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The official end to New Lothrop's thrilling 42-36 championship triumph over Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart didn't come until nine MPSH fouls and 11 NL free throw attempts later, but those closest to the action figured it was all over the moment Kayla Gross' three-point shot ripped through the net, giving the Hornets a 34-31 lead.

"The three was the game. We shut it down when we have a lead with two minutes or less left in the game," said Hornet coach Tom Kohlmann at the post-game press conference. "The way we space and run our offense, we're pretty comfortable with any lead down the stretch."

"When Kayla made that three, I thought the game was over, because we're good free throw shooters," commented Gross' teammate, Kayla Krupp.

Even Sacred Heart Coach Mark DeNoyelles recognized the impact of Gross' bomb from deep in the left corner of the court.

"We knew if they got the lead later in the game, it would be very tough for us, because New Lothrop executes its offense so well," said DeNoyelles.

Until Saturday, however, the Hornets didn't have to even consider the importance of taking good care of the ball and making their free throws in the waning moments of a game, because they had waltzed through the previous seven tournament contests virtually unchallenged by any opponent. That is, until they ran into Sacred Heart at the EMU Convocation Center.

"I thought that was by far the best team we played in the tournament," said Kohlmann, whose team had won by an average of more than 30 points per game in post-season competition. "They took advantage of our weakness and just pounded us inside. Fortunately, we did a better job in the second half of getting weakside help against their lob passes over the top."

New Lothrop found itself in an unfamiliar position at halftime of the title match, trailing Sacred Heart by a 19-18 margin, despite sinking five treys before intermission. But the Hornets, who had played championship-caliber defense all season long, put the clamps on MPSH in the third quarter, holding the Irish to just six points, to take a 28-25 lead into the fourth.

When Gross, who had been held to just six points on two triples to that point, sank a trey to open the scoring in the final stanza, NL had matched its biggest lead of the day at 31-25.

But Mt. Pleasant showed why it came into the game with a 25-1 record by running off six unanswered points to knot the score at 31-all with 5:22 left in the contest. It was the fifth time that the game had been tied, and the lead had changed hands seven times to that point.

The Hornets missed their next six shots while the Irish miss-fired on both of their shots and committed a turnover over the next three minutes of play.

Then Gross came off a screen and sank her dramatic triple at 2:16. After Irish All-Stater and Class D Player of the Year Kelsey DeNoyelles missed a driving lay-up, NL spread the floor on offense and forced Sacred Heart into fouling. The Hornets sank 8 of 11 freebies from that point on, paced by Gross, who buried 7 of 9 from the line to tuck the game safely away.

"We just reversed, picked and popped," said Gross about her big shot. "I don't want the season to end, but this is the perfect way to end it."

Gross, who was recently named to the All-State team, finished with a game-high 19 points with four treys and seven free throws accounting for all of her points. She also grabbed five rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Kayla Knieper scored all but one of her 11 points in the first half and hauled down four boards. Nine of Knieper's points came by way of triples. Monica Confer was a force on the boards, helping her team finish with a 28-27 rebounding edge by grabbing a game-high nine caroms. Confer also scored seven points.

New Lothrop limited its turnovers to just seven and the much-shorter Hornets helped themselves to eight offensive rebounds after intermission.

Kohlmann says that although his team lived by the three point shot, his players knew that defense and rebounding were the keys.

"We are not very big, but we consistently get a good team effort on the boards," said Kohlmann, who pointed out that only Clare and Marine City Cardinal Mooney outrebounded NL in its 28 games this season. "And defense. We talked about defense all tourney and had the mindset that "D" would make the difference."

It was NL's defense that held DeNoyelles to just 14 points, seven in each half. It was the same defense that held MPSH to just 36 points, 18 in each half. It was also a group effort that helped a Hornet squad with no starter taller than five-foot-seven outboard an Irish team comprised of four starters five-nine or more. And it was the machine-like passing and long-range sharpshooting offense on offense that made a difference.

All of these factors counted in a magical 2008 season for the Hornets. But it was a vision and a determined focus on the top prize that made the biggest difference. "Their sights were set on a state title right from the start. They went after it from the very first day," commented Kohlmann, who now completes his eighth year at the NL helm with a 165-24 overall record and a coveted state championship. "I don't know if it has sunk in yet, but I've had these girls in class all the way back to fifth grade. It's quite a journey that these young ladies have made."

"It's awesome. It's what we've worked for, and to come out as a team and get a big win today is a great way to end it," commented senior Kayla Knieper.

The Hornets end it with 27 straight wins after a season-opening loss at Clare. And they end the season by giving the school its 19th overall state championship.

But most importantly, the New Lothrop girls basketball team can now lay claim to its first state hoops crown and the title of 2008 Class D State Champions.

