Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
She’s averaging 15.8 points per-game for the Tawas Area Braves girls basketball team this year, and basketball might not even be Ivy Schaaf’s best sport. Schaaf, a senior, recently signed a letter of intent to play softball at Western Michigan University.
North Star League leaders
Posen hasn’t had standout girls’ basketball player Korynn Hincka for several games this year due to an injury. Despite missing their center, the Lady Vikings end the calender year 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the North Star League. Hincka is expected back mid-January.
The Mio boys basketball team took the early lead in the North Star League race on December 13, topping Hillman 52-36. Senior Micah Thomey led the Thunderbolts with 23 points to help them improve to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the NSL.
Conference shuffle
Northeastern Michigan may have several schools changing conferences. Oscoda, Alcona, and Whittemore-Prescott are expected to leave the Huron Shores Conference for the North Star League. Rogers City is expected to join the NSL as well, departing the Ski-Valley Conference. Current NSL member Hillman is planning to leave for the Ski-Valley. Confused yet? Tawas Area has declined the NSL’s offer to join them. Instead, Tawas plans to stay in the Huron Shores Conference. The problem is that they would be the only team in the league. School districts rumored to join them in the HSC are current Big North member Ogemaw Heights and independents John Glenn, Standish-Sterling, and Pinconning.
Making the best of a bad situation
Traverse City West and Traverse City Central were originally scheduled to play a boys’ hockey game at Comerica Park as part of the Winter Classic. With the NHL canceling the event last month, the teams played December 20. Central won the contest 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Cam Givens.
Roscommon wrestles strong
The Roscommon wrestling team took first place in the Pinconning Lou Socier Memorial Individual Invitational on Saturday, December 8, finishing with 201 points. Gage Major, Caleb Jernigan, and Damien Lewandowski took first place in their respective weight classes; while Mitch Tyler took second; Bradley Biggs, Donald Jernigan, and Nathan Thorton took fourth; Gage Richards took fifth; and Adrian Brooks placed sixth.