KALKASKA — Frankfort’s girls basketball program has thrived off being the grittiest and toughest girls on the basketball court.
It came to life in the Division 4 regional semifinals on Monday.
Panthers senior Evelyn VanTol exemplified what grit means to Frankfort by going toe-to-toe with 2023 Division 4 state champion Glen Lake senior Eleanor Valkner. VanTol got tasked to guard Valkner inside the paint for 32 minutes in Monday’s regional semifinals.
Nothing came easy for the Panthers in their nail-biting 45-42 win over D4 defending state champion Glen Lake at Kalkaska High School on Monday. VanTol contributed immensely to Frankfort’s success in pulling off their first win over the Lakers since 2015.
“This team means everything,” VanTol said. “The fact we were able to put it all together and get it done tonight means a lot.”
The Panthers are seeking their first regional title win since 2017 and have a chance to rewrite history Wednesday against Gaylord St. Mary in the regional championship game back at Kalkaska.
VanTol had her work cut out for her going against another 6-foot guard who has been a walking double-double for the Lakers this season. The Panthers watched from afar as the boys basketball program became underdogs in the postseason journey last season.
The boys made their Cinderella run to the Michigan State University’s Breslin Center last season but fell short in the Division 4 state semifinals to Wyoming Tri-unity Christian. The girls have two games remaining from returning Frankfort to the Breslin Center.
“This is a special group of kids, and the seniors are important ladies in our program,” Frankfort head coach Tim Reznich said. “We have been through the wringer together. To see them develop over the years and get to this level where this is a possibility, I can’t be happier and prouder of those kids.
To prepare for a physical Glen Lake team — who lead a majority of the first and second half — VanTol said the team practiced against the Frankfort boys team to get acclimated with the Lakers’ physical toughness.
VanTol guarded junior Carter Kerby in practice to prepare for Valkner.
“We just knew that she was going to be physical down there, so I knew I had to be ready,” VanTol said.
The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter after being down 12-4 to start the second quarter. Panthers’ junior Savina Anhalt sank a 2-pointer to put the Panthers ahead 36-34 with three to play in the fourth, but freshman Lydia Fosmore knotted things at 36-36 with a pair of free throws.
Sophomore Addison Chownyk put the Panthers ahead with a 2-pointer with under 2:30 to play. The Panthers forced a Glen Lake turnover in exchange for points to extend the lead to 40-36.
Valkner was sent to the free throw line with 1:31 remaining but went 1-for-2 and cut the deficit 40-37. The Lakers had to foul the Panthers in every possession in hopes of a few missed free throws. Chownyk was sent to the line and missed her first free throw but drilled the second to extend the lead 41-37.
After several points scored by both teams, the Lakers were down 45-42 with 8.9 seconds remaining and had a chance to send it to overtime with a 3-pointer, but Fosmore was denied the game-tying 3-pointer with time expiring.
From start to finish, the Valkner and VanTol battle was a physical one. Valkner got the best of the Panthers in the first half by scoring 11 of the Lakers’ 14 points.
Valkner and VanTol went point-for-point the entire second quarter, with VanTol racking up 11 of her 19 points and cutting the Panthers’ deficit to 20-18 heading into the second half.
The Panthers’ gritty defense posed a problem for the Lakers in the third quarter as the Panthers held Glen Lake to only four points in the third. The Panthers forced seven steals and six blocks, with Anhalt leading the team with four blocks.
Anhalt finished with nine points, five rebounds and an assist. Chownyk scored six points, seven boards and an assist.
The Lakers’ chances of going back to back are gone, but first-year head coach Brad Fosmore couldn’t be prouder of how the girls played and bought into what he was selling.
Fosmore took over for longtime head coach Jason Bradford — who currently has the boys basketball team in the state playoffs. Coach Fosmore guided the Lakers to a 16-8 overall record along with Northwest Conference and district titles.
The Lakers will graduate Valkner and Ava Raymond, who were contributors to helping the Lakers claim a state championship. Valkner led the team with 19 points.
“Eleanor was great. She put up double-doubles every night and played awesome. Ava was our running point guard for us, and both gave us great leadership,” Coach Fosmore said. “It’s tough coming in for a coach who just won a state championship; so just them coming into that and buying into what we were doing, I appreciate them so much for that.”
Wednesday’s championship game between the Panthers (20-5) and Snowbirds (17-8) is set for 7 p.m.