LocalSportsJournal.com
MANTON — The Manistee girls’ basketball team fell into a 20-point hole to start the game then battled back on Wednesday night.
In the end, the Mariners fell short, 60-51, against Manton in the Division 2 district semifinal.
Playing the Rangers, a team that has been in the state rankings all season, on their home floor the Mariners found themselves starting the second quarter with a 24-4 deficit.
“The girls came all the way back and we had a chance to cut it to three or four,” said Manistee coach Kenn Kott. “It was a great effort. I’m so proud of them. Our three seniors (Jayna Edmondson, Libby McCarthy and Brooke Tomaszewski) led us all year to push harder and harder. They really came together tonight. But, we had that poor start.”
Despite a stronger second quarter, when they rebounded for a 12-8 scoring advantage, the margin was still a hefty 32-16 at the half.
But the Mariners (11-12) cut it back to just seven, 48-41, after the third period and then, as Kott said, were within striking range even more in the fourth before the Rangers prevailed.
Edmondson pumped in 21 points to lead the Mariners (11-13). McCarthy chipped in 10 and Brooke Jankwietz added seven. Grace Whitmer added six and Alayna Edmondson five.
McCarthy led the Mariners with six assists and 10 rebounds. Jankwietz pulled down six boards.
