Team Rankings
Here's my final rankings for the Tuscola County area football teams:
1. North Branch (9-2, 6-1 TVE): The Broncos were the best team in the area, have perhaps two of the most dominating players this area has ever seen, and were the only playoff qualifier to make it past the opening weekend. A season of first's for the Broncos ended Friday night: first time ever in the playoffs, first TVE title, first home playoff game, first playoff win. It would be difficult to feel disappointed after last Friday's 33-18 against Powers. It was a good year for the Broncos, though, and you can expect plenty of post season honors to follow. Here's hoping though that this season was a product of Coach Hyde building a solid program and not just the product of a few great players.
2. Reese (8-2, 6-0 GTW): The Rockets won the GTW title outright, and also captured the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 2001, but the Rockets fell in the first round of the playoffs to Harbor Beach. Why? I think Coach Bob's boys were caught looking ahead to a rematch with Nouvel, and they were just blindsided by the Pirates, 36-18. The Rockets might be a little disappointed by how it all ended, especially after the school has spent the last three years ending their seasons in the 'final four', so the boys from Reese might feel a little down.
3. Millington (6-4, 5-2 TVE): The only team to beat North Branch in the regular season, the Cardinals should be a little disappointed with how they finished the final stretch of the year. Furno's boys burst out the gates and ran to a 4-0 record before stumbling to a 2-3 finish. What happened? I've always felt that good coaching will make up for a lack of talent in the early parts of the season, but before long, your lack of depth will become exposed and in the end, you will pay. Furno is a great coach, but the Cardinals were thin this year. Still, most area teams would love to have a down year and make the playoffs. Here's betting Furno is not content.
4. Cass City (6-4, 3-3 GTW): The Red Hawks were only 3-3 after their first six games with all three losses coming in games that the Hawks could have won: 41-38 to USA after being down 34-8 at halftime; 45-32 to Reese, after blowing a 24-8 first half lead; and 26-22 to BCAS. To their credit, the Hawks rebounded and won their last three to make the playoffs. Unfortunately their reward was a long bus ride for an opening round game at undefeated Lake Fenton. Coach Cuthrell's Hawks are building something here, and after three straight post season appearances, it's time to turn the corner. Next season, they need to challenge for the GTW title and try for a home playoff game.
5. Kingston (8-2, 6-1 NCTL): The Cardinals had the best opportunity other than Reese and North Branch to make it past the opening round of the playoffs. They had a home game in the first round, were playing a team they had already beat; none of that mattered as injuries and a hot North Huron team ended Kingston's season, 42-20. This season felt like deja vu: Kingston goes 8-1, wins the NCTL, before losing early in the playoffs. Coach Rae has to find a way for his team to win a few playoff games.
6. Frankenmuth (5-4, 4-3 TVE): Coach Blankenship was brought back to fix whatever problems the Eagles' administration thought the program had (although how the previous coach could be dismissed after winning a district title remains a little difficult to understand.) Blankenship will get the Eagles back to the top, unless his wandering eye catches something else sooner.
7. USA (5-4, 5-1 GTW): This was bound to happen, and I get the distinct impression that no one is crying for the Patriots. Prolonged success has a way of making others dislike you, but once USA's players get some experience, they will be back in the playoffs.
8. Vassar (4-5, 2-5 TVE): A season of disappointment was brightened a little when Andrew Adkins broke the school's all time rushing record this season, finishing with 2,282 career yards. I know the Vulcans had high hopes this year; it just wasn't meant to be.
9. Owen-Gage (4-5, 3-4 NCTL): O-G had some good players in Grant Champagne, Josh McLaren, and Kenny Brown, but the Bulldogs were overmatched in their losses. I hope Coach Josh Pierce has this program headed in the direction of making the Bulldogs an annual threat.
10. Marlette (3-6, 3-3 GTE): Three wins for the Raiders was not what Coach Lester had planned on, especially after making the playoffs in 2005. A young team led by junior QB Austin Comment will back in 2007, looking to return to the playoffs.
Basketball:
1: Frankenmuth (11-7, 10-3 TVE): Eagles have won eight straight league games and are poised to win the TVE title, as Nicole Bade (13.5 ppg) continues to develop as one of the best in the area.
2. Kingston (15-4, 15-2 NCTL): Cards only two league losses were to first place Memphis, but now coach Lester has to figure out how to win without Allyson Crousore (13.2 ppg).
3. Marlette (12-6, 8-2 GTE): A solid team, with a lot of height. Two of the best players in the area, 5-11 Kelsey Hall (14.9 ppg) and 6-0 Jenna Lange (13.6 ppg), lead a tall team that should win some games in the playoffs.
4. Cass City (12-7, 7-3 GTW): Hawks have perhaps the area's most complete player in Emily Schinnerer (15.7 ppg), but the Hawks lack cohesion, and the GTW is a tough league.
5. USA (12-6, 5-3 GTW): Katie Rayl (14.9 ppg) is a good player, but the Patriots lack a second option.
6. Millington (9-10, 6-7 TVE): The Cardinals are a good young team, and TVE opponents will not like the fact that Kayla Doshier (13.3 ppg) is only a sophomore.
7. Caro (10-8, 6-7 TVE): The Tigers are a young squad without a number one type player, instead relying on a few to try to lead.
8. Vassar (10-9, 7-6 TVE): The Vulcans have endured more stress than any other team: three coaches this year, including having to play every home game at the Junior high. Still, the Vulcans have not quit.
9. North Branch (9-10, 6-8 TVE): Broncos have a solid player in Rachel Hebberd(13.5 ppg), who leads the area with 13.5 rebounds a game.
10. Reese (5-13, 2-6 GTW): A young team that needs a year or two to develop. Kelsey Richards (10.8 ppg) looks like a good young player.
