It's not so much that the Leland boys' basketball team has gone undefeated through what should have been a brutal part of its schedule, but more how the Comets have won that has made a statement.

And then this comment from coach Jason Stowe: "We are not even close to peaking."

Stowe had no intention of creating a lockerroom message for opposing teams. He was rather sending a message to his team that it has a long way to go.

But the implication was clear: The Comets are loaded with talent.

Leland proved that again Friday in a 67-53 win at Frankfort — to go with an earlier blowout victory at Benzie Central — to improve to 4-0. The Comets faced another challenge last night at Kingsley, before finishing up for Christmas break by hosting St. Mary Friday.

Leland led just 31-27 at halftime over Frankfort, but its defense created fast breaks to help pull away in the third quarter. The Comets led 54-43  after three periods.

Marcus Whittaker scored 23 points to go with 7 rebounds, with fellow senior Jordan Gibson adding 18. Eric Larsen scored 9, and along with Gibson dished out 7 assists. Galen Whittaker had 5 defensive deflections and 6 rebounds. Adam Nedow also had 6 rebounds.

But rebounding has been a problem for the Comets, who were beaten on the boards, 38-29. Stowe expected a rough night at super-sized Kingsley.

"The Northwest is a big and strong conference. We have to work on our rebounding," said Stowe.

Meanwhile, Suttons Bay stayed undefeated in the Northwest while Glen Lake suffered its first loss:

• Norsemen coach Ken Hunter was understandably pleased with how his team dismantled host Buckley Friday, 86-61.

"A win on the road anywhere is good for us," said Hunter.

Credit good defense, especially on the Bears' Josh Ledford, who was held to two baskets, for taking suspense out of the game. The Norsemen led 18-10 after one period and 47-25 by halftime. Craig Jasinski held the talented Ledford scoreless in the first period.

Ben Walters topped a  balanced Suttons Bay scoring attack with 16 points, while Bryan Bellanger, Nick Loberg and sophomore Dave Wheelock each scored 10. Andy Wheelock, older brother of Dave, added 9.

Charlie Olson had 7 rebounds, with Loberg pulling down 4 and Jasinski, Duwan Anderson and Blake Ibbotson grabbing 3 each.

Since falling to St. Francis in its opener, Suttons Bay has won three straight and was 2-0 in the Northwest entering a game last night with Mesick.

• Glen Lake and Leland may share the same Achilles heel — rebounding — although the Lakers' exposure was exposed earlier at Benzie Central last Wednesday. The Huskies prevailed, 75-58, largely behind 44 points coming from second shots. Hurting Glen Lake's chances was the loss of 6-foot-4, 230-pound Aaron Nemeskal, who will be out until the first of the year with a sprained ankle.

Glen Lake trailed 31-21 at halftime, but cut the lead to seven with 5 minutes remaining.

"We got them to take a bad shot, and they must have had five rebounds in a row before putting it in to put us down nine," recalled Glen Lake coach Todd Hazelton. "Once again, we played good defense. But part of defense is the relentless pursuit of rebounds."

Without rebounds to move along its offense, the Glen Lake fast break stalled. And without fast break layups, the Laker shooting dropped to 45 percent at 17-for-45. They had shot 65 percent and 70 percent in their last two outings.

Ryan Dyksterhouse scored 20 points to go with 9 rebounds, while Andrew White added 14 points.

The Lakers were hoping to improve on their 2-1 overall record and 1-1 Northwest mark while hosting Frankfort last night and at McBain Christian Friday.

"Frankfort is big," said Hazelton Monday. "That's why these next two days we'll be totally concentrating on rebounding. We found a weakness."