PETOSKEY — North Central Michigan College swept both basketball games last week against Alpena Community College, while Kirtland Community College’s men’s basketball won each of its last two contests.
NCMC’s women’s team downed Alpena CC 73-60, while the men won 75-70, making it the first time the Timberwolves basketball teams both defeated the Lumberjacks on the same day. Both would later drop games against Montcalm CC, 100-58 for the women and 74-54 for the men.
For the Timberwolves ladies, Ceara LeBlanc (Brimley) hit a career high 27 points at Alpena to lead the team to victory. She went 9-for-16, including 6-10 from behind the arc. She also set a new single-game record with seven steals.
Cadence Cullen (St. Ignace) recorded a double-double against Montcalm, collecting 13 rebounds and scoring 13 points. Evelyn VanTol (Frankfort) had 25 points on the week.
Camari Keller (Vincent, Ala.) scored 20 points in the Alpena CC game, marking his career high. Logan McCauley (Wolverine) had a double-double at Alpena with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Jordan Guenette (Negaunee) led the team with 23 points at Alpena CC, including going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
NCMC’s men are 3-16 (2-5 league) at the midpoint of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, while the women are 3-16 and 1-6.
The Timberwolves have the toughest week on the schedule where they travel Wednesday to Bay College on Wednesday, and Saturday ay Mid-Michigan College. Both of Bay’s team are receiving votes in the national rankings, while Mid’s women are ranked No. 15 and their men are 17th nationally in the NJCAA DII polls.
Kirtland’s men defeated Bay College 69-62 and Muskegon CC 74-69.
Kenneth Hurt Jr. (Detroit) had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the win over Bay College, while Jayvion Sims (Detroit) added 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Troy Jenkins (Jacksonville, Fla.) pitched in nine points, five boards and four assists off the bench.
Jenkins started against Muskegon and responded with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Hurt added 17 points and Elijah Clifford (Fort Pierce, Fla.) had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Kirtland women fell 85-41 to Bay College and 65-52 to Muskegon CC.
Alyssa Kiel (Mancelona) paced Kirtland with 10 points and eight rebounds against Bay College (16-4), while Kayla McCoy (Mesick) scored nine, Lucy Hall (Kalkaska) added eight and Aysia Bailey (Houghton Lake) grabbed 10 rebounds. Elliana Sexton (Brethren) grabbed seven boards.
Against Muskegon CC, Kingsley Backstrom (Oscoda) had 13 points, five rebounds and six assists, with Kiel coming off the bench for 19 points. Sexton added 10 rebounds and five assists.
NCMC and Kirtland played each other Jan. 21, with the Timberwolves men winning 62-54.
Logan McCauley came off the bench for a game-high 25 points on 10-for13 shooting for the Timbervoles, while Gavin Goetz (Cadillac) added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks and Jordan Geunette scored 10 points.
Jenkins scored 15 points and Hurt 14 for the Firebirds.
Kirtland won the women’s game 72-54 as McCoy led all scorers with 20. Backstrom added 17 points, five assists and eight rebounds, Kiel 14 points and 10 boards and Sexton eight points and nine rebounds.
NCMC was led in that game by LeBlanc’s 17 points, 14 by Gracie Jones (Newport) and nine points and 11 rebounds from VanTol.