Posen girls seek regional title in Pellston

The Posen title express took another step towards history, as each win sets a new all-time season win record. The Lady Vikings (24-0) put away Pellston on the Hornett’s home court, 66-28 to move into the regional finals tonight (Thursday) at Pellston.

They take on Brimley (21-3), a 69-51 winner over Engadine in Tuesday’s first regional semifinal contest.

Elizabeth Mulka (24) is the center of attention after Posen's 24th win. The next step for the team is the regional final Thursday at Pellston against Brimley (21-3). (Photo by Richard Lamb)

The Vikings overcame a slow start, beginning the game with turnovers on five consecutive possessions before getting it in gear. And when the press got going, Pellston was in trouble. The starting five of Jenna Hincka, Kayla Lenard, Ashley Meyers, Korynn Hincka and Austin Sharpe then locked down the Hornets, running out to a 20-0 lead before Pellston scored. The Hornets seldom got open looks to the basket, and if they managed a contested shot, there were no offensive rebounds to be had.

Sharpe’s put-back at the 2:21 mark gave Posen a 16-0 lead and then two great assist passes from Meyers set up baskets from Lenard and Korynn Hincka for points 18 and 20.

Pellston didn’t challenge the rest of the way as Posen extended its lead to 32-9 at halftime.  A 13-0 run midway through the third quarter made it 53-24 heading into the final eight minutes.

“It wasn’t the best first half we have had. It took us a while to get going,” said coach Karl Momrik after the game. “We played better in the second half. It is a great feeling to know that we have broken the all-time win record again at Posen High with 24.”

Korynn Hincka scored 31 in three quarters of work while Lenard and Meyers each scored seven.

The undefeated Vikings now face their toughest challenge to date in the Brimley Bays.

Brimley defeated an over-matched Engadine squad 69-51 in the opening game of Tuesday’s regionals. Brimley’s three losses came to Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace and Eben Junction Superior.

“They are big and they can rebound. They depend on one-and-done and we can’t do that. We are going to have to rebound with them and equal them on the boards and put a little bit of heat on them and see what happens,” Momrik said.

MAKE IT five straight district championships for the Posen girls’ basketball program. On a night when Posen all-state center Korynn Hincka was under the weather, other players shined on the title stage and the Vikings won their fifth consecutive trophy.

Meyers fired in a career-best five, 3-pointers and scored 27 in the district title game, a 62-36 victory over Onaway (11-11), in the tournament final played at Wolverine. Posen tied a school record with its 23rd win of the s

eason.

“That is probably the best I have shot in a long time,” said Meyers. “That is definitely the most threes I had in a game.”

The Vikings fought off a tough challenge in the opener against Hillman, but pressed their way to the title with early leads over Rogers City and Onaway.

Posen was up 27-7 over Onaway well into the second quarter. The halftime lead was 32-13.

Jenna Hincka, who had an outstanding tournament, finished with six. Korynn finished with 16.

“We got beat by a better team tonight,” said Onaway coach Marty Mix. “It was not from a lack of effort.”

THURSDAY’S REGIONAL championship game starts at 7 p.m. in Pellston. The winner of the regional plays the winner of the Kingsford regional, pitting number-one ranked Crystal Falls Forest Park (23-0) against Eben Junction Superior (20-2). The site of that game has not been determined. Watch PIAdvance.com for details.