ST. IGNACE – Undefeated Pickford hasn’t been tested much this season.
But the Panthers got all they could handle on the road against the host St. Ignace Saints in an MHSAA Division 4 boys basketball district title matchup on Friday, Feb. 27.
But once more, the Panthers maintained their unblemished clip and captured a second consecutive district crown with a 71-60 victory over the Saints.
“This was a battle for 32 minutes,” Pickford coach Tracy Peterson said. “We didn’t have our A game, but St. Ignace had a lot to do with that. We made a lot of mistakes, didn’t shoot well, and had foul trouble, yet still found a way to advance.”
Carter Yiirs finished with 19 points to lift the Panthers (23-0), who received 18 points from Gunnar Bennin. Jacob Mitchell and Mason Andrzejak both scored nine, while Mac Collins tallied seven. Kaden Wiltfong added five and Carter Rye chipped in with four.
Chase Seeley finished with 19 points for the Saints (11-13), who stayed close with the high-powered Panthers, only trailing 33-28 at halftime and 46-42 after three quarters. Caden Lester hit double figures with 14 points. Evan Arnold recorded 12 points.
Pickford advances to face Rudyard (14-10) in a 7 p.m. regional semifinal at Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday, March 3. The winner will clash with the Hillman-Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy winner in a 7 p.m. regional championship contest at Cheboygan on Wednesday, March 6.
Last year, the Panthers captured a first regional championship since 1992 with a victory over Harbor Light.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Pickford boys basketball gets tested in title win over St. Ignace
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