1. North Branch (9-2, 6-1 TVE): The Broncos were the best team in the area, have perhaps two of the most dominating players this area has ever seen, and were the only playoff qualifier to make it past the opening weekend. A season of first's for the Broncos ended Friday night: first time ever in the playoffs, first TVE title, first home playoff game, first playoff win. It would be difficult to feel disappointed after last Friday's 33-18 against Powers. It was a good year for the Broncos, though, and you can expect plenty of post season honors to follow. Here's hoping though that this season was a product of Coach Hyde building a solid program and not just the product of a few great players.
2. Reese (8-2, 6-0 GTW): The Rockets won the GTW title outright, and also captured the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 2001, but the Rockets fell in the first round of the playoffs to Harbor Beach. Why? I think Coach Bob's boys were caught looking ahead to a rematch with Nouvel, and they were just blindsided by the Pirates, 36-18. The Rockets might be a little disappointed by how it all ended, especially after the school has spent the last three years ending their seasons in the 'final four', so the boys from Reese might feel a little down.
3. Millington (6-4, 5-2 TVE): The only team to beat North Branch in the regular season, the Cardinals should be a little disappointed with how they finished the final stretch of the year. Furno's boys burst out the gates and ran to a 4-0 record before stumbling to a 2-3 finish. What happened? I've always felt that good coaching will make up for a lack of talent in the early parts of the season, but before long, your lack of depth will become exposed and in the end, you will pay. Furno is a great coach, but the Cardinals were thin this year. Still, most area teams would love to have a down year and make the playoffs. Here's betting Furno is not content.
4. Cass City (6-4, 3-3 GTW): The Red Hawks were only 3-3 after their first six games with all three losses coming in games that the Hawks could have won: 41-38 to USA after being down 34-8 at halftime; 45-32 to Reese, after blowing a 24-8 first half lead; and 26-22 to BCAS. To their credit, the Hawks rebounded and won their last three to make the playoffs. Unfortunately their reward was a long bus ride for an opening round game at undefeated Lake Fenton. Coach Cuthrell's Hawks are building something here, and after three straight post season appearances, it's time to turn the corner. Next season, they need to challenge for the GTW title and try for a home playoff game.
5. Kingston (8-2, 6-1 NCTL): The Cardinals had the best opportunity other than Reese and North Branch to make it past the opening round of the playoffs. They had a home game in the first round, were playing a team they had already beat; none of that mattered as injuries and a hot North Huron team ended Kingston's season, 42-20. This season felt like deja vu: Kingston goes 8-1, wins the NCTL, before losing early in the playoffs. Coach Rae has to find a way for his team to win a few playoff games.
6. Frankenmuth (5-4, 4-3 TVE): Coach Blankenship was brought back to fix whatever problems the Eagles' administration thought the program had (although how the previous coach could be dismissed after winning a district title remains a little difficult to understand.) Blankenship will get the Eagles back to the top, unless his wandering eye catches something else sooner.
7. USA (5-4, 5-1 GTW): This was bound to happen, and I get the distinct impression that no one is crying for the Patriots. Prolonged success has a way of making others dislike you, but once USA's players get some experience, they will be back in the playoffs.
8. Vassar (4-5, 2-5 TVE): A season of disappointment was brightened a little when Andrew Adkins broke the school's all time rushing record this season, finishing with 2,282 career yards. I know the Vulcans had high hopes this year; it just wasn't meant to be.
9. Owen-Gage (4-5, 3-4 NCTL): O-G had some good players in Grant Champagne, Josh McLaren, and Kenny Brown, but the Bulldogs were overmatched in their losses. I hope Coach Josh Pierce has this program headed in the direction of making the Bulldogs an annual threat.
10. Marlette (3-6, 3-3 GTE): Three wins for the Raiders was not what Coach Lester had planned on, especially after making the playoffs in 2005. A young team led by junior QB Austin Comment will back in 2007, looking to return to the playoffs.
Basketball:
1: Frankenmuth (11-7, 10-3 TVE): Eagles have won eight straight league games and are poised to win the TVE title, as Nicole Bade (13.5 ppg) continues to develop as one of the best in the area.
2. Kingston (15-4, 15-2 NCTL): Cards only two league losses were to first place Memphis, but now coach Lester has to figure out how to win without Allyson Crousore (13.2 ppg).
3. Marlette (12-6, 8-2 GTE): A solid team, with a lot of height. Two of the best players in the area, 5-11 Kelsey Hall (14.9 ppg) and 6-0 Jenna Lange (13.6 ppg), lead a tall team that should win some games in the playoffs.
4. Cass City (12-7, 7-3 GTW): Hawks have perhaps the area's most complete player in Emily Schinnerer (15.7 ppg), but the Hawks lack cohesion, and the GTW is a tough league.
5. USA (12-6, 5-3 GTW): Katie Rayl (14.9 ppg) is a good player, but the Patriots lack a second option.
6. Millington (9-10, 6-7 TVE): The Cardinals are a good young team, and TVE opponents will not like the fact that Kayla Doshier (13.3 ppg) is only a sophomore.
7. Caro (10-8, 6-7 TVE): The Tigers are a young squad without a number one type player, instead relying on a few to try to lead.
8. Vassar (10-9, 7-6 TVE): The Vulcans have endured more stress than any other team: three coaches this year, including having to play every home game at the Junior high. Still, the Vulcans have not quit.
9. North Branch (9-10, 6-8 TVE): Broncos have a solid player in Rachel Hebberd(13.5 ppg), who leads the area with 13.5 rebounds a game.
10. Reese (5-13, 2-6 GTW): A young team that needs a year or two to develop. Kelsey Richards (10.8 ppg) looks like a good young player.
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