Leelanau Sports Guy’s World

Northport fell to Bay City All Saints 85-55 in a Class D Regional Semifinal at Traverse City West. Northport kept it close for a half, but it was All Saints 55-point second half that was the difference. Drew Mitchell led the Wildcats, who finished 14-9, scoring 28 points, grabbing 12 boards and blocking 7 shots. Cody Brown added 13.

Read Wildcats knocked off by All Saints in the Record Eagle

Leland powered it’s way to the Class D semis by serving up 21 aces to defeat Beal City 25-12, 25-7 and 25-15. Leading the Comets were Alisha Glass with 15 kills, 2 blocks and 7 aces, and Jennifer Hecht with 8 kills and 4 blocks. Leland is now 65-4 on the season and will face Adrian Lenawee Christian at 3:45 PM on Thursday.

Read Comets move on to semis in the Record Eagle

Senior Holly Orban served 100% and registered 24 kills as Suttons Bay claimed a 3-1 win over Calumet in the Class C Quarterfinals. Suttons Bay lost the first game 19-25 before regrouping and winning the match 25-21, 25-22 and 25-20. Suttons Bay is now 52-13-5 and will face Union City in the semis at Western Michigan. The match is at 3:45 PM on Friday.

Read Suttons Bay hands Calumet its 1st loss in the Record Eagle

MSU’s two senior stars Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen share some of their thoughts on friendship, Michigan State and the NCAA Tourney. They are getting ready to lead the #4 seeded Spartans into battle with Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Shimek is MSU’s all-time leading scorer and Bowen is second. Something I thought was great is they have both started every game (128) since they have been at East Lansing.

Read MSU’S HIGH-SCORING SENIORS: They changed the game in the Freep

The Detroit Insider just emailed me…

Kitna reportedly agrees to terms with Lions.

Detroit News Update

My View: It’s a good move. Someone capable of pushing Harrington, but not costing the Lions too much money either. A smart move by Millen and company. He helped bring Palmer along, maybe can do the same for Dan Orlovsky (if he’s still here) or a draft pick from the upcoming draft.

Or it could mean that Harrington might not even be here next year. A quarterback position of Kitna, King and Dan O., wouldn’t be all bad.

On paper it looks tough, but the Michigan State women did end up in a good bracket with a chance to advance. The Spartans earned a #4 seed and a first round matchup with Horizon League champ Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A second round matchup with Kentucky looms.

If the Spartans advance to the Sweet 16, they would most likely face #1 Duke, and if they go to the Elite 8, probably UConn. A daunting road to say the least, but not impossible.

Michigan State played a tough schedule this year to prepare them for the tournament. They are healthy and should be ready to go. I know I will be watching to see how seniors Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen lead the Spartans and fight to get back to the Final Four!

View the 2006 NCAAW Bridgeport Regional Bracket at Yahoo! Sports
Read Dance card set in the Freep
Read Spartan women draw No. 4 seed in the Lansing State Journal

Leland Comet star Alisha Glass was named the winner of the 4th annual Miss Volleyball award, given to the best prep volleyball player in the state. Glass won the award by the largest margin in the short history of the award. She is heading to Penn State next fall to continue playing volleyball. Glass owns the national record for aces in a season, career aces and career kills.

Read Best of the Best in the Record Eagle
Read Glass best in state in the Free Press

Four area teams remain as volleyball quarterfinals are set to be played tonight. In Class A Traverse City takes on L’Anse Creuse at Midland Down, in Class C Suttons Bay faces Calumet at Rudyard, in Class D Leland travels to Beal City to face the Aggies and Harbor Light Christian faces Lake Linden-Hubbell at Cheboygan.

Read Four area teams in quarters in the Record Eagle

And a look from the Beal City perspective on the game against Leland…
Read Through the looking-Glass in the Morning Sun

Michigan State was given a #6 seed in this year’s NCAA Tourney. I like it. Sure it could have been higher, but it’s a good spot to be, plus they are in the week half of the bracket.

I watched the win over Illinois and that’s the Spartan team that is capable of playing with anyone. They ran out of gas against Iowa, but will have a few days to recover and should be able to make a nice run in the tourney.

They should get by George Mason easily, or at least as easily as MSU gets by someone. 65-59 seems about right. That would set up a 2nd round matchup versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels are young and dangerous, but I think MSU is the perfect type of team to beat them. Well coached and led by veterans, the Spartans should advance. No teams in the other part of the bracket are scary. Tennessee is the #2 seed and in my opinion, the weakest of the 2’s. MSU will have no problems getting to the Elite 8. But that’s where the fun stops as a game against #1 seed UConn awaits.

Another run to the Elite 8 would let the seniors leave on a good note and will give Shannon Brown just enough March Madness taste that he wants to do it again next season. At least I hope so!

Senior Holly Orban provided the kill as Suttons Bay recovered from a 2-0 deficit to claim the Class C Regional Volleyball title at Charlevoix with a 22-25, 24-26, 27-25, 25-15, 15-7 come-from-behind win over Lake City. Suttons Bay had defeated Inland Lakes 25-22, 26-24, 25-15 earlier in the day. Suttons Bay now plays Calumet in a Class C quarterfinal on March 14th at 7:30 PM.

Read Suttons Bay rallies past Lake City in regional final in the Recod Eagle

Leland went a perfect 6-0 on the day to claim their third straight Class D Regional title. Leland cruised to a 25-9, 25-18, 25-12 win over Marion in the final after knocking off Augres 25-13, 25-14, 25-12 in the opener. Leland now travels to the Beal City quarterfinal to take on Beal City on March 14th at 7:00 PM.

Read Area teams sweep regional opponents in the Record Eagle [scroll down]

A cool new feature of 9&10 Sports is their Sports Video Uncut section (if you can get it to work, stupid Windows Media). So far only one Leelanau school, Northport, has been featured. You can see video from Northport’s Class D District Final win over T.C. Christian from Friday, March 10th.

I hope they get some volleyball coverage as our two county team’s Suttons Bay and Leland advance down state!

9&10 Sports Video Uncut

Eric Voison is a big part of Hope College’s success. The senior center is averaging 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds as the Flying Dutchman have advanced to the Division III Sweet 16. Next up they play Wittenberg University today for a chance to move on. Hope is 28-2 on the season.

View Division III Bracket at NCAASports.com
Hope Men’s Basketball Official Site

A look at the Charlevoix regional where Suttons Bay is joined by Inland Lakes, Lake City and Kingsley. Any one of the four teams could win this regional.

Read Class C regional teams ‘closely matched’ in the Record Eagle

Northern Michigan will be short one more great coach with the retirement of Rene LaFreniere. The Manton Varsity Boys Basketball coach will be stepping down after 22 years at the position. He has a career record of 338-171. Rumor has it that former Manton star Ryan Hiller may be the next head coach.

Read Era nears an end in Manton in the Record Eagle

My View: I always had alot of respect for him. His teams played hard and were always prepared.

Not to be shown up by the Wings blockbuster trade announcement, ESPN has announced that the Lions have signed Shawn Bryson to a three year contract.

To quote the Detroit Insider, “Oh Good!”

My View: I have always liked Bryson, he knows his role and does it well. He is a quality backup that can play FB or RB.