Local Sports: Monroe girls rally in fourth quarter for 1-point win

WILLIS − Monroe erased a 3-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to and rallied for a 41-40 victory Friday night at Ypsilanti Lincoln.

It was the fifth win of the season for the Trojans and their second in the past three.

Monroe also defeated Lincoln by a single point, 58-57, earlier this season.

For 24 minutes, it seemed the Railsplitters were headed for revenge. Lincoln led 18-14 at halftime and 32-29 after three quarters.

"Great defensive adjustments by our team in the second half," Monroe coach John Mason said. "Senior Merin Merkle led the team with her hustle and intensity."

While Merkle paced the defense, Sophia Bussell and Alana Aulph powered the offense.

Bussell scored 8 of her team-best 11 points in the second half. Aulph finished with 10 points, including 6 in the second half.

Lincoln won the junior varsity game 39-28. Delani Willey had 12 points for Monroe and Taylor Ray added 8.

MONROE: Stahl 0 1-2 1, Neddo 1 0-0 2, Roberts 2(1) 1-2 6, Merkle 1 0-0 2, Leach 2 1-4 5, Aulph 4 2-4 10, Kelley 1 2-2 4, Russell 4(3) 3-7 11. Totals 15(4) 10-21 41.

YPSILANTI LINCOLN: Banks 3 1-3 7, Clark 7(2) 0-4 16, Mackson 4(1) 1-2 10, Wall 1 1-2 3, Gissendaner 2 0-3 4. Totals 17(3) 3-14 40.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bedford 40, Pioneer 27

TEMPERANCE − Peyton Behnke scored a career-best 21 points to lead Bedford to a win over Ann Arbor Pioneer on Friday.

Bedford led 18-14 at halftime but stretched its advantage throughout the second half. Behnke scored 13 of her points after the break.

Payton Pudlowski added 13 points for the Mules, who improved to 16-1 overall.

BEDFORD: Fulop 1 0-0 2, Pudlowski 4(1) 4-6 13, Behnke 6(3) 6-8 21, Gray 1 1-2 3, Mullins 0 1-4 1. Totals 12(4) 12-20 40.

ANN ARBOR PIONEER: Han 1 0-0 2, Gatson 5 0-1 10, Brower 3(2) 1-2 9, Harris 0 1-2 1, Davis 2 1-3 5. Totals 11(2) 3-8 27.

Blissfield 45, Ida 33

IDA − Ida made a push in the third quarter to get back in the game, but Blissfield held off the Blue Streaks Friday night.

Blissfield led 31-10 at halftime, but Ida closed within 8 points with 4 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Ida did a better job against their full-court pressure but struggled to execute in their half-court offense in the first half," Ida coach Tim Leonard said. "Ida responded after some adjustments at halftime and made a game of it."

Jessica Schrader led Ida with 15 points.

Blissfield won the JV game 50-25.

BLISSFIELD: Miller 5(1) 0-1 9, Wyman 3 1-1 7, Louden 0 1-1 1, Collins 1 4-5 6, Bettis 1 0-0 2, Tennant 2 0-0 4, White 6 0-0 12. Totals 18(1) 6-8 45.

IDA: Liechty 1(1) 0-0 3, Hennessey 2 0-0 4, C. Allen 1(1) 0-1 3, Schrader 6(1) 2-2 15, Albring 1 0-0 2, LaRoy 1 3-6 5. Totals 12(3) 5-9 33.

Brooklyn Columbia Central 54, Dundee 30

BROOKLYN − Dundee stayed within range throughout the first half before stumbling out of halftime into a hole too deep to escape.

Dundee was held to just 3 points in the third quarter.

"We came out the third and couldn't score then played a good fourth," Dundee coach Josh Salley said. "We need to shoot better from the free-throw line. We missed 19. And have to capitalize more after we get stops at the other end of the floor."

Ellie Salenbien led Dundee with 6 points.

BROOKLYN COLUMBIA CENTRAL: Slat 0 1-2 1, Lambka 3(2) 0-0 8, Lyke 0 1-6 1, Walker 4 2-5 10, Stewart 0 2-3 2, Keller 1 1-2 3, McCollum 1 3-6 5, Brown 3 0-0 6, Bamm 9 0-0 18. Totals 21(2) 10-24 54.

DUNDEE: Parry 1 2-2 4, Marek 0 1-6 1, Imo 2 0-0 4, Rath 1 1-6 3, Karner 1(1) 0-0 3, Stahl 2 1-2 5, M. Salenbien 2 0-3 4, E. Salenbien 2 2-4 6. Totals 11(1) 7-23 30.

PREP WRESTLING

Dundee dominates LCAA

DUNDEE – Braden Broderick (1130, Kade Kluce (120), Braeden Davis (126), Cameron Chinavare (132), Kaden Chinavare (138), Blake Cosby (144), Kole Katschor (150), Aiden Davis (157), Jacob Fenbert (175) all won championships as Dundee dominated the Lenawee County Athletic Association Meet Friday night.

The Vikings had 257.5 points to 182.5 for runner-up Clinton. Hudson was third with 180 followed by Blissfield with 81, Hillsdale with 37, Onsted with 30, Brooklyn Columbia Central with 27 and Ida with 24.

Haydin Nutt (106) and Landon King (190) were second Aiden Massingill (285) third and Quinton Lephew (215) fourth for the Vikings.

Fourths by Trevor Konieczny (132), Tyler Konieczny (150) and Chris Galloway (285) were Ida’s best finishes.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Monroe girls rally in fourth quarter for 1-point win