Slow start dooms lady Glads

KINGSFORD - Ontonagon showed it could compete with Crystal Falls Forest Park in the second half of Tuesday's MHSAA Class D regional semifinal.

But it was too late by then.

The Trojans jumped to a 29-5 halftime lead, taking advantage of an Ontonagon scoring drought that lasted approximately 10 minutes. Forest Park picked up a 50-28 win to advance to the regional final against Munising back in Kingsford Thursday. Munising beat Bark River-Harris 48-45 in Tuesday's nightcap.

Tuesday just wasn't Ontonagon's night.

"I honestly think we didn't emotionally handle it," Ontonagon coach Dick Franti said. "I've seen it happen to other teams up here before. We just were not emotionally, mentally prepared. It was too momentous an event for them. Once they had a halftime to think about, they said, 'Oh, I think we're here for a basketball game.' But by then, it was too late."

The Gladiators actually outscored Forest Park 15-6 in the third quarter and 23-21 overall in the second half, but the hill back was far too steep.

"I feel bad obviously for ourselves, but also what we didn't put forth a better effort for our school and for our conference," Franti said. "We just didn't put forth that I think we could or should have put, so I apologize for that."

Franti called timeout after Forest Park scored the first five points in the game's first 55 seconds. Ontonagon tallied the next three, a free throw by Rebecca Karttunen and a jumper by Alyssa Preiss.

Forest Park scored the next 16 points over an approximately 10-minute span. Karttunen's basket underneath with 2:28 left in the second quarter finally broke Ontonagon's drought. Forest Park led 21-5 and extended it to 29-5 by halftime.

"The girls came out just focused and ready. They were playing really tough defense. Ontonagon had to dig themselves out of a hole," Forest Park coach Jackie Giuliani said. "I think it was (also) our speed and our confidence and our shots. When you got an open shot, you got to shoot them. And they did."

Five different Gladiators scored in the third quarter, narrowing a 24-point deficit to 15, 35-20, entering the fourth.

"I think A, we relaxed a little bit and started playing ball," Franti said. "We were rushing, thinking and hurrying too much instead of playing the game (in the first half). It just got away from us real fast."

Forest Park didn't score early in the fourth, but Ontonagon missed opportunities to cut the deficit further, mostly because of turnovers and the Trojans rolled to a 22-point victory.

"Between the third and fourth quarter in the huddle they were telling each other, 'C'mon let's go, we've got this. We just got to play defense,' Giuliani said. "They were telling each other what they had to do. I didn't even really have to say much, which is nice to see. They're leading each other and that's truly what it is.

"At the end of the game, I was very proud of how they handled the pressure. They [FP] took care of the ball, they dribbled their way out of the traps, got their fouls and for the most part made the free throws at the end to keep Ontonagon from getting back in the game.

The Trojans' defense has caused problems for many teams this season. Forest Park finished the regular season ranked fourth in the U.P. Class D poll.

"They're quick. They're on you,"Franti said. "I think even more frustrating is you got to work really hard on defense if you're going to stop their shooters because they move the ball around very well around that perimeter, inside and outside and side to side. It's really hard to cover, so you're tired over there and that speeds you up on the offensive end, too."

Sierra Robarge led Forest Park with 18 points. Hope Pintar led the Gladiators with seven.

Ontonagon finished the season at 13-11, winning the Class D District 127 title after going 10-10 in the regular season.

"Certainly tournament time has been our best part of the season," Franti said. "We're proud of our district championship but disappointed that we didn't put forth a better effort here."

Forest Park - Maria Stankewicz 5, Abby Nylund 11, Libby Shamion 8, Adel Isaacson 2, Kelsi Hendrickson 2, Sierra Robarge 18, Rachel Roose 4. FTs: 15-25. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Robarge 2, Nylund 1.

Ontonagon - Alyssa Preiss 6, Paige Blake 3, Tessa Cleary 2, Lori Wardynski 6, Hope Pintar 7, Rebecca Karttunen 4. FTs: 4-12. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Blake. 3-pointers: Press 1, Blake 1.

Forest Park 16 29 35 50

Ontonagon 3 5 20 28

Munising 48, Bark River-Harris 45

Munising - Immel 19, Mattson 5, Kianne Wendt 10, Downs 6, Ackerman 8. F: 19; FT: 17-29; Fouled Out: Ackerman, Downs; 3-point field goals: Ackerman.

BR-Harris - Starnes 6, Willa 20, Greenfield 4, Boucher 2, Schultz 6, Lindquist 3, Frazer 2, Lund 2. F: 23; FT: 10-20; Fouled Out: Willa, Lindquist, Frazer; 3-point field goals: Starnes.

Munising 10 24 30 48

BR-Harris 8 18 33 45