TC St. Francis traveled to Lake Leelanau St. Mary for a girls basketball game on the last Thursday of 2023 in a holiday classic basketball game.
The Eagles didn’t waste the opportunity beating the Gladiators 45-26.
“We really turned our defense up,” St. Mary junior Kyla Barnowski said.
The game marks the first time St. Francis has traveled to play at St. Mary.
This is the first St. Mary win over St. Francis since December 27, 2007, nearly 16 years to the day.
Barnowski led the complete team effort with 12 points, seven steals, and four assists.
This was the second game St. Mary has played over winter break, marking the only county school to play since middle of December.
“More games the better ... Whatever we can get is good. Even with our far travels, we appreciate the wins,” Barnowski said.
St. Mary senior Leah Fleis contributed six points, five rebounds, and four steals in the win.
“We played as a team today. We’re definitely maturing as a team and working together,” Fleis said.
The team win was helped by junior Cathryn Mikowski with 8 points, 3 assists, 4 steals; senior Della Bunek 4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists; senior Delana Kirt 8 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 steals; senior Sarah Bunek 7 points, 3 assists; junior Muriel Korson 4 steals.
Last Friday, St. Mary traveled to Saginaw Valley Lutheran Friday night and won 42-39.
The Eagles were up 34 to 20 going into the fourth quarter when Saginaw Valley Lutheran nearly completed the comebac but fell short.
Fleis led all scorers with 16 points and six rebounds. Kirt added another 10 points and 11 rebounds, followed by a doubledouble by Sarah Bunek with 12 rebounds.
The Eagles executed well but struggled to finish, shooting 17% from the field (14/51).
“Overall it was a strong win as we were again on the road 3 hours each way,” St. Mary coach Clint Couturier said.
The Eagles will host Kalkaska to kick off the new year on Friday, January 5 at 7 p.m.
UBLY NIX EAGLES
Lake Leelanau St. Mary boys basketball competed with Ubly in a holiday classic home tournament last Friday for the last basketball game of 2023.
Ubly and St. Mary were tied heading into the final moments of the third quarter when Ubly hit a buzzer-beater and stole the momentum 34-31. The Eagles wouldn’t recover as Ubly went on a 19-4 run in the fourth quarter to ice the game and get the win over the Eagles.
Stats: St. Mary senior Jerry Schaub led the Eagles with 15 points followed by Cody Couturier with nine, Eli Kelenske 7, Josh Bunek four, and Luke Bramer two points.
Ubly’s Austin Gentner (13), Collin Osantowski (14), and Brayden Fronzel (14) combined for 41 of the teams 52 points.
In the second game of the double header, Frankfort defeated Crystal Lake 74-68.
