1. Tigers are done – It’s all over but the cryin’ in 2008. Another blown lead last night puts the Tigers 8.5 games back in the divsion race. Sheffield was put on waivers and the moves looking to slash payroll and ready the team for a run in 2009 will start now!

2. Kwame Brown? – The signing of Brown has brought opinions saying it’s a waste of money and that it’s a good deal for the Pistons. It’s hard to argue either side, but I think Joe D may have found another diamond in the rough and if the solid veteran leadership of Chauncey, Rip and McDyess can bring Kwame along, he could be a pleasant surpise and really help shore up the depth on the frontline.

3. Lions over .500 – That’s my official prediction, I have this weird feeling that the Lions are going to finish 9-7 and contend for a wild card berth. While this isn’t a new prediction around these parts, I think this is really, finally, positively, the year they get over that hump. I know on paper they seem less talented, but I think that head coach Rod Marinelli has finally gotten the roster where he wants it and has gotten rid of the players he’s needed to. I still think they will struggle to run the ball, but they won’t be so quick to abandon it either. A healthy Calvin Johnson is going to be huge for quarterback Jon Kitna. Johnson and Roy Williams should provide some offensive sparks this season. I’m looking forward to it!

4. College Football – It’s finally almost here! I can’t wait. I like Michigan and Michigan State to both have solid years and for the first time in a while MSU will have the better record. I just love Mark Dantonio and think he’s got the Spartans heading up, up, up and will be a mainstay in the Big Ten title race for years to come. Rich Rodriguez is still looking for quarterbacks but will have his team competitive and tough to play against defensively.

5. Shock visit TC – A neat experience on Monday for some Traverse City area youth girls basketball players as the Detroit Shock (minus Katie Smith who is playing in the Olympics) visited during the Olympic break for a camp and clinic at Traverse City West. I love to see stories like this and I am sure it’s something those girls won’t forget anytime soon.

If you want to let the me know what you think, you can always send me an email at leelanausportsguy@sportspig.com or post a comment!

Here’s the Boys Matchups…

Charlevoix, which won the Lake Michigan boys championship and advanced to the Class C regional, will take on Northwest co-champion Benzie Central. The Frankfort Panthers, who also earned a share of the crown, will draw St. Francis, the runner-up in the Lake Michigan. Other match-ups include: Leland vs. East Jordan, Kingsley vs. Boyne City, Suttons Bay vs. Grayling, Glen Lake vs. Elk Rapids, Mesick vs. Kalkaska and Buckley vs. Harbor Springs. The boys games will be hosted by the Lake Michigan Conference schools.

And the Girls…

Since Charlevoix and Kingsley won the Lake Michigan and Northwest girls titles, respectively, they’ll meet in the marquee game. Frankfort, which tied Benzie Central for second in the Northwest, will face East Jordan, which was second in the Lake Michigan. Benzie will take on Boyne City, the third-place finisher in the Lake Michigan.

Other match-ups include: Glen Lake vs. Kalkaska, Suttons Bay vs. Harbor Springs, Buckley vs. Elk Rapids, Leland vs. St. Francis and Mesick vs. Grayling. The girls games will be hosted by the Northwest Conference schools.

Sounds like a whole lot of fun!

Read Basketball challenge set to tip off in the Record Eagle

The ballot is available in the January 25th edition of the Leelanau Enterprise or you can send Nick an email with your choices. Please include the players/coaches names and schools. Ballots are due by Friday, February 9th.

Now I have to start compiling my list, but here’s my #1 for each team…

Boys Basketball All-Time Top 10
1. Sander Scott – Northport

Girls Basketball All-Time Top 10
1. Julie Polakowski – Leland

Coach All-Time Top 5
1. Larry Glass – Leland

Let the debating begin…

The District Final is set for Thursday (11/16) at T.C. Christian. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM.

Read Sabres, Comets advance to district final in the Record Eagle

Norsemen top Lakers to advance

From the Leelanau News Blog…

Glen Lake & Suttons Bay squared off in Class C action at Kalkaska Monday night, and the Lady Norseman emerged with a 46-32 victory. They will face Fife Lake-Forest Area tonight (Wednesday, Nov 15) at 8 PM in Kalkaska with the final Friday night at 7.

Read Kingsley topples Blazers in the Record Eagle
Read Girls Basketball District Tournaments in the Leelanau News Blog

Crystal Dittrich scored 16 points to lead Suttons Bay to a 38-32 win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary. Suttons Bay improves to 3-2. The Eagles were led by Alyssa Korson’s 14 as they fall to 2-4.

Boys Soccer: Northport, Leland get high-scoring wins
Northport found the back of the net eight times to defeat Cadillac Heritage 8-1. Cody Brown and Drew Mitchell each scored 2 as Northport improved to 7-2.

Brad Dunklow’s hat trick helped Leland to a 7-2 Cherryland Conference win over Buckley. Leland is now 8-3, and 2-3 in the conference.

Read Manistee CC tops TC Christian in the Record Eagle

Boys Golf: St. Mary’s wins, Glen Lake falls
Freshman Tyler Shaffran shot a 42 to lead Lake Leelanau St. Mary (180) to victory over Kingsley (195) and Frankfort (230).

