By Mark Blentlinger
The lady Eagle basketball team has been working its way through competitor after competitor since the February break. The team defeated Vicksburg 55-29, Battle Creek Calhoun Christian 69-47, Lawton 63-18 and Hackett Catholic Central 41-32.
Even the best teams will have a night where things just don’t seem to go their way. On Valentine’s day, the Eagles had one of those nights, dropping a heartbreaker 54-45 to the Comets from Kalamazoo Christian, a team they had already defeated earlier in the season 32-22. This would be the girls’ second loss of the season after dropping to Edwardsburg in the season’s first game. After this loss, the team was able to get its focus back and start adding up wins again.
The Bronson Vikings would be first up to face a refueled team of Eagles. Although the Vikings were able to put down more 3’s than the Eagles, it still wasn’t enough. They were able to defeat the Vikings 56-48. Gabi Saxman and Anna Schuppel were the leading scorers for the Eagle attack, both dropping 13, followed by Adrienne Rosey, putting up 10.
Coach Kulczyk has gotten the team headed back in the right direction with wins over Galesburg and Constantine where the Eagles posted wins in dominating fashion. They beat the visiting Rams 63-25 and the Falcons 69-35. Leading scorers for the Eagles against the Falcons were Gabi Saxman, 21; Allie Walther, 18 and Makenzie Miller, 9. With the win against the Falcons, Coach Kulczyk has led the lady Eagles to their 3rd consecutive league title. They sport a 17-2 overall record and a 11-1 league record.
In the last game of the season, the Lady Eagles crushed Benton Harbor, 56-18, ending with 18-2 overall. The girls got the bye into the district semifinal. They will play Marcellus March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Centreville.
Savannah Seath’s Triumphant Return to Action
On February 21, the 9-9 Rams of Galesburg came into the gym of the Schoolcraft Eagles to compete at the Eagles’ Homecoming. They weren’t expecting they’d need to guard senior Savannah Seath, who hasn’t been able to play since last season’s devastating knee injury.
On a March 4, 2019 game against Gobles, Seath suffered injuries that would end the career of most athletes. After major surgery, she was faced with the possibility she might never play basketball again. She was told at the earliest, she might play in 18 months – not an acceptable amount of time for her. Trainer Jordan Love said Seath did agility and strength drills to build up the knee, but not running. She did keep up her shooting skills while she was in rehabilitation.
She showed a desire to be back on the court with her teammates with her never-give-up attitude, Coach Kulczyk said. With her doctors, physical therapists and Jordan Love helping, she was able to hit the floor dressed and ready to go in 11 months not 18.
She only played for five minutes of the first half of the game, but what a five minutes: Her first shot went for 3 points. All of her points that night went in for 3’s, going 4 for 6 with 12 total points. The Eagles were able to dominate the Rams and take the game 63-24. Other leading scorers for the Eagles were Mackenzie Miller, with 18 and Gabi Saxman, with 16.