Mackinaw City girls finish regular season with home win over Engadine

MACKINAW CITY – It’s been one remarkable journey for the Mackinaw City girls basketball team this season.

But in their regular season finale, the Lady Comets faced a real test against the physical, scrappy and fearless Engadine Eagles on Wednesday night.

While the Eagles battled with the Comets for just over three quarters, the Comets did what they’ve done to so many opponents during this five-year era of success.

They flipped the switch when they needed to.

Fueled by a dominant second-half performance, the Comets captured a 66-36 victory over the Eagles in a feisty non-conference clash.

“It was a great game for us, especially since we’re getting ready for districts,” said Mackinaw City coach Jake Huffman. “I told the girls after the game that, ‘Pretty much after tonight, every game is going to be like this, where we’re going to have to battle for four quarters and really fight through some stuff,’ and they’re (Engadine) a really physical team with a lot of talent. That’s a team that beat St. Ignace two weeks ago, and they’ve got some nice talent, they’re physical, they work hard, and you’ve got to fight through and get those kinds of wins and find a way to grind it out.

“(Engadine) has a nice team that’s easily one of the contenders to win this regional.”

Huffman becomes most recent Comet to hit 1,000 points

The night was another special one for the Comets (21-1), who saw a second girls player reach 1,000 career points this season. Earning the honor was senior guard Larissa Huffman, who hit approximately 1,000 after making a free throw just over two-and-a-half minutes into the first quarter.

With the milestone, Huffman joins senior teammate Marlie Postula, who surpassed 1,000 points earlier this campaign, as well as fellow senior Madison Smith, who reached the feat as a junior last season. Larissa was the second Huffman to reach 1,000 within a span of five days, as her senior twin brother Lars Huffman hit the milestone during a home contest against Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy last Friday night.

“I actually never thought it was going to occur at the beginning of the season,” said Larissa, who finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals and one assist. “I knew it was possible but I didn’t think it would happen unless we made it far in districts or regionals, but it happened at the end of the season, which is cool. It’s crazy to think there’s three of us on the team right now all at 1,000, that’s crazy to me, and my brother (Lars) as well. It’s pretty cool.

“It’s definitely an honor. I think our group is one of the best groups to come through Mackinaw, including the boys. It’s an honor for all of us to have our names up on that banner now, and especially with Madison (Smith) being the top (scorer) and all of us together. We’re hoping for a good district run.”

Coach Huffman lauded the accomplishment of his daughter, who became the most recent Comet to reach 1,000.

“Larissa’s worked really hard to get here,” Coach Huffman said. “I think a lot of it also speaks to the type of players and type of kids I have on this basketball team. You don’t get three 1,000-point scorers if you’re not great teammates, and the way we share the ball and look for open shooters and that kind of thing, you never know who it’s going to be on one given night, and it’s just really a phenomenal job not only for her, but her team. Marlie’s (Postula) success and Madison’s (Smith) success and Larissa’s success goes right back to Gracie (Beauchamp), Jersey (Beauchamp), Raeann (Hingston), Calysta Bell, Gabi Bell, all these girls that have played with them over the last five years. They’ve all come to understand good team basketball and how to execute offensively and being unselfish and all that.

“It sometimes blows my mind how well we share the basketball when we’re assisting on 70 percent of our scoring."

Big runs fuel Comets in second half

Thanks to solid defense and timely shooting, the Eagles only trailed the Comets 24-18 at the break.

However, the switch was flipped in the third quarter by the Comets, who went on a 14-2 run and built a 38-20 lead. During the stretch, Smith connected on two made 3-pointers and Postula also drilled a three.

The Eagles (13-8) cut the Mackinaw City deficit to 10 early in the fourth when senior Leah French made a tough layup in traffic and then hit a three on the ensuing possession, which forced a timeout by Huffman.

After the timeout, though, the Comets were virtually flawless as they exploded with a 22-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Postula led the Comets with 20 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal, while Smith recorded 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and one block, senior Julia Sullivan had a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and one block, and junior Gracie Beauchamp finished with three points, eight assists, one rebound and one block, and senior Carla Blake tallied one block.

French led Engadine with a game-high 24 points, while Elisa Carfora finished with eight.

Before the game, Mackinaw City’s five-player senior class of Larissa Huffman, Smith, Postula, Sullivan and Blake was honored as part of Senior Night.

Ready for the postseason

Now, the fun truly begins for the Comets, who are looking to capture a district title when the postseason tips off next week.

Mackinaw City opens MHSAA Division 4 district play when it takes on Monday’s Mackinac Island-Pellston first-round winner in a semifinal clash on Wednesday, March 1. If the Comets prevail, they advance to the final at a location to be determined.

As the state tournament arrives, Huffman hopes his Comets will be at their best each and every game they play.

“They’re really excited, we’re all really excited,” Huffman said. “We’ve talked about Wednesday, a new season starts, everyone’s 0-0, and it’s one and done. We talk about some of these games we’ve had down the stretch with Ovid-Elsie and Onaway and Inland Lakes earlier this year, and this game tonight with Engadine, and Pickford and Cedarville. We’ve played so many really good teams this year, and every night moving forward is going to be a battle like this.

“I sure hope we can put together a string of good games and hopefully have a nice run.”

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinaw City girls basketball finishes regular season with home win over Engadine