The Leland girls' basketball team took a 27-18 lead into halftime over visiting Northport Thursday night, then had to hang on after the Wildcats started finding the range in the third quarter.

ERIN SNEED of Leland goes airborne
in the Comets' game against Northport last
week. Leland beat the Wildcats, 53-39.

Leland held off the comeback bid, however, and defeated Northport, 53-39.
In Suttons Bay Thursday, St. Mary continued its winning ways by beating the host Norsemen, 69-37. The lifted the Eagles to 7-0 overall heading into last night’s game at St. Francis.

Leland coach Jon Kiessel said it’s a good thing his team had a strong first half. “Northport came out in the second half and played a great game. Those girls played really well and we had to weather that storm,” he said.

“But, our girls also played really well, moved the ball around, and we got in some good shots.”

Said Northport coach Gary Longcore, “We started playing with more intensity in the second half and finished the game strong.”

For Leland, Erica Breen scored 20 points and had 9 rebounds. Erin Sneed scored 16 points and had 6 assists.

“Erin has always been a great player for Leland, but I was just as impressed with Erica (Breen). She has really come on this year,” said Longcore.

For Northport, Emily Stowe has 15 points and 12 rebounds. Shauna Sitarek, Kristina Leabo and Caroline Gorevflo each scored 6 points, with Sitarek adding 9 rebounds.

“Shauna played an excellent defensive game. Everyone put in another great effort,” Longcore said. Both teams are now off until after the new year.

St. Mary won at Suttons Bay but lost starting senior point guard Sarah Schaub with an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.

“She is out for the rest of the season. It’s such a shame, with her being a senior and all,” said Eagles coach Paula Korson. It takes about six to eight months to recover from this kind of injury, she said, so Schaub will most likely miss the spring softball season as well. “I’m really sorry for Sarah, she’s such a great person,” Korson said.

The Eagles jumped out to a 23-0 lead after the first quarter and had a commanding 35-12 lead at the half. By the end of the third quarter, St. Mary was on top 51-25.

“We spotted St. Marys 23 points and that was the difference. After the first quarter, though, we played even with them,” said Norsemen coach Fred Wille.

For St. Mary, Alyssa Korson led the way with 19 points and Christy Miller added 12. Susan Herman had 10 points, 5 steals, 4 assists, and Brooke Fortner contributed 5 steals.

For Suttons Bay, Biri Luna had 11 points to lead the Norse. Liz Callaway and Emily Send chipped in with 10 points each, with Send grabbing 10 rebounds and Callaway 9.

St. Mary faced St. Francis at 7:30 p.m. last night in the Gladiator’s Katie Heintz “We Believe” Tournament. The varsity consolation game is tonight at 6 at St. Francis with the championship game at 7:30. Glen Lake returns to action at Leland on Jan. 4, Suttons Bay will play at Frankfort on Jan. 4, Northport will host St. Mary on Jan. 8.