Petoskey girls fill the book, return to win column against Ogemaw

PETOSKEY — It’s always a special night when everyone on the roster finds the bottom of the net. 

But, when you’ve got as many hands to feed as the Petoskey girls’ basketball team, that’s really saying something. 

When Petoskey welcomed in Ogemaw Heights for a non-conference matchup Tuesday, everyone in the book ended with a notch on the scoring line, all 13 players in a 54-9 victory over the Falcons. 

Petoskey head coach Bryan Shaw was happy to get everyone on the court by the close of the first half, knowing that of course won’t be the case in every game. 

“It was really fun to see everyone play,” said Shaw. “As much as I hate it, it can be hard to play more than eight kids with any significant time. I hope the girls understand that they’re part of a really good team, but I think everyone saw tonight that we’ve got 13 girls that know the game and can play. It was exciting to see the 13 score tonight.”

The win moved Petoskey to 2-2 overall on the young season, which just entered its second week. The nine points on the scoreboard by Ogemaw came as the lowest total against a Petoskey girls team in at least 15 years.

Coming off a loss on Saturday to a good Lake City team that won the Petoskey tournament, Tuesday’s win gets Shaw’s group back on track with a big one ahead. 

“We wanted to come out and play well tonight,” said Shaw. “Sometimes in these games, trap games they call them or whatever, but I thought the girls played hard all night, they did what we asked them to do. We’re excited because Gaylord is our next game. It’s a conference game, it’s Gaylord and it’s here.”

Petoskey closed the first quarter with six different players finding the scorebook, then between the end of the first and midway into the second, nine different players scored nine straight baskets. 

“I was proud of them for the way they handled themselves throughout,” added Shaw. “(Ogemaw) is going to be good. They have three sophomores and three freshmen on their varsity, so they’re young.”

Petoskey led 34-2 at the half and had a 35-0 run going before Ogemaw snapped the streak in the third quarter. 

A running clock set in throughout the second half, though the Northmen were able to still get everyone on the scoreboard, with Sophia Lee capping that accomplishment with a free throw down the stretch. 

Lia Trudeau led Petoskey with 10 points, Kenzie Bromley and Hope Wegmann each scored eight and Caitlyn Matelski scored six. The remaining scorers for the Northmen included Sadie Corey, four; Caroline Guy, four; Ellie Stolzenfels, three; Emily Crittenden, two; Grayson Guy, two; Quinn Matthews, two; Haidyn Wegmann, two; Eva Guy, two; and Lee, one. 

Natalie Somerfield led the Falcons with five points on the night. 

With now four games in an eight day stretch, Shaw is excited to get in a run of practice time now to work on things. He knows it comes at a key time with the league opener and biggest rival up next. 

“The coaches met this weekend and we’re working on some different stuff, especially offensively,” he said. “Saturday I thought defensively we played well, especially the second half.

“We’re going to have six or seven really good practices before then and I know (Gaylord coach) Kelli (Parker) will have them ready over there. It’s going to be a good way to start the conference.”

Petoskey will meet Gaylord at home on Thursday, Dec. 15 in a 5:30 p.m. varsity start, with the varsity boys then following around 7 p.m. All Big North Conference matchups this season will come as varsity doubleheaders. 

The Gaylord girls sit at 3-1 overall on the season and will meet both Cadillac and Midland High before Petoskey next Thursday.