SAULT STE. MARIE — The Alpena hockey team bounced back in a big way after dropping its Big North Conference finale at home on Friday to answering the quick turnaround traveling up to Sault Ste. Marie.

On Saturday, the Wildcats avenged a loss from earlier in the season against the Blue Devils and earned a 4-3 victory in overtime.

Alpena fell behind late in the first period when Blue Devils forward Aaron Bumbacco scored with 44 seconds left in the opening period to help Sault take a lead into the first intermission.

The Wildcats put together a solid second period starting with the tying goal seven minutes into the period when Nick Esch lit the lamp on a one time from Colby Plowman.

Alpena took the lead with 2:38 left in the second period when Aaron Nowak scored on a rebound after the puck was shot by Evan LeTourneau as the Wildcats took the lead.

15 seconds later, LeTourneau scored a goal of his own on an assist from Esch to give Alpena a 3-1 lead heading into the final period.

The Wildcats held onto their two goal lead for over half the period, but Sault cut into the lead with 6:29 left when Bobby Price scored on an assist from Brenden Krause.

With 2:59 left in the game, the Blue Devils tied the game when Andrew Larsen found the back of the net on an assist from Nicolas Jeffreys to send the game to overtime.

Despite giving up its two goal lead, Alpena found a way to net the game-winning goal in overtime on a tip in off the stick of Nate Cosbitt.

The Wildcats improve to 15-7-2 with the win and will wrap up the regular season at home on Tuesday when they host Cheboygan.

WRESTLING

ROGERS CITY — Several local wrestlers competed in individual regionals over the weekend and nearly a dozen earned a spot in the state finals.

The state finals will take place March 2-4 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The host Hurons qualified a pair of grapplers for the Division 4 finals. Sam Sobeck (112) finished third after pinning Frankfort’s Daymian Tabbert in 4:45. Tristan Baller (135) lost a 4-1 decision against Leroy-Pine River’s Brocko Nelson in the third place match and finished fourth.

Oscoda will send four wrestlers to the finals and two walked away Saturday with regional titles. Anthony Johnson (145) pinned Leroy-Pine River’s Tucker Fansler in 5:24 to win his weight class and Antonio Raona (152) was also a regional champion. Raona pinned Manton’s Ryan Christensen in 2:57 to win his class.

Harry Samotis (189) took third for the Owls and Andy Dault (160) finished fourth.

Onaway continued its solid postseason run by qualifying three grapplers for the state finals. Teddy Peters (125) pinned Munising’s Nick Miles in 1:27 to finish third and Matthew Grant (130) narrowly missed out on a regional title after losing a 6-5 decision to Leroy-Pine River’s Andy Park.

Coty Ionetz (145) wrestled Mio’s Hunter Eurich in the third place match and lost an 8-5 decision to finish fourth.

In addition to Eurich, Mio qualified Cameron Demory who won the regional title at 103 pounds.

In Oxford at a Division 1 regional, Alpena’s Emry Zarins reached the consolation semifinals before bowing out.

Zarins lost his opening to Shelby Township’s Jack Morris by pin, but rebounded in the consolation round and beat Lake Orion’s Chris Kade 10-0 to advance. Oxford’s Devin Trevino topped Zarins 10-4 in the consolation semifinals and ultimately finished fourth.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Alpena High boys freshman basketball team went down to the wire with Traverse City West on Friday and pulled out a 65-64 win in overtime.

Kelly Stark scored 24 points to lead the Wildcats (11-5), Jordan Schultz scored 17 points and Jaydan Duncan added 10.

Traverse City West’s JV team defeated Alpena 50-37. Colin Donajkowski paced Alpena with 12 points, Kayden Wisniewski added seven and Aden Smith and Josh Smith each had six.