Cardinal girls impressive in rout of Mancelona

After visiting Mancelona took an early 4-2 lead Tuesday over the Onaway High School varsity girls’ basketball team, Cardinal coach Marty Mix called timeout and implored his athletes to increase the intensity on defense.

The Cardinals came out of the timeout and put the throttle down, going on a 61-4 run (that’s not a misprint) on their way to a 63-12 victory, improving to 10-4 (7-4 Ski Valley Conference) in the process.

Kallie Shimel scored 11 of her 17 points in the second period, while Mariah Ehrke scored her team’s first six points and finished the game with 10. In all, 10 players scored for OHS in the rout.

After Ehrke scored to open the game, Mancy’s Vanessa Batchelor scored twice inside to put the Lady Ironmen up two. Mix called the timeout, and after that it was all Onaway.

Ehrke scored twice. Emily Estep scored, was fouled, and hit the free throw. Shimel scored on a drive. Ehrke scored on a feed from Emily Estep. Temara Lupu hit a foul shot, then scored on a feed from Ehrke. Erika Price drilled a three.

That made the score 19-4 after one period, but the Cards were far from done. Shimel hit three straight shots, including a three, to open the second quarter before Batchelor scored inside to temporarily stop the bleeding.

Shimel responded with two more baskets. Sam Brasseur and Megan Estep scored on drives. Ashley LeCureux put back an offensive board. Devin Bristley added a pair of hoops. Brasseur hit two free throws. Megan Estep scored inside.

That upped the lead to 44-6 at halftime. After Macy scored to open period three, Shimel and Megan Estep scored on feeds from Emily Estep to stretch the lead to 40 and bring about the mercy-rule running clock.

Onaway, though, kept playing well. Emily Estep scored on a feed from Shimel. Ehrke, Shimel, and LeCureux scored on drives. Bristley hit a free throw. Brasseur and Hannah Materna scored on drives.

The score was 61-8 through three periods, and Materna scored on a drive to open quarter four to make it 63-8, completing perhaps the most impressive run in the program’s history.

Earlier in the evening, the OHS JV won its game with Mancelona, 58-17. Onaway led 16-2 after one period, 28-4 at the half, and 44-12 through three quarters, forcing the running clock with about 30 seconds left.

Lexi Szymoniak scored 15 points, Jade Galer scored 14, Shelby Wolgast scored 12, and Morganne Badgero scored 11 for the JV, which improved to 10-4 with the victory.

Last Thursday, the teams split with visiting Gaylord St. Mary, with the varsity dropping its contest to the undefeated, state-ranked Snowbirds, 29-14. GSM came into the game averaging more than 60 points per game.

The Cards slowed the game down, running about 100 seconds of c

lock per possession, and were it not for some big misses inside, the strategy may have resulted in an upset.

St. Mary led 9-5 after one period, 19-11 at halftime, and 24-11 through three quarters. No Cardinal scored more than three points. Kari Borowiak scored 12 points for GSM.

The JV won its game in dramatic fashion, 44-43, as the Snowbirds missed three straight foul shots with no time left on the clock. Onaway led 14-12 after one quarter, but trailed 24-20 at the half, and 32-28 through three frames.

Szymoniak scored 18 points, while Wolgast and Badgero chipped in with eight points apiece.

The girls, who were scheduled to travel to Inland Lakes yesterday (Thursday), will host Forest Area on Tuesday and travel to Pellston next Thursday.