Hornets' Krupp repeats as state champ

Eight from area place at MHSAA individual wrestling finals

AUBURN HILLS -- New Lothrop junior Allen Krupp made it two in a row last Saturday, capturing the Division 4 119 pound individual wrestling title at the Michigan High School Athletic Association finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

He led eight of 15 area qualifiers who earned places at the state finals.

Krupp opened with a 1:03 pin of Chris Weber from Farwell in the first round. In the quarterfinals, he had a 14-4 major decision over Scott Nobles of Clinton. In the semis he pinned Anthony Burris of Harper Woods in 4:23, then earned a 10-0 major decision over Marlette's Jon Hayward in the finals.

Krupp finished the season with a 57-2 record. In 2007, he was the 112 pound champion.

The Hornets also had two third place finishers in Ethan Bishop and Blake Birchmeier.

Bishop, a senior, opened his 215 lb. run with a 4-2 win over Blissfield's Mike Rueda. He followed that with a 3:07 pin of Andy O'Leary from Kent City, before losing 4-2 to Byron's Zack Ritter. Then in the wrestle-back, he posted a 5-2 win over Nick Murphy of Bangor, and defeated O'Leary again, 7-5, in the consolation finals.

Bishop finished up with a 54-8 record on the year.

Birchmeier, a sophomore opened his 112 lb. run with a 6-4 decision over Jarrud Ellicott of Kent City. He lost 6-4 to Manchester's Jimmy Hamilton in teh second round. In the wrestle-back, he defeated Chris Lyon of Ithaca 4-2, Gavin Knight of Leroy Pine River 5-2 and T.J. Berridge of Martin 2-0. In the consolation finals, he earned a 7-0 decision over Jonesville's Andrew Barrett.

Freshman Justin Krupp finished fourth for the Hornets at 103 lbs.

He opened with a 7-0 decision over Ryan Abrigo of Manchester, and falled with a 2:40 pin of Bangor's Matt Melvin before losing 8-3 to Hesperia's Collin Zeerip. In the wrestle-back, he posted a 7-2 decision over Mayville's Corey O'Kelley, then lost 7-4 to James Carey of Ithaca in the consolation finals.

J. Krupp finished up the season with a 47-17 record.

Senior Kyle Trent finished in seventh place at 160 lbs. for New Lothrop. He got pinned in 1:15 in his opener by Jayson York of Union City. Then in the wrestle-back he earned an 18-3 technical fall over Ben Wyatt of Fife Lake Forest Area, and a 2-1 decision over Chase Weber of Pittsfield. Trent then suffered a 7-2 loss to Dansville's Grant Cook before finishing out with a 3-2 win over York for seventh place.

Trent was 46-15 for the year.

In Division 3, Chesaning senior Chad Reiber closed out his career with a third place finish at 135 lbs. He opened with a 3:44 pin of Brad Wade of Dundee, then pinned Kyle Windquist of Big Rapids in 1:04. A 7-1 loss to Mark Weber of Goodrich put him in the consolation bracket, where he pinned Matt Kiser of Coloma in 1:34. Then in the consolation finals, he earned a 12-3 major decision over Scott Cousino of Erie Mason for third.

Reiber posted a stellar 52-2 record on the year.

Montrose had a pair of consolation placers in the tourney.

At 125 lbs., Cody Wray finished up in seventh place. He opened with a 1:10 pin of Cody Darling from Gladstone. He then lost a 5-4 decision to Kirk Britton of Goodrich. In the wrestle-back, he pinned Vassar's Mike Endert in 2:42 before losing 6-4 in overtime to Tyler Corwin of Vermontville Maple Valley. He closed out with a 3-2 decision over Corey Schrotenoer of Hamilton for seventh.

Wray, a sophomore, was 52-8 on the season.

A 189 lbs., Brad Boone took eighth place. He lost to Mike Lasinski of Richmond 7-6 in the opener, then defeated Frank Bastien of Grand Rapids West Catholic 4-2 and Tony Signorello of Ida 10-5 in overtime in the wrestle-back. Boone then lost 5-0 to Kevin Smith of Chippewa Hills, and lost a 14-6 major decision to Eric Madill of Grayling for eighth.

Boone finished the season with a 40-9 record.

Super sharp at State

Chesaning cheer squad takes third at DeltaPlex

DEB MILLER

The Tri-County Citizen

GRAND RAPIDS - After struggling during the regular season, and the ups and downs that come with adjusting to a new coach and the loss of key players from last year's state championship squad, the Chesaning Union High School competitive cheer squad stepped up their game and turned in a super sharp performance at last Saturday's state cheer finals.

The Indians, who were defending their 2007 state championship title, turned in a flawless performance packed with perfect precision and execution, with no falls or execution deductions for all three rounds of competition.

The Indian cheer gals took third place, finishing behind Remus Chippewa Hills and Comstock Park at the meet held at the Grand Rapids DeltaPlex.

Chesaning posted a total score of 716.764.

Chip Hills took the state championship with a total score of 764.408, and Comstock Park, who suffered no penalty points despite a fall in the third round, posted a total score of 735.648 to take state runner-up honors.

Chesaning posted a 217.5 for the first round of competition, 207.264 for the second round, and 294.0 for the third round. The only penalty points Chesaning suffered came in the third round of competition for a lost hair bow that fell to the mat.

The Chesaning squad is under the direction of first year coach Jeanna Morrison, along with assistant coaches Lisa Maike and Rachel Stehlik.

"I am very proud of these girls," said former head coach and current assistant coach Lisa Maike.

"They've come a long way this season. They did everything they could do today and turned in a top-notch performance. They should be very proud of themselves."

Chesaning has captured Class B state championship honors five times-1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2007, and was the Class B state runner-up in 2002 and 2006.

Members of the 2007-2008 Chesaning squad are Felisha Nathan, Tiffany Frederick, Crystal Lycka, Audreanna Brown, Taylor Gohn, Tonya LaBelle, Kurstin Kaiser, Ashley Desonia, Jalinda Chrysler, Kristin Wilson, Ashley Boucher, Ashley Lorencz, Randi Espinoza, Bree Cooper, Shelby Gross, and Brandi Frederick.

Chesaning Youth League registration going on now

CHESANING -- The Chesaning Parks and Recreation Commission announces that registration forms for T-Ball (5 and 6 year old boys and girls, games on Tuesdays and Thursdays), Coaches Pitch (7 and 8 year old boys and girls, games on Monday and Wednesdays), Minor League girls softball (9, 10 and 11 year olds, games on Tuesdays and Thursdays), boys Minor League baseball (9 and 10 year olds, games on Mondays and Wednesdays), Major League girls softball (12, 13 and 14 year olds, games on Mondays and Wednesdays), boys Major League baseball (10 and 11 year olds, games on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Pony League boys baseball (13 and 14 year olds, dates and sites TBA) are available at Chesaning area public and parochial schools and on line at www.chesaningpr.org.

Registration fees are $25 for T-Ball and Coaches Pitch, $30 for boys and girls baseball and softball. Each player must complete an individual registration form.

Teams will be selected in mid-April. Players will be notified by their coach regarding practice times and game schedules. Players will be expected to provide their own black baseball pants Schedules and rules will be available at www.chesaningpr.org when the teams and leagues are finalized.

An appeal goes out to mothers, fathers and other interested adults to volunteer to coach or to assist in coaching. Individuals interested in coaching should indicate so on space provided on the registration form.

Umpires are paid $15 per game. Interested parties should contact Dave Richardson at (989) 845-8099 ext. 1377. Any other general questions should be directed to Richardson at the same phone number.

Hunter Safety Class set for April 15-19

ST. CHARLES -- The St. Charles Wolverine Sportsmen Club and the Department of Natural Resources will be conducting a hunter safety class for all first-time hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1960, who have not previously taken a hunter safety class on April 17-19. Anyone who is not 10 years of age will be enrolled on a space-available basis and by how close to 10 years of age they are on the class starting date.

The class schedule is as follows: Tuesday, April 15, 6-8 p.m. registration; Thursday, April 17, 5-9 p.m. class; Friday, April 18, 5-9 p.m. class; Saturday, April 19, noon to 5 p.m. class.

Refreshments will be served on Thursday and Friday, and a lunch will be served on Saturday. A $5 fee is being asked to help offset the food and refreshments that will be served, and the cost of the ammunition for the live firing that will be done on Saturday.

Attendance is required on all three days to be eligible to receive hunter safety certificates. Students are graded in three areas before any certificate is awarded. The three graded areas are test score, classroom attitude and ability to handle firearms safely and responsibly on the firing range.

Girls and foreign exchange students are encouraged to take the hunter safety class. Adults who have no previoulsy taken a hunter safety class are invited to take the class along with their son or daughter. Many states now require a hunter safety certificate regardless of age or previous experience.

Anyone with special needs is requested to contact the club 10 days prior to the calss so that necessary arrangements can be made The class will be held at the St. Charles Wolverine Sportsmen Club, located at 14690 Ithaca Road.

For more information, contact Lavern Spolarich at (989) 865-6257 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Big Rock Rockers try-outs set

CHESANING -- Try-outs for the Big Rock Rockers AAU 18-under team will be held at the Chesaning Union High School gym on Sunday, April 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. Try-outs will be open to all high school girls interested in playing AAU this spring within the senior division.

The try-out fee is $10. Checks should be made payable to Big Rock Rockers and brought to try-outs on Sunday, April 6.

Contact Jori Pacek at (989) 737-6499 for more information.