Advertisement

She finished the game with 13 points, becoming only the fourth girls basketball player - and fifth Blazer hoopster overall - to reach 1,000 points for her career.

But it wouldn't have been nearly as satisfying if the Blazers hadn't been able to dispatch Lake Michigan Conference rival East Jordan, 55-43, to earn their fifth straight win of the season.

Even then, Krause wasn't the Blazers' leading scorer for the game. That honor went to Kara Ponstein, who scorched the Red Devils for 17.

Ponstein also hauled down 7 rebounds and picked off 3 steals on defense as the Blazers improved their conference mark to 2-0 with two big games scheduled this week.

Krause helped out on the boards as well, gathering in 6 rebounds.

Megan Dunn contributed 11 points, and Marissa Taylor added 7 points and 4 assists.

The Blazers dominated the game, and had built a 22-point lead (44-22) heading into the fourth quarter.

Which made it more difficult to get Krause her historical 1,000th point.

"East Jordan gave us some concern going in because it is so much taller than us," coach David Dalton said. "But, we had such a big lead that we didn't keep the starters in for too long in the second half.

"But, we got Katie that last basket and took her out of the game so she could get a nice ovation from the crowd. It was a neat moment."

Dunn and Ponstein drew the East Jordan defense out to the perimeters by hitting three 3-pointers apiece, and that opened up the inside for the Blazers.

Kalkaska didn't let the Red Devils' height advantage intimidate them inside.

The Blazers held their own underneath against the much taller Red Devils.

Another big factor in the game was the defense of Dunn on East Jordan's leading scorer, Megan Thomas.

Thomas came into the game averaging around 20 points a game, but with Dunn being the primary defensive shadow on her, she managed just 6 on Friday.

"All of the girls helped stop her," Dalton said of Thomas. "Our defense has been really tough. That's been a key for us all year.

"My assistant coach Royce Thomas has a way of motivating our players on defense. He really pumped Megan up, and she had Thomas so frustrated she couldn't see straight."

Cassie Crick tried to pick up the scoring slack for East Jordan with 11 points. But the Red Devils couldn't slow down the Blazers' offense appreciably.

The Blazers got a big win last Monday when they knocked off Class A Traverse City Central, 59-51, on the road. Central fell to 1-3 at the time.

Krause led the Blazers with 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and had 3 blocks. Taylor contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds; Dunn had 11 points, Ponstein added 7 points and 9 assists and Chelsea Matley scored 5 points and had 4 steals.

Kalkaska pulled away from a 30-30 halftime tie to take a 45-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

"It's a big accomplishment to beat a Class A school on their own court," Dalton said. "Khrysten Chandler had another huge game rebounding for us.

"Traverse City was also bigger and stronger than us, but we prevailed." Kalkaska continues LMC action with a game at Boyne City tonight and then a trip to Charlevoix on Thursday before taking their Christmas break.

It's a big stretch for the Blazers, and could go a long way toward determining the league title.