Advertisement

The Broncos only scored four points in the first quarter and did not score a field goal until the 4:25 mark of the second.

What hurt the most was, without the slow start, they were actually in the game.

"It's been like that all year for us," North Branch coach Mike Groce said. "We're just not a fast starting team.Ê Unfortunately, that's something that has plagued us all year.

"We tried to press at the beginning of game to get going. But we got burned on that."

The Marauders were hitting their shots early, most of them on fast breaks from North Branch turnovers.Ê Those in turn led to a lot of easy buckets, which was something that Groce says really cost his team in the early moments of the contest.

ÒWe let them get behind us early with the fast break.Ê We didnÕt do a very good job of getting back.

ÒThey did a nice job with their offense and they shot real well early in the game.Ó

Ovid-Elsie jumped out to a 10-4 lead after the first quarter, then built that lead to 17-4 before North BranchÕs Chelsea LaBair made the first Bronco field goal with just over four minutes to play before the half.Ê LaBair finished the game with five points and six rebounds.

After that basket, the North Branch offense seemed to wake up, as they dropped in 12 points in the second quarter to make the game 27-16 by the half.

ÒAt that point, we knew we had to try to get the ball inside,Ó Groce said. ÒWe wanted to get in the paint, try to drive the lane and get them in foul trouble.

ÒIt worked for awhile in the third, but then they adjusted and took over again.Ó

The two teams played to an even 13-13 draw in the third quarter; North BranchÕs Kayla Snoblen led the way in the third for the Broncos. Snoblen, a 5-8 sophomore, chipped in eight points in the quarter, and finished the game with a double-double, registering 12 points and 12 rebounds.

ÒShe had a real nice game tonight,Ó Groce said of Snoblen. ÒThat was probably the best sheÕs played in four or five games.

ÒI was happy with how she played tonight.Ó

The promise that was shown by the Broncos in the third quickly dissipated though as the fourth wore on and the quickness of the Marauders guards took the game over.

Ovid-ElsieÕs Breanne Munson scored eight of her game-high 23 points in the final frame, with most of those coming via the fast break. Teammate Kayla Galecka, who had 14 points, pitched in three in the final quarter, and was the main spark that provided with Munson with most of her points for the whole evening.

ÒQuickness gives up trouble,Ó Groce said. ÒWe have some good players on this team, but we are not blessed with a lot of team speed. So, the quick teams give us problems.

ÒBut weÕre going to keep working on it.Ó

For North Branch, Stephanie Hart also had double figures in scoring.Ê The 5-7 guard ended with 11 points and was 6-for-8 from the free throw line.Ê For the whole game, the Broncos shot just 13-of-29 from the charity stripe, so Groce knows that his team still has their work cut out for them when the talk of what they need to work on comes up.

ÒWe just donÕt shoot that well right now,Ó Groce said.Ê ÒOverall shooting is just something that continues to bother us.

ÒBut weÕve made some improvements elsewhere, and that gives me promise that weÕre going get better.Ó

Andrew Selich is sports editor at The County Press. He can be reached at (810) 664-0811 ext. 8124 or at andrew.selich@lapeergroup.com