MARQUETTE - Five area high school girls basketball teams will be in action tonight to start play in MHSAA district tournaments.
Munising and Newberry will be at home for their 7 p.m. games in separate "nontraditional" Class C districts.
Nontraditional scheduling is used where there are long traveling distances for the teams involved. Instead of playing all games at the host site, some or all of the contests are played at one of the teams involved in the games.
Article Photos
Marquette’s Hunter Viitala dribbles the ball around Negaunee defender Haley Blake during the teams’ regular season finale played at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Saturday afternoon. The Redettes open Class A district play downstate tonight, while the Miners host a Class C?district that opens play Wednesday. (Journal photo by Zach Jay)
Munising hosts Grand Marais in a tourney hosted by Big Bay de Noc, while Newberry entertains Indian River Inland Lakes in a tourney the Indians are hosting.
While all the other games today are quarterfinal contests, Newberry's is a semifinal for its four-team district.
In other games today, Marquette travels the farthest, going to Petoskey to play in a Class A game at 6 p.m. That district is hosted by Alpena.
Fact Box
Today's games:
- Class A district:?Marquette at Petoskey, 6 p.m.
- Class C:?Indian River Inland Lakes at Newberry, 7 p.m.
- Class D:?Grand Marais at Munising, 7 p.m.
- Class D:?Superior Central at Engadine, 7 p.m.
- Class D:?Baraga vs. Dollar Bay, at Jeffers, 8 p.m.
In Class D, Superior Central is at Engadine at 7 p.m. in the Big Bay district, while Baraga plays Dollar Bay at Jeffers at 8 p.m. in a traditional district hosted by the Painesdale school.
Semifinal games are scheduled for Wednesday and championship games on Friday.
District winners advance to regional play, with semifinals in all classes to be played Tuesday, March 5, and championships on Thursday, March 7.
Here is a breakdown of district games involving area teams:
Class A at Alpena
If Marquette wins tonight, the Redettes play at the Alpena-Traverse City West winner at a time to be determined on Wednesday.
The championship game of this seven-team district is set for Friday, again at a time to be determined.
If MSHS makes it that far, it will host the contest against Sault Ste. Marie, Gaylord or Traverse City Central.
Class C at Negaunee
All games in this four-team district will be played in Negaunee.
Wednesday, Gwinn vs. Ishpeming, 6 p.m.; Westwood vs. Negaunee, 7:30 p.m. Friday, championship, 7 p.m.
Class C at Newberry
Wednesday, Manistique at Harbor Springs, 7 p.m.; Friday, championship, 7 p.m. at Newberry, or a site to be determined.
Class C at Houghton
All games in this five-team district will be played in Houghton. The lineup includes the teams listed below, along with the Gremlins and Ironwood.
Wednesday, L'Anse vs. Calumet-Hancock winner, 6 p.m.; Friday, championship, 7 p.m.
Class D at Big Bay de Noc
This six-team district shifts to a traditional look after the first round, with semifinal and championship games to be played in Cooks.
If Superior Central wins tonight, the Cougars play Rapid River at 6 p.m. Wednesday. If Munising wins today, the Mustangs face host Big Bay de Noc at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
Class D at Jeffers
All games in this six-team district will be played at Jeffers.
If Baraga wins today, the Vikings play Ontonagon at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The championship is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
Other teams in this district are Chassell and Lake Linden-Hubbell.
Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246.