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KALKASKA - An 8-day layoff between their final regular season game and their first district tournament game wasn't what the Kalkaska's Blazers had wanted.

But, they drew a bye in the girls basketball district tournament and now must wait until next Wednesday before taking the court again ... other than to practice, of course.

Coach David Dalton was counting on the Blazers winning their regular season finale Tuesday night at home against Harbor Springs to take a 3-game winning streak into the postseason.

Unfortunately, their next assignment after that will be to cut down the Kingsley Stags on their home floor and advance to the district championship game.

The Blazers climbed off the canvas after seeing its shot at sharing the Lake Michigan Conference title ended in a loss to East Jordan two weeks ago and defeated Traverse City St. Francis, 52-32, and Grayling, 60-36.

Winning at St. Francis was huge for the Blazers, if for no other reason other than they were able to hold off the strange spell that gym holds for visiting teams.

Katie Krause had another big game for the Blazers with 18 points and 7 blocked shots, which Dalton thinks could be the most blocks any player has had in a single game.

She also pulled down 5 rebounds.

Chelsea Matley, the Blazers' sparkplug freshman guard, scored all of her 12 points in the second half. She also had 5 steals and 6 rebounds. Kara Ponstein added 5 points and dished out 5 assists.

Hannah Lantzer, Amanda Cronin and Khrysten Chandler scored 4 points apiece. Chandler also hauled down 5 rebounds.

Kalkaska applied the defensive pressure on St. Francis from the start, and outscored the Gladiators 11-5 in the first quarter. The Blazers enjoyed a 17-6 advantage in the second for a 28-11 halftime lead. It was 42-20 after three periods.

Grayling hung around for the first eight minutes, trailing the Blazers by only five, 16-11.

But the Blazers took control of the game in the second, when they had a 21-8 advantage and cruised into the half with a 37-19 cushion.

Krause led the Blazers with 17 points, hauled down 9 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, picked off 5 steals and had 6 blocked shots.

Matley contributed 15 points, 4 steals and 13 deflections. Marissa Taylor added 10 points and 8 assists. Ponstein had 8 points, 3 assists and 4 steals. Chandler finished with 7 rebounds to go along with 4 points.

Although her scoring is appreciated, it's Matley's defense that is proving key for the Blazers.

"She just causes so many problems for these other teams,"Dalton said. "She puts so much pressure on them. Somebody on the other team tries to make a pass, and she tips it.

"Many times, someone else on our team ends up stealing it. She's such a force on the defensive end."Kalkaska improved to 14-5 overall.