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  • Leland players celebrate Thursday's 50-30 Class D regional final win over Mcbain Northern Michigan Christian. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

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March 9, 2012

Leland takes McBain for title

Comets win by 20; Portland St. Pat awaits in quarters

BY DENNIS CHASE dchase@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — No comeback needed this time.

Leland never trailed Thursday night in capturing a Class D regional basketball championship with a 50-30 win over McBain Northern Michigan Christian.

The Comets, who will face perennial power Portland St. Patrick in Tuesday's quarterfinal at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, reached the regional final with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Manistee Catholic.

"It (final) wasn't as exciting," Leland coach Megan Munoz, clutching the regional trophy, said. "But it's still amazing."

Amazing because earlier this season Leland (13-11) snapped a 40-game losing streak.

"I don't think at the beginning (of the season) anybody imagined us winning regionals, and moving on to quarterfinals," senior Liz McKee said. "It's overwhelming. It really is."

McKee led the Comets with 22 points. Hanna Schaub and Caitlin McKee added nine each. Schaub and Caitlin McKee scored all 13 of Leland's points in the first quarter as the Comets opened a five-point lead.

"It definitely helped swing the momentum," Schaub said.

Liz McKee took over from there, netting 18 points in the middle two quarters as the Comets built a 20-point cushion 43-23 heading into the final eight minutes.

"She just waits for her time," Munoz said. "She waits for the game to come to her."

The third quarter ended with sophomore Isabelle Scott hitting a 3-pointer just inside the halfcourt line, bringing the Leland crowd to its feet. That, for all practical purposes, was the exclamation point.

"They were just too much for us tonight," Northern Michigan Christian coach Casey Sigafoose said. "They brought it that first half and it was hard for us to recover."

Munoz said even though Leland led by nine at half, 25-16, she implored her team to not let up.

"We were down 11 to Manistee (in the fourth quarter) and came back," she said. "So nine points was nothing. We could not let up. That third quarter had to be dominating as well. We had to continue to play."

Message received.

Northern Michigan Christian (9-15) tried to deny Liz McKee the ball early, but Schaub and Caitlin McKee helped loosen the defense.

"She's (Liz McKee) a stud," Sigafoose said. "But what we didn't expect was their balance. We really love teams that focus on one or two players. But they had more than that. They were everywhere. They were the better team tonight."

Leland, meanwhile, focused on stopping Jane Pearson, who scored 19 in Northern Michigan Christian's win over Ellsworth in its regional opener. Pearson was held to six.

"We had a game plan to shut down No. 25 from penetrating," Munoz said. "We pinched every time. I think she got through one time.

Sophomore Emma Towers paced Northern Michigan Christian with nine points.

Several of the Comets played on the volleyball team that also advanced to the quarterfinals.

"I think volleyball was more intense, more difficult," senior Tantzi Snyder said. "We weren't expecting this (in basketball). It's kind of a shock. But I'm definitely not surprised we did well tonight.

"We played as a team amazingly well. People really stepped it up. Hanna and Caitlin had great games. Isabelle did an awesome job handling the ball. Liz did a great job putting it down."

Snyder, who led the team in the district finals, finished with five points.

Although a regional title seemed a long shot in December, there was no giddy celebration afterwards.

"These girls are so even and relaxed," Munoz said. "It's hard to tell with them. I think that's why they're so good. I think it means a lot more to them than they're showing."

Northern Michigan Christian only loses just one player to graduation.

"We had a great season," Sigafoose said. "For a young team, which shouldn't have been here, I'm proud of them. They did a great job."

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