Cardinals win back-and-forth battle at Central Lake

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

The Onaway Cardinals girls’ basketball team traveled to Central Lake last Friday for the Maris Spaulding Fight against Cancer game. Spaulding was an 18-year-old from Central Lake who lost a battle with Leukemia Nov. 29, 2012. She had participated in volleyball, basketball and softball for the Trojans.

Coach Marty Mix had his team ready to go and ready to remember someone so young who was taken by cancer.

In a game with more than 20 lead changes the Cardinals came out on top 50-47. A big reason for pulling out the

win was hitting 10 of the final 13 free throws they took. “It was back and forth for the entire game. We came up huge in key situations and hit our free throws down the stretch. The kids played so hard and I was very happy to get the win,” said coach Mix.

The Cardinals trailed 12-9 after the first quarter and 21-20 at halftime. Onaway led 42-35 at the end of the third quarter and pulled out the win.

Morganne Badgero led the scoring attack for the Cardinals with 18. Jade Galer added 14 and Lexi Szymoniak had eight. “It was a well-balanced defensive effort all the way around,” said coach Mix.

Both teams entered the evening with just one loss; the Cardinals are now 4-1 on the season and will resume action Jan. 5 when they host Rogers City.