The second quarter made the difference in both boys’ basketball games played by St. Mary in the last week, a loss to Suttons Bay and a victory over Manistee Catholic Central.

Tim Wigton of St. Mary dribbles past Manistee
Catholic Central defender John Hanowiak during the
Eagles' 67-52 win Monday night. Wigton had 16 points
and 10 rebounds for St. Mary.

Propelled by 3-point markers from Adam Peplinski and Ryan Couturier Monday, the Eagles outscored the Sabres in the second quarter 26-13 en route to a 67-52 win.

Manistee Catholic jumped out to a 10-8 lead after the first period, but the Eagles’ surge in the next eight minutes gave them a 34-23 halftime advantage and control of the game.

“Adam Peplinski loosened up in the second quarter … that helped,” first-year St. Mary coach Jim Smith said.

The Eagles (1-1) continued to outscore the Sabres in the third and fourth quarters, 15-13 and 18-16 respectively, to secure their first win of the season.

Peplinski led St. Mary with 18 points, and teammate Timothy Wigton added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Seniors Matt Pasch and Couturier and junior Kienan Suttons were also in double figures with 11 points apiece.

The second quarter of the Eagles’ season-opener at Suttons Bay Thursday was not as productive.
“We decomposed,” Smith said of the Eagles’ 80-53 loss to Suttons Bay. “It was a 6-point game with four minutes left in the second quarter and we fell apart.”

The Norse jumped out to a 16-9 advantage after the first period, and a 25-8 burst in the second quarter gave them a commanding 41-17 lead at intermission. Smith said St. Mary was determined to make headway in the second half, and the Eagles responded by outscoring Suttons Bay in the third quarter, 20-18. But it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.

Ben Walters of Suttons Bay had seven 3-pointers and led all scorers with 31 points. Freshman Dwaun Anderson contributed 11 for the Norse, and senior Andy Wheelock chipped in with seven points, six steals and five assists.

Sutton paced St. Mary with 18 points, and Wigton had 10.

The Eagles were scheduled to travel to Bear Lake last night and return Dec. 20 to host the T-C Bulldogs home-schooled team. They will make the short trip down M-204 to Leland on Dec. 21 to face the Comets, and will play in the holiday tournament at Traverse City St. Francis on Dec. 28 and 29.