Petoskey caps hosted tournament 1-1, edges Milan in Saturday win

PETOSKEY — The annual Petoskey Girls Basketball Tournament returned this weekend after a year off and provided the host Northmen with exactly what they were looking for early in the season.

That was of course an excellent couple of tests on their home court, which they got from Grandville Friday and Milan Saturday.

Petoskey finished up the weekend 1-1, going down to the wire in both games, while capping Saturday with a victory over Milan.

On Friday, Petoskey opened with Grandville and went back and forth throughout the second half, in a game that had the Northmen with a chance at a final shot that they couldn’t get off in a 40-37 loss.

“We had a shot and we’ll get better from this,” Petoskey coach Bryan Shaw said afterward. “They’re a good team and that’s what we wanted to play. We’ll bounce back tomorrow and improve upon today.

“They’re a quality team and probably play in one of the top conferences in the state in that OK Red. We’ll get better, the girls will hold their head high and that’s all you want.”

Petoskey did exactly what Shaw said, they did indeed improve upon Friday’s game, as they turned things around with a 44-40 victory over Milan Saturday, with their defense and free throw shooting coming through to preserve the victory in the end.

“This was a gutsy win,” said Shaw. “We’ve learned a lot this week. We’d love to have that one back Friday night, but obviously we can’t. We’ll move on from here and move on to Grand Blanc next week. We’re really looking forward to that trip.”

Petoskey now gets a week off before that trip down to Grand Blanc on Saturday, Dec. 11, which will come as a welcomed sight for a number of reasons.

Petoskey played without Caroline Guy in Saturday’s game and both Grayson Guy and Ellie Stolzenfels missed both games, all with minor injuries.

Getting in a week of rest for those players and a week of building some continuity in practice for others will be key.

“We had four of our top seven out today,” he said. “All summer we had girls out playing softball, playing soccer. We weren’t a group playing together. We’re just trying to build on it.”

In Saturday’s game against Milan, Petoskey built a 15-5 advantage after the opening quarter, then had to hold off a run from the Big Reds to maintain that advantage in the second.

Milan came out firing with back to back threes in the second quarter, then did the same with around three minutes left in the half to take a 21-20 advantage.

Both teams then added slight runs, with Milan’s 6-0 run giving the Big Reds a 27-24 lead at the break.

With some key players out, Shaw did pick up some strong minutes from players called up to varsity in freshmen Sadie Corey and Caitlyn Matelski, along with varsity sophomore Quinn Matthews.

“I appreciate the two freshman coming in to help us,” said Shaw. “They might not feel this way, but they gave us big minutes off the bench today. Quinn is going to be a player too. That’s what you have to when you have that many players out.”

Petoskey later came out with a strong third to retake the lead after a basket by Ellie Pollion and back to back baskets by Eva Guy that give the Northmen an 8-0 run and eventually a 32-31 lead after three.

With things going down to the wire once again, Kenzie Bromley stepped up at the free throw line for the Northmen, going 5 for 6 down the stretch, while a big 3-pointer from Pollion gave the Northmen a 43-40 advantage with under a minute left and answered a Milan three.

Bromley finished with 15 points to lead, while Eva Guy had nine and Pollion added eight. Milan was led by Lauryn Obey with 19 points, 12 of which came on four 3-pointers.

In Friday’s game against Grandville, Petoskey led 9-8 at the end of one, trailed 18-15 after the half and then again trailed 29-27 after three.

Petoskey later pulled back in the lead on a Caroline Guy and-one conversion in the fourth, before the Bulldogs later took back the lead and earned the narrow win.

Bromley finished with 16 points and Caroline Guy had 11 points. For Grandville, Claire Gregware scored 15 to lead.

In both games, Shaw saw things that certainly need to be cleaned up early in the season. Some rushed possessions, turnovers in transition and plays in the post.

“For sure, that and rebounding,” said Shaw. “We’ve got to cut down on our turnovers and we’ve got to rebound. The lazy passes turn into turnovers and we just can’t have that.”

Grandville earned the overall win in the tournament, defeating Marquette in a 42-37 championship game Saturday.

After Petoskey meets Grand Blanc on the road, they’ll then return home to meet Cheboygan on Monday, Dec. 13. The Big North Conference opener will then follow at Gaylord on Friday, Dec. 17.

Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny