasing to 50-28 after three. Preston Ball came into the game needing 13 points to reach 1000 for his career, the senior guard reached the milestone on a three in the third quarter, off an assist from his brother Spencer Ball. Ball finished with exactly 13 points, Travis added 13, LaFontaine scored 11, Zak Bolde hauled down boards. 

The Elks (6-1, 5-1 LMC) are in a three-way tie with St. Francis and Charlevoix atop of the Lake Michigan Conference standings. The Elks hosted St. Francis on Wednesday, East Jordan on Friday and Grayling on Tuesday in three key conference matchups.

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lady Elks undefeated at 7-0 

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Kendall Standfest pulls up and sinks a 10-foot jumper. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
The Lady Elks are off to their best start in at least 20 years, undefeated at 7-0 after crushing Harbor Springs 57-24 in a conference road game on Tuesday. The Elks had 10 players score against the Rams, led by Morgan Bergquist with 11 and Lauren Bingham tallying 10, eight coming in the third quarter. This game was over early with the Elks up 18-4 lead after one, 36-12 at the half and 43-22 after three. The Elk defense held the Rams to just two points in the final quarter. Sarah Zamaites and Mary Gregorski each had seven points.

Playing at St. Francis on Friday the Elks rallied back from nine points down for a 49-46 conference game win. The Elks held a slim 12-11 lead after one, the game remained close with the Elks still ahead 21-19 at the half. St. Francis tied the game early in the third, then reeled off a 15-6 run for a nine-point lead with over a minute left in the third quarter. Kendall Standfest and Lily Morton both scored to end the third, cutting the Gladiator lead to five points at 36-31.

A 6-1 run by the Elks to begin the fourth tied the game at 37, the teams traded baskets to tie again at 39 with three minutes to play. Standfest grabbed a defensive rebound and tossed the ball to a breaking Bingham for two, plus a free throw giving the Elks the lead. Logan Reasoner nailed a pair of three throws to put the Elks up by six with 30 seconds to play, St. Francis reeled off four points to get within two at 48-46 with six seconds on the clock. Reasoner was fouled on the inbounds and made one of two free throws for a 49-46 lead. The Gladiators tried a final three for the tie, the shot missed, and the Elks escaped with the three-point win. Ten Elks would score in this game, Bergquist had 12 with nine boards, Bingham added 11.

In Boyne City last Wednesday, the Elks downed the Ramblers 43-35 earning a season sweep over the conference rival. The Elks led 24-16 at halftime and 32-23 after three. In the fourth Boyne sank three straight three-point buckets to get within four points of the Elks. Zamaites responded with a three from the baseline corner, giving the Elks a boost to hold on for the win. Zamaites and Reasoner each scored 11, Bingham had 10, Monika Gregorski had seven rebounds. 
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The Lady Elks (7-0, 6-0 LMC) currently hold sole possession of first place in the Lake Michigan Conference, with two conference games at home facing St. Francis on Wednesday and East Jordan on Friday, then a road LMC game at Grayling on Tuesday.

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Ball hits 1000 career points

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Preston Ball in the air is set to release the three-point shot that put him at 1000 career points. Courtesy photo
Preston Ball headed into the Boyne City gym last Wednesday needing just 13 points to reach the milestone of 1000 career points. The senior guard and four-year varsity starter scored a basket and a free throw to start the game, knocking his total needed to 10 points. Ball would not score again in the first half, much to the dismay of the Elk fans that inhaled with each shot he attempted. “I didn’t feel any pressure in games leading up to the Boyne game, but that game did feel a little different. I can’t really explain it, I knew I needed 13 points going into the game for 1000,” Ball said. “I had tried not to pay attention to how close I was to getting 1000, but it was hard not to know as the season finally started and got going. Friends and people would tell me after each game how close I was.” In the third quarter, Ball scored four points on lay-in, then drained a three. The gym watched as his brother Spencer Ball took off with a defensive rebound and whipped a pass to Preston outside the right side of the arc. In one fluid motion, Ball caught the ball, set and let fly the three-point shot; it cracked the net and Ball cracked the 1000 career point list. He finished the game with 13, exactly what he needed.

“Hitting a 1000 has not really settled in yet. It is hard for me to believe I have joined my Dad, my Uncle Jeremy and my former coach Brett Graham in the 1000 point club. All three of them have had a huge impact on my life and on my game and I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me,” Ball said.

Preston Ball is just the ninth player to join the Elk boys’ basketball 1000 point club. The top position is held by Luke Morrison (2012) with 1396 points, a number that Ball will not likely pass, especially with the shortened COVID-19 season. The remaining seven players range from 1,188 points to 1,093, and as his final season plays out, Ball will climb to a spot somewhere on the point ladder. Congratulations to Preston Ball on achieving the milestone, and a nod to the many coaches, teammates and fans along the way that have assisted and watched. Go Elks!

VARSITY SKIING
GNA finishes second by a point at state final 

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State final runner-up. front row: Coach Ben Ferris, back row: Coach White, Corbin Murphy, Aidan Peters, Julian Ahluwalia, Ayden Ferris, Sully Husband, Shane Pilate, Coach Don Stellin. Not pictured: Garrett Decker and Tyler Winowiecki. Photo by Sheri Pilate
The Great North Alpine (GNA) boys team had high hopes of winning the Division 2 state final championship on Monday after winning the regional championship last week. The state finals, held at Boyne Highlands this year, started rough for GNA as they finished in third place in the giant slalom event on Monday morning, then took second in the slalom in the afternoon.

Waiting to hear the results, the GNA team looked anxious according to co-coach Doug White. “The guys thought they were in third at the very best, maybe lower, but when GNA was announced as runner-up, well that isn’t a bad day at all,” said White.

