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They'd like to take some momentum into the district tournament which opens Feb. 18 in Kingsley.

Drawing a bye in the first round, Kalkaska will play the host team on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

As it turns out, Kalkaska finishes the regular season the Thursday before districts and will have eight days off before they play the Stags.

Coach David Dalton isn't worried about the Blazers' spirits despite another pair of losses to Charlevoix and Boyne City.

East Jordan had already guaranteed the Blazers would not figure in the Lake Michigan Conference title chase the week before.

But, the Blazers still had a shot at second place if they could turn the tables and reverse their previous losses to the Ramblers and Rayders.

Kalkaska led by one point at the end of the first half, but the Ramblers managed to pull away in the second half for a 48-40 decision last Tuesday.

After an 8-8 tie at the end of the first quarer, Kalkaska outscored the Ramblers, 8-7 in the second for a 16-15 halftime lead.

The Ramblers took a 28-25 edge after three periods and then held the Blazers off in the fourth.

Boyne City made 13-of-14 free throws in the final quarter to seal the win.

"We got a little behind, and we had to foul," Dalton said. "But, they (the Ramblers) would not miss.

"They took Katie Krause and Marissa Taylor out of the game. They really made it hard for us to even get them the ball."

Krause and Taylor scored just 5 points apiece as the Ramblers defense double teamed them while the rest of the team played a zone.

Freshman point guard Chelsea Matley led the Blazers in scoring with 17 points. Kara Ponstein finished with 11.

Ponstein also dished out 3 assists and picked off 4 steals.

Kalkaska then lost to Charlevoix, 57-46 last Thursday.

"I was confident we would do a better job against their press," Dalton said. "But, they are great at it.

"They have lots of size, lots of athetes and they play very hard. Charlevoix runs this press from middle school on up.

"We could not break their press both times we played them, so that was the bottom line."

Krause enjoyed more success, however, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Matley had another great game with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 8 steals.

Ponstein added 7 points and 4 assists, while Taylor contributed 6 points.

Charlevoix led at every quarter break. It was 12-6 after the first, 26-13 at halftime and 42-24 at the end of the third.

"We have a good chance to finish our season strong," Dalton said. "We have some winnable games. We'd like to finish with the best record we can."

Kalkaska is 12-5 overall and was scheduled to play at Traverse City St. Francis on Tuesday before going to Grayling on Thursday in two more league games.