A slow start by the host Kirtland Community College men’s basketball team seemingly doomed the Firebirds in a 68-60 loss to Algoma University at the McGregor Athletic Complex in Mio on Dec. 18.

Kirtland fell behind by 16 points, 18-2, to open the first half and still trailed 33-21 at intermission. And, despite out-scoring the visiting Thunderbirds, 39-35, in the second half, the Firebirds couldn’t manage to close the gap before the final buzzer sounded in the non-conference clash.

“We got off to a way too slow of a start,” said Kirtland head coach Ty McGregor. “We won the second half by four points, but we’d dug ourselves too deep of a hole.”

It didn’t help that Kirtland shot just 33.3% (20-for-60) from the floor. The Firebirds fared better at the charity stripe, hitting 66.7% (12-of-18) of their free-throw attempts.

Still, the Firebirds (4-8 overall, 1-1 conference) managed to rally after in-termission by taking better care of the ball, turning it over just four times in the second half, compared to committing 11 miscues in the opening 20 minutes of play.

“I hope no one was looking forward to the holiday break. That’s not a valid excuse,” he said. “It’s a matter of pride to put on a Kirtland uniform.”

Freshman center Dmitry Martynenko (Moscow, Russia) paced Kirtland with a game-high 22 points. He also ripped down a team-best 10 rebounds in the loss

to Algoma (8-2 overall). The Firebirds host Columbus State

on Dec. 29. Tip-off is at 5 p.m.

Sportswww.houghtonlakeresorter.com Houghton Lake Resorter, December 24, 2009 • C3

multiple opportunities to score at close range,” Drogt said.

Houghton Lake trailed 15-7 after one quarter but cut the gap to three at the half, 22-19.

“The girls made a nice comeback at the end of the second quarter, but they just wore us down in the third quarter,”

Drogt said of Gladwin’s 18-4 advantage in the third stanza. “They have a very athletic squad. Their overall strength and quickness took us to task tonight,” he added.

Mariah Drogt led the ’Cats with 12 while Czada and Julin each had six and Balbach and Ryckman both had two.

said. Senior Josh Alden added 13 points,

10 rebounds and three steals to the cause while junior A.J. Gojcaj had eight points and five rebounds and sophomore Todd Martin had four points and a career-high 11 rebounds. “Alden continues to play well. He recovered nicely after a slow start,” Ewald said. “Gojcaj and Martin also had strong games for us overall. I’m proud of them for working so hard.”

Ewald also said he “can’t say enough about the work that Austin Weiler is do-ing on the floor. He does a ton of intan-gibles that keep us in games. He’s hus-tling all over the floor and he’s bringing

great energy to us.” Ewald also noted the Bucks “got some great minutes tonight from sophomore Collin Lake and senior Dylan Saint Marie.”

This was a good team win for us as all 11 players got their names in the scorebook.” Ewald said.

The Bucks head into the Christmas break at 2-2 overall and 2-1 in JPC play. When they return from the break, they’ll host Gladwin on Jan. 7 and travel to Clare Jan. 12.

“We need to continue working over Christmas break to improve. We go on the road for three of our first four games in the new year, so we have our work cut out for us,” Ewald said.

Bucks cruise to winTrey try fails as clock expires on ’Cats

Roscommon’s girls basketball squad improved to 2-2 in Jack Pine Conference play with wins over Meridian and Har-rison last week.

The Bucks (3-3 overall) topped the Mustangs, 53-49, and swatted the Hor-nets, 69-47, with Olivia Meadows scor-ing over 20 points in both games.

RHS 53, Meridian 49After a strong start, Roscommon held

on down the stretch to top the Mustangs by four points, 53-49.

“Olivia Meadows’ scoring and Lau-ra Walker’s hustle got us out to a good start,” Coach Phil Weiler said. “After two tough games [losses to Houghton Lake and Ogemaw Heights] we needed this, and the team responded well.”

Meadows scored 26 points to lead Roscommon, who hit 24-of-38 (63%) free throws with Meadows sinking 13-of-16 (81%).

Ashley Seames added nine points followed by six from Walker, five from Nicole Barnes, four from Kayla Hausler and three from Nicole McGeorge.

“Seames and Barnes played great games controlling the boards and made big free throws in the second half,” Weil-er said. “The team did a nice job making adjustments and I was proud of their ef-fort.”

Roscommon 69, Harrison 47Meadows scored 21 points as the

Bucks overpowered Harrison to post a

69-47 win at Harrison Dec. 18.In their final game before the Christ-

mas break, the Bucks “played hard and worked on some things we can use in the second part of the season,” Weiler said.

Weiler said the Bucks got “good all-around games” from Walker and Mc-George and Seames and Barnes “contin-ue to improve their post games keeping us solid inside.”

