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The Leader & Kalkaskian



Sports

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Blazers fall to Ramblers, 55-42



KALKASKA ÑThe Kalkaska Blazers countdown to an undefeated record in 2007 was extinguished on the launch pad Friday night as the Boyne City Ramblers altered their mission with a 55-42 scrubbing at Kalkaska. The loss dropped the varsity record to 0-3 in conference and 1-6 overall.

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The evening began with a rendition of the national anthem by Lindsey Luginicz. The Blazers followed by playing on key early. Led by Marc Wallace who struck the perfect chord from about fifteen feet and a follow up basket by Ryan Leitow, Kalkaska moved out to a quick 4-0 lead. Boyne City seemed harried by the defense and struggled for an offensive flow. Keller was harmonizing on both ends of the court with a nice assist on a bucket by Alex Swoverland, an eight foot jumper of his own, and a crowd pleasing blocked shot that served to protect the lead at 10-7. Alex Krause and Stan Demo provided fresh legs coupled with floor burn intensity to help secure a 15-11 lead at the end of the quarter. The second period became a struggle on the offensive end. Conversely the defensive play began to falter as an ominous pattern began to develop. Boyne cashed in on a plethora of offensive rebounds and second chance shots. The offensive woes started with an inability to penetrate, worsened with shaky outside shooting, and culminated when Chris Keller picked up his third personal foul. Momentum had been lost and Kalkaska went in at intermission down 22-19.

Coach Manchester left Chris Keller and his three fouls to start the third quarter. With Boyne City pushing out to a 28-20 lead and no offensive rhythm Keller reentered. The big man did not disappoint tallying eight points in the remains of the period. The impetus for his scoring outburst lies with the great passes he received from his teammates inside.

SwoverlandÕs basket to end the period brought Kalkaska back to 36-32. The fourth quarter opened with a bucket for Boyne City and a foul on Keller. Manchester was again forced to sit "CrossroadsÓ Keller. Though the lead was only in the seven point range one could feel without Keller the Blazers were lost.. The lack of outside shooting prowess allowed the Rambler defense to suffocate KalkaskaÕs aspirations. The final score saw Boyne City on top 55-42.





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