By
Posted January 21, 2009

Well, ladies and gentleman, we are about halfway done with the girls basketball season looking at conference standings leaves me quite pleased. For once in a long time, there is no clear-cut, dominant team in the Thumb. With that being said, I think it’s time to give the area teams some midseason grades. Yes, grades. That word that makes every high school student cringe, but nontheless, here we go.

Akron-Fairgrove (0-8) and Owen-Gage (0-5)

These two teams are still searching for their first wins of the season. Even worse, their best chance might not come until they play each other. Their first matchup set for Jan. 13 was postponed with the next meeting scheduled for Feb. 17.

The bright spots?

Owen-Gage has the talent with Samantha Radabaugh and Amanda Faist to pull off a couple of upsets, and Viking coach Gary Schulz’s squad is headed in the right direction, improving with every practice.

Grades: D+

North Branch (4-4) and Marlette (2-6)

After stellar volleyball seasons from both of these schools, the amount of success they would have was up in the air at the beginning of the season. North Branch is sitting pretty in the middle of the TVC-East with a 1-2 record to start, while Marlette has also gotten off to a decent start in the GTE at 2-1.

With the talent levels at both North Branch and Marlette at maybe an all-time high, I suppose I had great expectations for these squads at the beginning of the season. Sadly, these two teams play in the toughest conferences in the area (TVC-East and GTE), and their schedules will not get much easier.

Grades: C-

Cass City (2-7) and Mayville (3-7)

Now I already know what some of you are thinking. If you gave Marlette and North Branch a C-, what is Cass City doing this high?

Well, after a slow start the Red Hawks are starting to gel and pull things together, and with the Greater Thumb West still very much up for grabs, Cass City is in an ideal spot to shake things up with a few upsets.

After posting back-to-back wins against Deckerville and Bay City All Saints, the Red Hawks hung on tight to give EPBP a tough time, but still suffered the loss. I think Cass City is hitting their peak, at the perfect time.

As for Mayville, they got hit hard with their toughest league games right off the bat. Suffering tough losses to Sandusky, Brown City and Ubly, this team has no place left to go but up. The biggest problem for the Wildcats right now is putting points on the board. If they can continue to do that like they have in recent games, they too are in a good place.

Grades: C

Caro (2-7) and Vassar (4-4)

The Tigers are not doing too bad considering the fact they had a slow start with injuries and learning to operate without last year’s instant offense of Becky Albrecht. This is another team that is starting to gel nicely, but plays in a conference where it’s tough at the top and wide open at those three, four and five spots. Hopefully seniors Lydia Koehler, Brittany Campbell, Alix Cridler, Amanda Ellis and Courtney Ellis can get this team headed in the right direction, before its too late.

Vassar is right about where most people thought they would be in the GTW. The Vulcans were by no means a basketball powerhouse, and switching conferences to compete with the likes of USA and Reese was not going to be a walk in the park. However, currently sitting in fourth place, the Vulcans are in a comfortable spot with plenty of league games left to play. The biggest question is, who else will step up with Kayla Verbeek and Jessica Hecht to contribute offensively?

Grades: C+

Millington (4-4) and Kingston (6-3)

Millington continues to ride the wave of Kayla Doshier, and so far this season, its working. However, seniors Rachel Lawe, Jamie Frahm and Ashley Gavitt are going to have lighten the load on Doshier’s back as the season continues.

The second time around with Garber, Birch Run, and Frankenmuth will be very interesting with this team.

Kingston is in a hunt for first place in the NCTL South, and seem to be doing so quietly. Sophomore guard Whitney Fox is off to another solid start, proving to be one of the best guards in the area, but she is not doing it alone. Juniors Megan James and Abby Brzezinski are also there to contribute to this Cardinal offense that is currently running on all cylinders. Hopefully they can keep the fire burning and make a run well past a league title.

Grade: B

USA (7-1), Reese (7-1) and Frankenmuth (7-3)

USA and Reese with a side of EPBP, make up the most exciting part of the GTW this year. I know USA always has talent, but they are playing great basketball right now. The fact that Carly Treiber is no longer with this team is not shining through like I thought it would. I should of known, just when you think USA is down, never count them out. NEVER.

As for Reese, Amber Gotham is having her breakout year as one of the leading scorers in the Thumb area. But she’s not doing it alone. Jade Ackerman, Kaylee Karwat, Sarah Speikerman and Shelby Tafoya are all there to back her up, making them a force to be reckoned with. And as if Denny Gruber was not doing enough for the Rockets, he is now coaching winning boys and girls squads. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if it could be done. But Denny has proven me wrong. Way to go Denny.

That leaves me with Frankenmuth, my personal favorite to win the TVC-East. Jenny McCain, Kelsey Ritter, Sam Cormier and Heather Schultz are getting it done in a big way, cruising through conference play thus far, and McCain may be my lock for best post player in the area. Hats off to Tom Keller and the girls.

Grade: A

With it being the half-way point in the season, I just can’t wait for what is in store down the stretch. So many games left to be played, and so many league titles still up for grabs. Be sure to check out next week, when I breakdown all the areas boys basketball teams.