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The Reese Rockets led for all but 92 seconds of the game, but it was the Bad Axe Hatchets who came away with the win, 60-53 on Friday, February 03, 2023. Bad Axe used a 14-0 run in the final 2:51 of the game to erase a 7-point deficit and win by seven over their Greater Thumb West nemesis. Reese led by four at the end of the first quarter, six at halftime and eight after three quarters, but the Hatchets outscored the Rockets 26-11 in the 4th quarter, including a 14-0 run in the final 2:51 of the game. Bad Axe's sophomore, Grady Seltz scored 9 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter to lead the charge back. Bad Axe was led in scoring by Keaton Braun with 22 points. Grady Seltz scored 12, while Chase Walker and Jake MacPhee each chipped in 9. Michael Janssen rounded out the scoring with 8 points. Reese was paced by Beck Shores with 18 points, Konner Kratz at 12, Mitchell Stricker 9 points, Luke Foco added 8 and Brady Benson pumped in 6 points. There were roughly 30 turnovers between the two teams in a scrappy and fast-paced game. Bad Axe shot just 32%, but made up for it by attempting 67 shots over the course of 32 minutes of play (2pt: 13/37 - 35% | 3pt: 9/30 - 30%). Reese finished with a 42% shooting rate (2pt: 19/35 - 54% | 3pt: 3/18 - 17%). With the win, Bad Axe improves to 12-2 overall and 6-2 in divisional play, remaining in second place with Lakers, both just one game behind the Cass City Red Hawks. Reese falls to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in the GTW.

In a game that did not see a lead change until the fourth quarter, it certainly finished in a flurry with Cass City walking away with a 44-43 victory over Lakers. Red Hawk sophomore Trent Patrick hit a half-court shot as time expired to put Cass City up for good. Cass City began the game on a 15-2 run before Lakers started to claw its way back into the game. The Red Hawks led through the third quarter of the game; Lakers tied the game for the first time in the 4th quarter and exchanged blows for the remaining four minutes. Lakers' Ethan Wissner was fouled with just three seconds left and made both free throws to put the green and white ahead 43-41. Cass City inbounded the pass to Cohen Sherman who was able to get it over to Trent Patrick just across mid-court and he let the ball fly just before time expired. The half-court shot banked off the backboard and through the net for the Red Hawk victory. Carter Patrick led Cass City in scoring with 16 points (four 3-pointers, 2 field goals) and Michael Fernald added 12 points, mostly in the first half. Riley Swiderski finished with 8 points and Trent Patrick made two three-point shots, including the game-winner for 6 points. Lakers' leading scorer was once again their big man, Hunter Krohn who compiled 16 points and Ethan Wissner chipped in 13, including going 7-7 from the free throw line. Freshman Caden Carriveau added 9 points, all in the second half and Mikel Good scored 5 points. With Cass City's win, they remain tied for first place in the Greater Thumb West with the Bad Axe Hatchets, their only loss this season. CC Lk Q1 18 6 CC: 18-6 Q2 5 13 CC: 23-19 Q3 11 10 CC: 34-29 Q4 10 14 CC: 44-43

The Lakers snapped an 11-game losing streak to GTW rival Bad Axe on Wednesday, January 18, 2022 with a 61-53 road victory. The Green Machine was able to cut an eight-point first quarter deficit to just four points at halftime, before turning the tide in the 3rd quarter. Lakers shot 56% in the second half , compared to Bad Axe's 22%. Laker's Hunter Krohn led all scorers with 23 points (11 baskets and 1-1 free throws) and freshman Caden Carriveau chipped in a critical 12 points, mostly on offensive rebound putbacks. The Hatchets were led by sophomore Michael Janssen's 20 points and Keaton Braun who finished with 18 points. With the Laker victory, there is now a 4-way tie for first in the Greater Thumb West standings between Bad Axe, Cass City, Lakers and Reese, each with just one loss in divisional play.

The Ubly Bearcats erased a nine-point halftime deficit to take a 47-40 victory over Greater Thumb East rival, Harbor Beach. Ubly was paced by junior Evan Peruski with 22 points, including six three-pointers. Brayden Franzel was the next highest scorer at seven points. Canden Peruski scored 8 points, all in the 3rd quarter, to lead the charge back for the Bearcats. Harbor Beach's freshman Benson Harper impressed everyone in attendance with smooth shooting, compiling 19 points in the first three quarters of the game. Jack Bischer chipped in 11 points for the Pirates, as well. With the win, Ubly improves to 3-2 on the season and 3-0 in divisional play. Harbor Beach has lost four straight games and currently stands with a 2-6 record.

Cass City controlled the game's tempo through the first half, but the Bad Axe Hatchets used a 16-0 in just over 4 minutes to take the lead entering the 4th quarter and didn't look back. The Hatchets defeated the Red Hawks 50-41 for their 7th victory of the season and are now 1-0 in divisional play.

It was a 14-week-long collision course between the top two teams in Division 08 and it came down to the last two minutes for the game to be decided. Whiteford would take a 12-0 lead in the first quarter before the Ubly Bearcats rallied back to tie the game 20-20 in the 4th quarter. However, the Whiteford Bobcats hung on to win 26-20 over Ubly for their second state championship in school history. Whiteford's 4-year starting quarterback Shea Ruddy would finish with 17 carries for 68 yards and 2 scores; while through the air, he was 9-13 for 115 yards and 1 interception. Ruddy converted on a 4th down from midfield to continue their 4th quarter drive for Whiteford, which resulted in the go-ahead and game-winning score with 1:59 remaining in regulation. Ubly was led by Seth Maurer with 128 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 15 carries. Mark Heilig ran in the other score for the Bearcats on a day in which he ran for 82 yards on 18 totes. Ubly finishes the season with a 13-1 record and the State Runner-Up in the MHSAA Division 08 Playoffs.

