Leland picked off one of its conference-leading rivals Friday, and has a chance to move another one off the logjam at the top of Northwest Saturday when it hosts Kingsley.

Adam Nedow tales a shot against Frankfort Friday night while several players fall to the floor after jostling for position under the hoop. (Photo courtesy of Matt Davis)

“That’s a big game,” said Leland mentor Jason Stowe. “They’re one of our two losses, so we have a lot to prove.”

Leland, Benzie Central and Kingsley are tied for first in the Northwest with 7-2 records. The Comets dropped Frankfort to 6-3 with a convincing 85-58 win Friday in the Leland gym.

Glen Lake and Suttons Bay are tied for fifth with 4-5 records. Glen Lake will travel to Frankfort Saturday while Suttons Bay travels to Mesick.

Leland never looked back after taking a 19-8 lead over the Panthers, instead moving to a 44-24 halftime advantage. The Comets’ season-leading scorers both had good shooting nights, with Marcus Whittaker and Jordan Gibson each scoring 25 points. Whittaker brought down 10 rebounds, while Gibson grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 8 assists.

Galen Whittaker scored 11 and Adam Nedow had 8 points and 8 rebounds as the Comets had their way near the basket. They hit 3-of-8 shots from beyond the arc, and 31-for-61 overall from the field.

Defense also played a part for Leland, which forced 26 turnovers while only committing 9.

Perhaps responding to news that their coach was stepping down for health reasons, Suttons Bay blew out Buckley Friday, 83-51, behind a balanced scoring attack. Nick Loberg scored 16 points to go with 7 rebounds, while Jordan Anderson added 14 points including four 3-pointers. Adam Moritz scored 11 and brought down 11 rebounds, while Ben Walters and Dwuan Anderson each scored 9.

Charlie Olson had 10 rebounds and Jason McKisson pulled down 7.

“It was a good game,” said Ken Hunter, who said assistant coach Todd Hursey will take over for him on the bench .“The kids played well and shot well.”

Suttons Bay led 47-17 at halftime, as all 13 Norsemen suited up for the game saw plenty of action.

Suttons Bay, 7-7 overall, hosted Elk Rapids last night.

Glen Lake trailed just 29-21 at halftime despite missing the services of three players for the first half for disciplinary reasons, but ended up losing to Benzie Central Friday, 61-43.

Coach Todd Hazelton was proud of players who filled in, including senior Aaron King, who finished with 10 points in a starting role. Hazelton said King “plays great defense, and doesn’t turn the ball over . . . I was real happy with the six who played. They played a great first half, but they struggled to score.”

Glen Lake hit just 15-of-51 shots from the floor — 29 percent.

Ryan Dyksterhouse scored 14 and Aaron Nemeskal grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who are 6-7 overall.