The Bucks’ Kayla Hausler “had her best game defensively and continues to improve with the shot,” Weiler said. not-ing the Bucks got “big minutes” from Kalyn Gillett and Paige Geers. He said sophomore Liz Gendernalik is “really fitting in well and will play a key role for us” and exchange student Janika Blecke has “improved since day one and look for contributions from her.”

In addition to Meadows’ 21, the Bucks got 14 from Seames, 10 from Mc-George, nine from Walker, eight from Barnes, five from Hausler and two from Gillett.

“The girls had three games this week; we got two out of three and finished strong,” Weiler said. “We will work on some things over break and will be ready for the season to resume. I’m proud of the team and would like to thank every-one for the fan support.”

The Bucks resume play Jan. 5 at Standish-Sterling.

Bucks add two JPC win as Meadows scores 47

UP AND OVERRoscommon’s Josh Alden (41) gets a shot off over the outstretched arms of a pair of Harrison defenders as he helps Roscommon post a 72-44 Jack Pine Conference win. Alden finished with a double-double in the contest, 13 points and 10 rebounds. (Photo by Sue Pinsoneault)

(continued from page one)

EYEING THE PRIZEHoughton Lake junior Lauren Arsenault (11) pulls up and shoots from the top of the key during Houghton Lake’s contest with Clare Friday night. She connected on one field goal in the contest but the ’Cats fell by two, 40-38. (Photo by Randy Torchia, www.randyphotos.com)

(continued from page one)

Men’s Senior Pool LeagueDec. 21 - First Half Final

Family Bar #1 9/145Backdoor #2 6/139Long Branch #1 10/136Pressure Crack #2 9/115Kilkare #2 6/110Backdoor #1 0/107

Spikehorn #2 8/98Family Bar #2 8/96Spikehorn #1 7/96Shenanigan’s #1 10/92Kilkare #1 7/90Pressure Crack #1 5/87Long Branch #2 9/84Shenanigan’s #2 6/65

Pool Standings

Roscommon’s Geoff Gaylor, a junior at Madonna University, was named Monday as the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 20.

Gaylor posted a double-double of 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in a 90-79 setback at Defiance on Dec. 16. The 6’ 8” forward knocked down 63% of his shots from the floor (7-for-11) and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Gaylor’s numbers against Defi-ance were nearly double his season average of 9.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He is also the second Cru-sader to be honored by the WHAC in as many weeks, joining fellow junior Bryant Slaughter who was honored with last week’s award.

Madonna returns to the court Dec. 29, facing off with the Flying Dutch-men of Hope College at the DeVette Holiday Tournament on the Hope campus.

Gaylor earns player of

week honors

Slow start dooms host Firebirds against Algoma in 68-60 loss

WOW!! Great Pictures

Prints of our photos published and unpublished are for sale. View photos

on our website at houghtonlakeresorter.com and order through our office!

4x6 • $5.005x7 • $10.008x10 • $15.0016x20 • $40.00

Low Prices!

The Houghton Lake

The Houghton Lake

Order Your Photos Today!!

4049 W. Houghton Lake Dr.Houghton Lake, MI 48629

(989)-366-5341

www.houghtonlakeresorter.com

Hours:Mon-Fri

8a.m. to 5p.m.

C3

For more information about classes, programs and all that Kirtland has to offer, check us out at kirtland.edu or call 989-275-5000, ext. 284

Early Summer/ Early FallRegistrationApril 13-17

DON’T WAIT! IT’S EARLY SUMMER/ EARLY FALL REGISTRATION AT KIRTLAND.

Early Summer/Early Fall Registration April 13-17

• Over70certificateanddegreeprogramstochoosefrom.• NewprogramssuchasCardiacSonography, Animation&GameDesignandFirefighting!• On-lineclassesletyoulearnathome.• Thesamequalityofinstructionyou'dreceiveatmost four-yearinstitutions.• Creditsthattransfertoothercollegesanduniversities.• Tuitionthatisaffordable!(About1/3thecostofthe averagestatefour-yearcollege.)• Smallerclasssizesformoreinteractionwithinstructors.• Moderncampuswithstate-of-the-artlabsandclassrooms.• Affordablechildcareandpre-schoolformomsanddads.

So why not Kirtland?

So many reasons to choose Kirtland...

KIRTLANDCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

Summer/Early Fall Registration May 13-15

Summer/Early FallRegistrationMay 13-15

DON’T WAIT! IT’S SUMMER/EARLY FALL REGISTRATION AT KIRTLAND.

WINTER REGISTRATION JAN. 6 - 8

WINTER REGISTRATION

JANUARY6 - 8

DON’T WAIT!IT’S WINTER REGISTRATION AT KIRTLAND.