Glen Lake got a 50 from Austin Novak but it wasn’t enough as they fell to Traverse City Christian 205-244.

Read St. Mary’s takes golf match in the Record Eagle

Boys Soccer: Season Overview
Check out the article below from the Record Eagle with a complete look at the area soccer season.

Read Elk Rapids, West aiming for titles in the Record Eagle.

Girls Basketball: Rough night for Leelanau County teams
Suttons Bay and Glen Lake both had rough games against the top two teams in the Northwest Conference. Undefeated Frankfort topped the Norsemen 54-12 and 5-1 Kingsley stopped the Lakers 63-18.

In non-conference action, Lake Leelanau St. Mary got 18 points from Alyssa Korson, but it wasn’t enough as Elk Rapids earned a 66-60 win. Leland lost by 10 to Manistee Catholic 38-28 as they fell to 1-2.

Boys Soccer: T.C. Christian earns shutout of Northport, SB tops Leland
Traverse City Christian defeated Northport 2-0 to improve to 6-0 in the Cherryland Conference.

Suttons Bay used a goal by Ben Darling late in the first half to earn a 1-0 Cherryland Conference win over Leland to improve to 2-1 in the conference and 6-2 overall.

Boys Golf: Norsemen once again dominate Northwest Jamboree
Nate Kelly shot a 37, and Josh Schaub and Chris Wanroy each a 40 to lead Suttons Bay over Kingsley, Mesick, Manton, Glen Lake and Frankfort. Dusty Popa led the Lakers with a 46.

Cross-Country: Glen Lake, Suttons Bay have strong showings at McBain
Glen Lake’s Marissa Treece was the overall girls winner in 18:41, and Suttons Bay came in 5th as a team behind Elizabeth Adams 10th place finish in 23:22. Glen Lake’s John Lee captured the boys race.

Read Blazers top St. Francis in the Record Eagle

Read Central opens up BNC with a victory in the Record Eagle

Boys Soccer: Suttons Bay blanks Buckley
Shane MacDonald, Alex Dingrando, Pat Crego and Niel Bell each scored a goal to lead Suttons Bay over Buckley 4-0 in a Cherryland Conference matchup. The Norsemen are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Read TC Central shuts out Petoskey, 2-0 in the Record Eagle

Girls Basketball: Glen Lakes falls to Frankfort
Frankfort stayed undefeated with a 62-25 win over Glen Lake. The Lady Lakers were led by Amanda Lautner’s 6 points.

Girls Basketball: Lady Norsemen win
Suttons Bay defeated Mesick 37-33 behind Maggie Walters 12 points in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams.

Read Townsend sparks Titans in the Record Eagle

Read Prep Basketball Preview in the Record Eagle

In a 22-team field featuring mostly Division 1 and 2 teams, Suttons Bay shot a 311 to place third in the Traverse City Labor Day Invitational. Ludington (10th in Div. 2) fired a 302 and Detroit Jesuit (#6 in Div. 1) a 310. The Norsemen are ranked 4th in Division IV.

“Its a good score,” Norsemen coach Todd Hursey said. “This is always a good measuring stick for us, to see how we play against some of the better teams in the state, and today we were respectable.”

Nate Kelly tied for second overall with a 73, Charlie Olson shot a 77, David Tropf 80, and Josh Schaub 81.

Read Ludington starts out at the top in the Record Eagle

Girls Basketball: Northport falls in final of Alba Tourney
Alba defeated Northport 34-32 to capture their own tournament. Cecilia Kohler scored 12 in the championship game. Northport advance to the final with a 38-36 win over Alanson.

Read Bellaire prevails in the Record Eagle

“I’m disappointed in the score, but I’m not disappointed in our effort,” Lakers coach Bill Hollenbeck said. “They’re a real good football team, a very good football team. Last week they beat (Watervliet) 52-14. It was 44-0 at half. I didn’t sleep all week.

Glen Lake is 1-1 on the season.

Read Coloma holds off Glen Lake, 28-21 in the Record Eagle

Boys Football: Suttons Bay rolls over Harbor Springs 49-0
Suttons Bay improved to 2-0 with a 49-0 shutout of Harbor Springs. The Norsemen rushed for 352 yards with Cal Forton leading the way with 96. Jordan Peplinski scored two touchdowns on the ground and Colin Korson ran back a punt 56 yards for a score.

Read Elk Rapids, Mesick off to 2-0 beginnings in the Record Eagle

Girls Basketball: Eagles top Lakers in consolation game
Alyssa Korson scored 25 points and Susan Herman added 17 as Lake Leelanau St. Mary defeated Glen Lake 59-53 to capture 3rd place in the Katie Heinz “We Believe” Tip-Off Clasic. T.C. Christian topped St. Francis 42-30 to win the title.

Girls Basketball: Leland falls to Bellaire
Erin Sneed, Erika Green and Whitney Grant scored 10 points each, but it wasn’t enough as the Comets lost their opener to Bellaire 41-34.

Boys Soccer: Northport gives Leland first loss of season
Ryan Blessing scored the go-ahead goal with 1:52 left as Northport topped Leland 2-1 in a Cherryland Conference matchup.

Read Marquette adds another road victory in the Record Eagle