Girls basketball roundup: DeWitt bounces back with victory over Grand Ledge

Brian Calloway and Matthew Pike, Lansing State Journal
·4 min read

DeWITT — Sophomores Madi Uyl and Tara Kurncz have been major factors in the success of the Division 1 No. 8-ranked DeWitt girls basketball team this season.

And the duo delivered once again in a key CAAC Blue contest Friday to help the Panthers bounce back from Tuesday's tight loss to Holt.

Kurncz had 24 points and Uyl had 18 points and five assists in DeWitt's 64-51 victory over Grand Ledge on its home court.

"We were really motivated from the Holt game and we knew we needed to win this game to put ourselves back into the league contention," Uyl said. "We were just motivated and we were ready to go get this (win)."

The duo accounted for all of DeWitt's scoring in the final quarter as it fended off the Comets, who were within five with 3:25 to play after Alayna Armstrong split a pair of free throws.

Uyl went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in the final quarter, which included going 9 of 10 in the final 2:17. Kurncz accounted for the rest of the scoring for the Panthers, making 3 of 4 free throws in the final 50.7 seconds.

DeWitt's Madison Uyl, center, and Tara Kurncz, right, pressure Grand Ledge's Gianna Naccarato during the fourth quarter on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at DeWitt High School.
DeWitt's Madison Uyl, center, and Tara Kurncz, right, pressure Grand Ledge's Gianna Naccarato during the fourth quarter on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at DeWitt High School.

"You never want to talk too much about the free throws with your team — it's such a mental thing," DeWitt coach Bill McCullen said. "We lost a close game the other night and we missed a bunch of free throws in that game.

"Tonight it turned into our offense in the fourth quarter. (I am) just thankful that we got the right people to the line who were pretty good shooters."

Gabbie Brya added eight points, seven rebounds and five assists for DeWitt.

Grand Valley signee Ava Scanlon had 14 points and Armstrong finished with 12 points for Grand Ledge, which had its four-game winning streak halted and dropped to 6-8 and 3-3 in the CAAC Blue.

More:Determined to finish basketball career with a bang, Bryce Kurncz leading way for surging DeWitt

HASLETT 69, FOWLERVILLE 23

HASLETT — Emily Homan tallied 14 points, six rebounds and four steals to lead the Division 2 No. 4-ranked Vikings to a CAAC Red home win over Fowlerville. Isabel Lindo picked up 12 points and four steals, Grace Isenhath scored 11 points and Durgen McIntosh added nine points for Haslett (17-0, 7-0). Tommi Kleinschmidt had a team-high six points for the Gladiators (3-14, 2-5). JV score: Haslett d. Fowlerville

IONIA 40, EATON RAPIDS 31

IONIA -- Rajalyaj Esquivel finished with a team-high nine points to lead the Bulldogs in a CAAC White win over Eaton Rapids. Tessa Lemke tallied seven points and hauled in 14 rebounds and Lexi Daugherty and Melayna Braman each added six points for Ionia (8-8, 3-3). Abby Thompson picked up 14 points, Sofia Kingsley tallied nine points, four steals and four rebounds and Zoe Newberry pulled down eight rebounds for the Greyhounds (4-13, 1-5). JV score: Ionia d. Eaton Rapids

WILLIAMSTON 62, EASTERN 19

Reese Gayton led all scorers with 14 points to propel the Hornets to a CAAC Red road victory over Eastern. Claire Casey notched 12 points, Leisya Newell scored 11 points and Meah Palmatier chipped in seven points for Williamston (10-7, 6-1). Sam Cronkwright picked up a team-high 11 points for the Quakers (5-13, 0-7).

PORTLAND 71, CHARLOTTE 16

PORTLAND — Erica Russman had a team-high 14 points for the Raiders (10-6, 5-1) in their CAAC White victory over Charlotte. Malia Thelen and Lilly Thelen each had 11 points and Bella Spitzley scored 10 points for Portland in its third straight win.

OVID-ELSIE 54, BYRON 22

ELSIE — Evalyn Cole notched a team-high 11 points and snagged six steals as the Marauders stayed unbeaten in the MMAC with a win over Byron (3-12, 0-11). Ava Bates tallied 10 points, Kiah Longoria scored eight points and Braeden Tokar tacked on seven points for Ovid-Elsie (14-2, 11-0).

Boys basketball roundup:Waverly, Okemos earn CAAC Blue wins, Laingsburg, Olivet stay perfect

MORRICE 54, WEBBERVILLE 36

WEBBERVILLE — Aubrey Rogers had 21 points and eight assists and Makenzie Doerner had 17 points while helping the Orioles (12-3) record their third win of the week. Ryleigh Nelson notched a double-double with a team-high 20 points and 17 rebounds for the Spartans (6-11).

ITHACA 48, ST. LOUIS 29

ITHACA — Delaney Seaman finished with 21 points to lead the Yellowjackets to a TVC 10-2 victory. Lauryn Humphrey added eight points and Libby Maurer scored seven for Ithaca (14-3, 5-1).

CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL 44, FULTON 26

GOODRICH 59, OWOSSO 29

ALMA 65, ESSEXVILLE GARBER 59

BRECKENRIDGE 67, ASHLEY 10

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Girls basketball roundup: DeWitt tops Grand Ledge