SPORTS

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Elks down Boyne in overtime on road 

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Avery Kellogg shoots for three in the last seconds of the game against Charlevoix. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
Marlin Starkey stole the ball during the final seconds of a Boyne City stall in overtime, streaking the length of the court for a layup and a 71-69 Elk conference win on the road Tuesday.

“They went into a stall for the last 1:30. He bobbled the ball and wasn’t expecting me to shoot to the gap. This feels really great to get this win,” Starkey said.

Boyne City tied the game at 65-65 with a long three-point bank at the buzzer. Preston Ball scored four points in the extra period, but Boyne added four and had possession with the intention of stalling to play for the last shot, despite the Elk quick, swarming defense. The Elks caused a jump ball that stayed in the Rambler possession along with a desperation time out during an Elk trap. Starkey’s pick was almost inevitable to the crowd as the clock ran down. 

The Elks led 9-8 after the first quarter, but turnovers and missed shots led to a Boyne 28-21 halftime lead. Trailing by eight late in the third, the Elks closed the quarter with a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to 41-40 after three. The game was tied four times in the final quarter; Ball scored on a left-hand driving layup and a free throw, giving the Elks a 65-62 lead before Boyne tied the game in regulation with the buzzer three. Ball scored 23 points, Starkey chipped in 14 with six rebounds and at least one very big steal. 

On Friday at home, the Elks struggled shooting and rebounding in the third quarter, leading to a 59-44 loss to Lake Michigan rival Charlevoix. The Elks finished the first quarter with an 11-4 run, erasing a seven-point deficit for an 18-18 tie. In the second Charlevoix scored a three at the buzzer to keep the game tied 28-28 at halftime.

Josh Lively scored a baseline 10 foot to start the third; the Elks would not score again until Ball hit a driving layup with two minutes to play in the quarter. The Elks shot just 2-12 from the field, were 0-4 shooting threes and had no free throw attempts in the third quarter. The team also struggled to rebound, bringing down just three defensive boards. Charlevoix tallied 20 points for a 48-32 lead after three and the Elks would not make a comeback. Ball scored 22 points, Gordie LaFontaine had six rebounds.

The Elks (3-3, 3-1 LMC) host Kalkaska on Friday (1/24) and St. Francis on Tuesday (1/28) in two big LMC games.

VARSITY HOCKEY
Reps mercy Manistee on road

The Reps remained undefeated and in first place in league play with a 9-1 mercy win at Manistee on Tuesday. The Reps lead 2-1 after the first period on goals by Drew Hardy (SF) and Jack Bradley (SF). In the second, the Reps scored four unanswered goals courtesy of Hardy, a shorthanded goal by Quentin Derwin (KL) and two from Kaleb Miller (SF) for a 6-1 lead at the end of two periods. 

In the final period, Derwin scored his second goal, assisted by Elk John Hawkins, followed by an Andrew Bankey (SF) goal, putting the Reps up 8-1. The final score by Chris Gay (KL) lit the lamp, ending the game with a 9-1 mercy final. Garrett Hathaway was in net for the Reps. The mercy rule states that a team ahead by eight goals in the second period starts a running clock, and a team taking an eight-goal lead in the third period ends the game.

The Seventh Annual Veterans Cup was played between Traverse City Central and the Bay Reps on Saturday at Centre Ice, with Central taking home the hardware with a 6-4 win. The game has raised over $100,000 for the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight and Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition in the last seven years. Gabe Classens (SF) put the Reps on the board with an early goal. Central countered with two scores for a 2-1 after one. Rep goals in the second by Ben Polomsky (TCC) and Miller were met with a pair of Trojan goals, ending the period with the Reps trailing 4-3. Central scored to start the third, Riley Pierce (KG) add a goal to bring the Reps within one, but they would get no closer. Central scored on an empty net with under a minute, preserving the win. The Trojans outshot the Reps 34-22.
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The Reps (13-4-1, 2-0 NMHL) will travel to Petoskey on Tuesday for a league matchup.

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lady Elks lose three straight 

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Sarah Zamaites passes through the lane. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
A strong third quarter against Charlevoix at home on Friday could not overcome a four-point first half as the Lady Elks fell 39-22 to their Lake Michigan Conference rival.

A basket by Lauren Bingham in the first quarter, and a two by Shelby Scott in the second were the lone points scored for the Elks as Charlevoix lead 14-2 after one and 25-4 at halftime. The Elks began the third quarter with a swarming press, outscoring Charlevoix 13-4 and trimming the lead to 25-15 as the third ended. The Rayder lead was too much to overcome, and Elks lost their first Lake Michigan Conference this season. 

