By Sean Budlong
The Schoolcraft Eagles girls basketball team heads into Christmas break with a 5-1 record. After beating Martin, Constantine, Lawton, Galesburg-Augusta, and Vicksburg, the Eagles dropped a close game on the road at Bangor. The team is 3-0 in league play.
Depth has been a major factor in their fast start this season, and Coach Doug Flynn is pleased with the development of his team. Senior Halli Hunt has been a leader all season for the team, but each game a different player has stepped up for the Eagles.
Rebounding has been a strength for the Eagles with Wynn Stitt, Amber Overley and Jayci Suseland working hard in the paint. Scoring has come from the entire team, with Hunt, Stitt, Kennedy Leighton, and Lydia Goble leading the team in points during different games. Madison Saxman and Hannah Huysken have been key leaders and top contributors as well.
While Schoolcraft grabbed early leads and cleared the bench during the first four games, the last were more difficult for the Eagles.
Against Vicksburg, Schoolcraft trailed 24-15 at the half. Overley scored eight second half points and five rebounds as the Eagles came back to win 38-33.
At Bangor, the 5-0 Eagles were facing a 0-5 Vikings team, but the home team was prepared and motivated. While Leighton led the Eagles with 14 points and Saxman had six, the Eagles couldn’t generate second chances. According to Flynn, the team missed 33 shots and only grabbed nine offensive rebounds.
“I was proud of our effort, but the Vikings gave a little more effort than we did,” Flynn said.
“We didn’t have our best shooting night but Bangor was blocking out and getting the loose balls.”
Schoolcraft plays Kalamazoo Christian January 8 and the undefeated Hackett Irish on January 12.