PREP ROUNDUP: Alpena High icers fall short in opener
CADILLAC–The Alpena High hockey team came up short in its season opener on Tuesday, losing to Cadillac 4-2.
Anden Marceau and Cam Young each scored for Alpena (0-1), which fell behind 2-0 after one period.
Alpena cut the lead to 3-2 late in the third period, but the Vikings added an empty-net goal to seal the win.
“It was great to get out and play. It was great to see the kids get out and compete,” Alpena coach Chris Limback said.
Marceau scored in the second period on assists from Blaise Keller and Evan Kraenzlein.
Young scored in the third on an assist by Jack Rea in a frame that saw Alpena outshoot Cadillac 13-1.
Colin Lightfoot made 14 saves for Alpena.
Alpena plays Traverse City West on Friday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Petoskey 55, Alpena 39
PETOSKEY–A slow start cost the Alpena High boys basketball team on Tuesday and the Wildcats dropped their opener 55-39 to Petoskey in a Big North Conference contest.
Alpena (0-1) played Petoskey dead even in the second half, 25-25, but the 30-14 deficit was enough to keep the Northmen ahead.
“We played well in the second half, but in the first half we had too many turnovers and didn’t shoot the ball well,” Alpena coach John Pintar said. “We played a lot harder in the second half, responded a bit, but (the team) was thrown into action tonight and it’s good to be playing again.”
Cooper Bright led Alpena with 16 points.
Alpena’s JV team lost 63-36. Easton Srebnik led Alpena with 10 points. Alpena’s freshman team also lost 66-20 and was led by Caleb McEwen with nine points.
Alcona 60, Posen 50
POSEN–DJ Howe scored 18 points and was one of four Alcona scorers in double figures as the Tigers defeated Posen 60-50 on Tuesday.
Nick Rasmussen had 14, Zach Stephenson had 12 and Gavin Walker had 10 for Alcona (1-0), who was able to pull ahead of Posen (0-1) after a close first quarter.
Alcona led 32-19 at halftime and 44-31 after three quarters.
“It was a very rough start and Posen played really well in the first quarter but we collected ourselves and settled down,” Alcona coach Ryan Bilbey said. “Considering the rust and nature of this season, I was happy with some of the things I saw during our first game of the season.”
Lucas Stone led Posen with 25 points and AJ Brunet had 10.
Hillman 64, Au Gres 26
HILLMAN–Jeff Klein, Trenton Taratuta and Dawson Ableidinger each scored 11 points for Hillman, which defeated Au Gres 64-26 on Tuesday.
Hillman (1-0) led 38-8, thanks in part to a nine-point effort by Klein in the second quarter as well as his leadership of Hillman’s defense.
“Dawson Ableidinger was steady in the paint for us all night and Jeff came in and gave us a spark,” Hillman coach Eric Muszynski said.
Hillman plays at Posen on Friday.
Atlanta 44, Fairview 39
FAIRVIEW–Aaron Cuzzort had 13 points, Dawson Currie had 12 and Trace Juergens had 11 for the Huskies, who used defense to win in new coach Randy Mullard’s debut, 44-39, over Fairview on Tuesday.
Atlanta overcame a slow start and led 35-29 after three quarters.
“Defensively, we got the hang of things in the second half,” Mullard said.
TJ Currie added five points for the Huskies and Trent Whitt had four points and nine rebounds.
Atlanta hosts Au Gres on Friday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hillman 59, Au Gres 9
HILLMAN–The Hillman girls basketball team got its 2021 season off to a winning start, routing Au Gres 59-9 on Tuesday at home.
Nicole Barbeau scored 20 points for Hillman and Sage Faugher, Jessica Jones and Melanie Morrison each had nine points for the Tigers (1-0).
Hillman built a 35-5 lead by halftime and never looked back.
“It feels great that we’re finally back at it. The girls came out a little sluggish, but they got those first quarter jitters of the way and found their groove,” Hillman coach Jenny Taratuta said.
Hillman plays Posen (0-1) on Thursday.
Fairview 15, Atlanta 8
FAIRVIEW–Shaelynne Lance scored four points and Abbey LaPorte had three for the Huskies, who lost in new coach Morgan Hardies’ debut.
“It was a very good start for us. We know things we need to work on and we realized that we need to work harder in practice,” Hardies said. “It showed us the work that’s needed (going forward).
Atlanta hosts Au Gres on Friday.
BOWLING
Alcona competes with Ogemaw Heights
The Alcona girls bowling team had a competitive day with Ogemaw Heights on Saturday. Alcona won one baker game and tied on the second one. Team totals were 484/637m with a daily total of 1,121.
Victoria Skuse led Alcona with 175. Brielle Keyser had a single-game high score of 127 and Samantha Nordstrom bowled a 123.
Alcona’s boys team held its own against Ogemaw Heights. Team game totals were 737/702 with a daily total of 1,439.
Brenden Hudgins led Alcona with a single-game score of 205. Sam Price bowled a 165 and Logan Bates bowled a 162.
Alcona’s girls team returns to action on Saturday.
Alcona’s boys team returns to action on Feb. 20.