Alpena Girls take Down Oscoda for Third Straight Win
ALPENA, MI- With the district tournament kicking off next Monday, the defending District 1 champions seem to be hitting their stride.
Having defeated Oscoda in the season opener 57-53, the Wildcats expected another close contest. They got that and then some as the Owls came in fresh off clinching their fifth straight North Star League title. Oscoda came out of the gates firing away from downtown as they hit four first quarter three pointers to take a 12-7 lead after eight minutes.
Alpena was able to use its size advantage as Kiera Prue along with Reese Wisniewski helped spark a 7-0 Wildcat run to start the quarter. Prue who finished the night with a game high 19 helped offset the Oscoda shooting by getting to the rim and showing off her touch around the rim. The Owls responded and would take a 22-21 lead into the break.
The turning point of the contest came in the last two minutes of the third. Trailing 31-30 Alpena would rattle off the next seven points. Capped off by a three pointer by Faith Dragiewicz to take a 37-31 lead into the fourth quarter. Alpena looked like they would put it away at the start of the fourth, Avery Dubey and Reaghan Fitzpatrick each connected on threes. A bucket from Fitzpatrick would give Alpena a 45-34 lead.
The Owls did not let the game get away as Mia Whipkey who had 19 of her own sparked a rally and the Owls got as close as three in the final two minutes. Good free throw shooting down the stretch helped seal a 61-53 Alpena win.
Both teams now prepare for the district tournament, Alpena hosts Sault Ste. Marie in round one on February 27. Oscoda is the top seed in district 68. They await the winner of Roscommon and Charleton Heston in the semi final on March 1.