Petoskey finished first, earning the state champion crown with 57, GNA finished runner-up in second place with 71, edging out by a single point third place Notre Dame Prep with a 72.

“Their faces dropped in surprise, then went to excitement and laughter. They were thrilled,” White said. 

In the giant slalom Sully Husband (3), Ayden Ferris (10), Shane Pilate (11) and Corbin Murphy (13) combined for a third place 37, Petoskey was second with 33, ND Prep took first with 27. The slalom event had Husband (4), Ferris (5), Murphy (12) and Pilate (13) tally a second place 34, Petoskey was first with 24 and ND Prep ended up in third with 45. The final totals were Petoskey 57, GNA 71 and ND Prep 72. “After regionals it felt like it was going to be Petoskey or GNA that would win the title. I would rather it was GNA, but I can’t be unhappy as the state final runner-up,” White said.
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The Lake Michigan Conference championships took place Wednesday at Boyne Highlands with the GNA boys winning the LMC crown for the fifth straight year. The GNA girls finished in second place in the Lake Michigan Conference. Congratulations to the Great North Alpine skiers and coaches on a great season on the slopes, and for being the first winter high school sport to start and finish a successful season during the year of the pandemic.
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GNA seniors Ayden Ferris, Sully Husband, Shane Pilate at their last conference race. Photo by Sheri Pilate

VARSITY HOCKEY
Bay Reps skating busy schedule

Two weeks into the 2020-21 regular season the Bay Reps hockey team has reached the midway point of their schedule, sitting with a record of 4-2 and ranked at #7 in Division 1. The Reps regular season normally would consist of about 26 games, with play beginning in late November and finishing up the first week in March, then onto post-season. This year the Reps began play on February 10 with a 14-game schedule that had been modified four times. The regular season wraps up on March 13, with the post season beginning two days later. The pandemic has caused some drastic changes, but the Reps are able and ready to play!  

The Reps won 3-1 over TC Central last Wednesday in a game played at Centre Ice. Tyeson Griffore (MN) scored on a rebound shot, Ben Polomsky (TCC) added a power play goal for a 2-Rep lead after one. Gabe Classens (SF) scored on a rebound goal late in the final period to wrap up the win. Judd Lawson (SF) was in goal with 29 saves. 

Taking to the road the Reps skated against Saginaw Heritage on Saturday, losing 3-1. Polomsky had the lone score for the Reps, Lawson tallied 25 saves. Back at Centre Ice on Saturday the Reps lost their second straight game falling 2-1 to Rockford. Griffore scored for the Reps, Lawson had 27 saves. 

The Bay Reps (4-2) will look for some wins playing four games in a six-day span at Centre Ice beginning with TC West on Wednesday (2/24), Byron Center on Friday (2/26), Alpena on Saturday (2/27) and TC West again on Monday (3/1).

VARSITY BOWLING
Elk bowling team leaves conference for season

High school bowling got the green light to begin this season in late January, about two months behind the normal start time, with restrictions in place for masks, sanitizing procedures and crowd size. A bigger change being implemented was local meets would be moved from Saturday mornings to Thursday afternoon, which caused more problems for the Elk Rapids bowling program. “This is a rebuilding year for us, we lost seven seniors from last year, four had been bowling on the team for four seasons, three were three-year bowlers. We also lost a returning junior we were counting on because of COVID-19,” said Elk bowling coach Ken Hicks. “This is the first time in a long time that we have had a problem with numbers. We have been spoiled with having some great athletes through the years.” Normally the Elks have enough members for two teams in the conference, but this season there are six bowlers total, and two of them played other sports and would not be able to participate in a Thursday league. “The kids tried to find another bowler, but Chamber Choir is also on Thursdays, along with practices by several sports teams. Our normal Saturday morning meets did not conflict with any other school activity, it was a perfect time for bowling,” Hicks said. The decision was simple but not easy; in order to have a team, the Elks would have to leave the Great Northwest Bowling Conference and go out on their own as an independent. The Elks were not the only program to make this decision, St. Francis also left the conference after the coach retired and they had trouble with numbers. “We would have been bowling short on Thursdays, but on Saturdays we have six bowlers, so we are scheduling meets on our own to qualify for regionals,” Hicks explained. “This will actually be good for the students because they will have the opportunity to bowl at different houses, and on wood and synthetic lanes, which will help them to adapt to different lane conditions. The bowling season will be shorter this year; it is the best time to be doing this. We will miss bowling with the conference but hopefully next year we will have better numbers.” The Elks were coming off one of the program’s most successful season last year, including their third straight conference championship.     
                                                                                                                              
Switching to bowling independent on Saturdays, the Elks will have just one team this season. Returning to the lanes for his fourth year bowling varsity, is senior Preston Ball, joined by returning juniors Evan Pike, in his third season, and Calvin Kurtz, back for his second season on the lanes. New to the squad are trio of freshmen: Nicholas Brady, Grant Darnell and Aiden Malloy. 
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“Preston is a great athlete but most importantly a team player and a good role model. Returning juniors Calvin Kurtz and Evan Pike both stepped up last year and we are expecting good things from them this year, both are hardworking and supportive of the team, as well as good role models,” Hicks said. “Brady, Darnell and Malloy have shown an eagerness to learn and are already improving. We have been blessed to have had so many great students and teams in the past and the tradition continues. I’m hoping this will be a good experience for the kids.” In order to qualify for post season regionals, the Elks need to have just four meets. The Elks are scheduled to bowl against Grayling twice, once at Lucky Jacks and again in Grayling. They will face the Bellaire team twice, most likely on the road. A meet against Benzie is in the works, along with possible meets against Cheboygan and Boyne City. The Elks would like to bowl against as many teams in their regional as possible. The regional meets are scheduled for March 19-20.