Sarah Zamaites scored six points; Scott hauled in eight rebounds. “We had girls get in foul trouble early, and we had five or six shots that just did not fall. Adjusting our personnel after halftime to press worked for us; we played much better but couldn’t make up the score. We will get to play them again this season and we will be ready,”said Elk varsity coach Mike Brown.

The Elks hosted Frankfort in a non-conference game last Wednesday, losing 58-55 after coming back from a 16-point second quarter deficit. Frankfort led 10-7 after one, then began to pull away in the second, leading by 16 with two minutes left in the half. The Elks closed the gap slightly, heading into halftime trailing 30-17. Playing at a faster pace in the third, the Elks won the quarter 23-12, cutting the Panther lead to 42-30 after three. Early in the fourth, Logan Reasoner scored on a layup to give the Elks the lead, but the Elks couldn’t stay ahead down the stretch. Scott led the comeback with 18 points, including four threes, Zamaites scored 11. “These were two unfortunate tough losses, but we learned from them, and they will help us improve down the road,” Brown said.

The Elks lost their third straight game and second LMC contest on Tuesday falling to conference rival Boyne City 47-34 at home. The Elks trailed just 10-9 after the first quarter, but were outscored in the second 17-9, and headed into halftime trailing 27-18. In a low scoring third, the Elks won 8-7 to cut the deficit by one but were unable to muster a comeback in the fourth. Mary Gregorski led with nine points, Gabby Krakow added seven, including two threes.
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The Lady Elks (5-4, 2-2 LMC) host Kalkaska on Friday (1/24) and travel to St. Francis (1/28) on Tuesday for a pair of LMC games. 

BOWLING
Elk Orange gets alley win

The Elk Varsity Orange bowling team got back on the winning track in week five on Saturday with a 24-6 win over the Traverse City West JV. Orange was short a regular bowler, and Ethan Pike was moved up from the JV Black team. Pike responded, earning one point and throwing one of his best games with a 161. Orange narrowly lost the opening Baker game 136-132, but rebounded to take the second 169-99, then took both team meets 1627-1409. Earning two points were Preston Ball, Tanner McLean and Andrew Pearson, who rolled the team high series of 372 (183,189). Zak Miracle earned one point rolling a 183. “Zak has had a tough job again this year. He’s our anchor and ends up bowling against every team’s best bowler and he’s been doing a great job,” said Elk bowling coach Ken Hicks.

Elk JV Black, bowling shorthanded, fell to Cadillac JV 25-5. Black had a strong showing, losing one Baker game by a pin and one regular game in a close 461-456. Logan Beach earned two points, Novalee Dunnill, Charles Patterson and Zach Conklin each earned a point

Varsity Orange (4-1, 2-0 DIII/IV) sits in first place, and will bowl Glen Lake this week. JV Black (2-3) has a bye but must bowl within 10 points of their average to earn a point.

All meets will take place at Lucky Jacks on Saturday.

VARSITY SKIING GNA
Skiers take second in LMC Meet

The Great North Alpine (GNA) ski teams earned a pair of second place finishes in the number two Lake Michigan Conference of the season, held at Nub’s Nob last Thursday.

The GNA boys took second in the slalom with Cooper Kerkhof (2), Andrew Bliss (5), Ayden Ferris (6) and Shane Pilate (7) combining for 20 points, just behind Harbor Springs with 16.

Skiing the giant slalom, Kerkhof (2), Bliss (3), Sully Husband (8) and Ferris (12) tallied 24.5 points, second behind Harbor with 16. On the day for the boys, Harbor finished in first at 32, GNA was second with 44.5 and Charlevoix third with 106.5.

The GNA girls took second in the giant slalom, Marina Ascione (6), Ellen Roggenbeck (7), Jillian Sodini (12) and Jordan Jansen (18) combining for 41, Harbor took first with 20.

In the slalom, Sodini (5), Roggenbeck (7), Jansen (18) and Emma Clark (19) tallied 49 for second, Harbor took first with 13. Overall for the girls, Harbor was first with a 34, GNA earned second with 90, Grayling finished third with 100.

GNA next competes in the third LMC meet at Boyne Mountain on Thursday. The squads will then ski in the annual Hans ‘Peppi’ Teichner Cross Town Slalom, competing against TC West and TC Central, held at Hickory Hills on Friday (1/24).