Cardinals playing great basketball headed into postseason
by Angie Asam – Staff Writer
The Onaway Cardinal girls’ basketball team wrapped up the regular season Thursday (after press time) in Mancelona looking for its 14th win of the season. After two losses last week coach Marty Mix isn’t feeling down, he thinks his team is playing its best basketball.
“Even though we lost two games it was our best week of basketball,” said coach Mix. The Cardinals took on Gaylord St. Mary Feb. 17 and fell 36-23 in a game that Mix said got away from his team at the end of the game.
The Cardinals trailed the whole game with the score 10-9 at the end of the first quarter and 19-14 at the half. The Snowbirds led 25-19 at the end of the third quarter as they went on to win the game.
“It was a defensive battle and the girls played very hard despite battling some illness and losing Shelby Wolgast to an ankle injury,” said coach Mix, who is hopeful he will have Wolgast back for the district tournament, which begins Monday in Hillman.
Seniors Lexi Szymoniak, Morganne Badgero and Elise Arkwood each scored eight points in the loss.
LAST THURSDAY the Cards traveled to Johannesburg-Lewiston and lost 45-33. “It was the best game we have played all year,” said coach Mix.
At the end of the first quarter the Cardinals trailed 9-6 but took a 20-19 lead at halftime. Johannesburg led 29-22 at the end of the third quarter and went on to win the game.
With 2:10 remaining in the game it was a three-point game but the Cardinals were unable to find the bottom of the bucket two possessions in a row and were forced to foul and Johannesburg made their free throws to ice the game.
Szymoniak had 15 points as well as double digit rebounds for the 15th or 16th time this season. Badgero added nine points.
“We have a lot of momentum coming into the postseason and we really are playing our best basketball at t
time,” said coach Mix.
Onaway will take on the Hillman Tigers in the district semifinals Monday at 7:30 p.m in Hillman. The winner will play the winner between Posen and Wolverine for the district title Wednesday at 6 p.m.