CHARLEVOIX — Avery Parker and Addison McDonald led the way for the Gaylord Blue Devils as they opened the 2023-24 season on the road with a win at Charlevoix on Tuesday.
Parker put up 23 points, and McDonald tallied 14 as Gaylord eked out a victory in a close 44-41 final. The Blue Devils are coming off a 13-10 season last year that ended with an early exit in the first round of districts.
Gaylord eyes a 2-0 start to the season when they host Grayling on Friday.
The Rayders were led by Anna Kemp (12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals), Karlee Eaton (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals), Abbey Wright (8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Bayani Collins (6 points).
Charlevoix went 6-18 during the 2022-23 campaign and earned a postseason win over East Jordan before falling in districts. The Rayders look to bounce back with a win when they host Traverse City St. Francis on Thursday.
GIRLS HOOPS
TC West 34
Benzie Central 24
Benzie Central: Benzie Central was led by Kara Johnson 6 points; Grace Heiges 5 points; Marie Reidlinger 4 points.
UP NEXT: The Titans (1-0) host Midland on Friday. The Huskies (0-1) welcome Glen Lake on Thursday.
Buckley 52
Mesick 18
Buckley: Kayla Milarch 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals; Lucyy Moyer 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block; Maddie Chilson 8 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals.
UP NEXT: The Bears (1-0) host Kingsley on Thursday. The Bulldogs (0-1) travel to Brethren on Thursday.
Elk Rapids 41
Petoskey 34
Elk Rapids: Morgan Bergquist 19 points; 3 rebounds; Kendall Standfest 13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists; Hunter Schellenbarger 4 points, 6 rebounds; Ally Plum 4 points, 2 rebounds.
UP NEXT: The Elks (1-0) welcome Alpena on Thursday. Petoskey (0-1) takes on Grand Ledge in the Sean Pollion Invitational on Friday.
Ellsworth 48
Harbor Light 20
Ellsworth: Isabella Essenberg 21 points; Ruby Pletcher 8 points; Hannah Essenberg 7 points; Avery Strange 7 points.
UP NEXT: The Lancers (1-0, 1-0 Northern Lakes) welcome Mackinaw City on Friday. Harbor Light (0-1, 0-1 Northern Lakes) hosts Wolverine on Friday.
Lake City 23
Frankenmuth 39
Lake City: MacKenzie Bisballe 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks; Alie Bisballe 9 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks.
UP NEXT: The Trojans (0-1) welcome Evart on Friday.
Lake Leelanau SM 59
Suttons Bay 3
Lake Leelanau St. Mary: Leah Fleis 17 points, 10 rebounds; Kyla Barnowski 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals; Sarah Bunek 10 points, 4 rebounds; Cathryn Mikowski 8 points, 8 steal.
Suttons Bay: Keeley TwoCrow 3 points.
UP NEXT: The Eagles (1-0) travel to Central Lake on Friday. The Norse (0-1) head to Leland on Thursday.
Cadillac 50
Whitehall 18
UP NEXT: The Vikings (1-0) head to Traverse City St. Francis on Tuesday.
Boyne City 51
Cheboygan 50
UP NEXT: The Ramblers (1-0) head to St. Ignace on Thursday.
East Jordan 44
Joburg 26
UP NEXT: The Red Devils (1-0) host Cheboygan on Thursday. The Cardinals (0-1) welcome Harbor Springs on Friday.
Cadi Heritage 47
Forest Area 40
UP NEXT: Heritage (1-0) hosts Marion on Friday. Forest Area (0-1) travels to Leland on Friday.
Harbor Springs 47
Gaylord SM 35
UP NEXT: The Rams (1-0) head to Johannesburg-Lewiston on Friday. The Snowbirds (0-1) host Forest Area on Dec. 13.
Muskegon WMC 43
McBain NMC 20
UP NEXT: The Comets (0-1) travel to Bellaire on Thursday.
Glen Lake JV 44
St. Francis JV girls 23
Traverse City St. Francis (0-1): Tessa Asher 7 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds; Delaney McGee 6 points; Halle Kadlec 5 points, 3 rebounds.
BOYS HOOPS
FH Northern 60
TC West 57
Traverse City West: Ben Habers 30 points; Lincoln Lockhart 14 points.
UP NEXT: The Titans (2-1) head to Midland on Friday.
Charlevoix 68
Gaylord 52
Charlevoix: Joe Gaffney 21 points, 3 rebounds; Hudson Vollmer 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals; Troy Nickel 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists; Peyton Scott 7 points, 2 steals.
Gaylord: Luke Gelow 29 points; Aidan Locker 7 points.
UP NEXT: The Rayders (3-0) host Harbor Springs on Friday. The Blue Devils (0-2) travel to Benzie Central on Friday.
Forest Area 49
Cadi Heritage 36
Forest Area: Cameron Patton 22 points; Lucas Blankenship 15 points; Tyler Singer 8 points
UP NEXT: Forest Area (1-2) travels to Gaylord St. Mary on Wednesday. Heritage (0-1) hosts Rudyard on Friday.
Frankfort 69
Lake City 36
Frankfort: Emmerson Farmer 23; Bryce Plesha 20 points, 7 rebounds; Carter Kerby 16 points; Tristin Griffin 8 points, 14 assists.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (1-0) travel to Buckley on Friday. The Trojans (1-1) host Evart on Thursday.
Grayling 72
Houghton Lake 44
Grayling: Maddox Mead 15 points; Fletcher Quinlan 12 points; Ethan Kucharek 12 points; Kaleb Hall 12 points; Tristan Demlow 10 points.
UP NEXT: The Vikings (2-1) host Boyne City on Friday.
Kingsley 58
Kalkaska 35
Kingsley: Noah Scribner 14 points, 5 steals, 2 assists; Eli Graves 10 points, 5 rebounds; Zack Middleton 9 points, 5 rebounds; Chase Bott 8 points.
UP NEXT: The Stags (1-0) host Onekama on Saturday for the “Local Legends” game. The Blazers (1-1 or 0-2) welcome Elk Rapids on Friday.
Cadillac 53
Mt. Pleasant 38
Cadillac: Charlie Howell 22 points, 8 rebounds; Eli Main 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Kyle McGowan 6 points, 7 rebounds; Gavin Goetz 5 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists.
UP NEXT: The Vikings (3-0, 1-0 Big North) travel to Essexville Garber on Tuesday.
Onekama 62
Mesick 31
Onekama: Tyler Hart 15 points; Luke Bradford 10 points, 3 rebounds; Max Lamerson 10 points; Arden Bradford 9 points, 10 rebounds; Kaden Bradford 8 points, 4 assists, 3 steals.
Mesick: Kyler Hall 9 points.
UP NEXT: The Portagers (1-2) travel to Kingsley on Friday. The Bulldogs (0-4) head to Manistee Catholic Central on Friday.
Muskegon WMC 49
McBain NMC 44
UP NEXT: The Comets (1-1) welcome Beal City on Thursday.
TC West JV 54
FH Northern JV 37
Traverse City West (3-0): Blake LaFaive 17 points; Carter Grubb 14 points; Drew Esper 12 points.
FH Northern frosh 40
TC West frosh 30
Traverse City West (2-1): Duncan Robinson 9 points; Logan LaCourse 9 points.