In a setting that resembled a snow globe more than a football stadium, the Ubly Bearcats scored on the very first play of offense and never looked back, defeating Iron Mountain 41-14 in the state semi-finals and punching their ticket to the state championship game. Mark Heilig rumbled 65 yards into the snow-filled endzone on the very first play for his first of three scores and led the Bearcats with 202 yards on just 18 carries. Aiden Mackowiak had the other three touchdowns for Ubly with 11 carries for 144 yards. Heilig averaged 11 yards per carry while Mackowiak posted a 13-yard per carry average. With the win, Ubly advances to the State Championship for the third time in school history to face off with Whiteford High School of Ottawa Lake. Petoskey, Michigan received 23" of snow in the two days leading up to the state semi-final and had another 6-10 inches fall before the game began.

If last week was the Mark Heilig Show, this week featured Evan Peruski who led the team in rushing, en route to a 49-7 victory for Ubly's fourth straight regional championship. Peruski carried the ball just 10 times, but accounted for 267 yards and four touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Peruski also intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. With their 12th victory of the season, Ubly advances to the state semi-finals to take on Iron Mountain, which will be hosted by Petoskey High School on Saturday, November 19 at 1:00pm.

Mark Heilig led the Bearcats with 13 carries for 193 yards and 5 touchdowns in a dominating 49-14 victory over Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Ubly would not even attempt a pass in a game that saw a running clock for nearly the entire second half of the game. With the win, Ubly now advances to the Regional Championship where they will host Fowler on Saturday, November 12 at 1:00pm. The Eagles defeated Beal City 28-27 -- with the Fowler victory, Ubly retains home-field advantage for another game.

In the first week of the postseason, the EPBP Lakers defeated Bad Axe for the second time this season with a hard-fought 21-14 victory. Lakers' Ethan Wissner led the way with 29 carries for 143 yards and all three scores for the Green Machine. Wissner had to assume quarterback duties after starting play-caller Connor McCain went down with a lower leg injury. Bad Axe led through the first three quarters 14-6, but Lakers scored two unanswered touchdowns in the 4th for the playoff victory. Lakers now advance to the District Championship at Montrose.

Harbor Beach's freshman quarterback, Caden Bucholtz commanded the Pirates to a victory over Vassar, 51-12 to end the regular season. Bucholtz led the team in rushing with 159 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 8 carries, averaging nearly 20 yards per carry. Through the air, Bucholtz completed 80% of his passes (4-5-0) for 85 yards and another score, brought in by fellow freshman classmate, Benson Harper (3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 touchdown).

Harbor Beach scored early and never looked back, defeating the Bad Axe Hatchets 28-7. The Pirates saw their senior quarterback Tanton Babcock go down with a non-contact injury, making way for freshman Caden Bucholtz, who would lead the team for another two scores. Bucholtz ended the game with 10 carries, 30 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. He also threw the ball twice with one completion for 60 yards. On defense, he finished with 7 tackles including one for a loss and two interceptions.

Laker clinched the outright Greater Thumb West championship with a tough-nosed performance over the Bad Axe, winning 32-14. Ethan Wissner led the Lakers with 28 carries for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wissner also threw for a touchdown on 1-3-1 passing. With the win, Lakers improves to 7-0 on the season.

The Kingston Cardinals snapped an 18-game, 35-year losing streak to the Deckerville Eagles with a 54-20 victory on the road. Kingston's Junior quarterback Owen Corlis ran for 248 yards and 3 scores on just 21 carries, in addition to 145 yards through the air and two more touchdowns. With the win, Kingston improves to 6-0 on the season.

It was never more than a one-possession game as Cass City wins on the road 20-14 against Sandusky. No scoring in the 1st quarter led to two scores in the 2nd to make it an 8-8 game at halftime. Cass City would connect on a 4th and long with a Carter Patrick to Mason Gniewek 31-yard pass for the go-ahead score.

It was all Ubly early and often en route to a 42-0 victory over Harbor Beach. Evan Peruski led the Bearcats with 136 yards and 2 touchdowns, all on just 12 carries. Mark Heilig brought in two interceptions, including one for a 95-yard touchdown return. With the victory, Ubly improves to 4-0 and is in the driver's seat for their second-straight GTE title.

The Harbor Beach Pirates entered Week #3 with a lot of questions regarding their strength of schedule, but showed their strength as a team claiming their third victory in three tries, 30-16. The Pirates struck first against the Cass City Red Hawks and held serve for the remainder of the game. Jacob Booms led Harbor Beach with 13 carries for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cass City's freshman, Ryker Wallace led the team with 23 totes for 135 yards and a score. With the win, Harbor Beach improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in GTE play, setting up an undefeated showdown with the 3-0 Ubly Bearcats the following week. Cass City falls to 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in divisional play.

Cass City struck first, but the Lakers wore the Red Hawks down and won 39-12. It was a 4-point lead for the green and white at halftime, but the Lakers scored 23 points while blanking Cass City in the final 24 minutes. Lakers' Ethan Wissner did all of the scoring on 26 carries, accumulating 199 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Cass City struck first, but the Lakers wore the Red Hawks down and won 39-12. It was a 4-point lead for the green and white at halftime, but the Lakers scored 23 points while blanking Cass City in the final 24 minutes. Lakers' Ethan Wissner did all of the scoring on 26 carries, accumulating 199 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The Ubly Bearcats wasted no time getting back into mid-season form as they defeated the Bad Axe Hatchets 41-7. Before the first quarter was complete, it was already 21-0 Ubly and 28-0 at halftime. Bad Axe would not get on the board until 3:06 remaining in the 4th quarter to make the final score of Ubly 41, Bad Axe 7.