Basketball Teams Ready To Play; Girls Return for First Season Since 1990

Mackinac Island Lakers basketball players include (front) Tyler Cherwonka-12, Jane Finkel-14; (middle, from left) Anthony Rickley-10, Zhane Nash-13, Maggie Chambers-24, Marie Bunker-32, Shelbie Mosley-11, Morgan Brodeur-Bunker-22, Michi Mullings-20, Devon Hunt-5; (back) Coach Jim Fisher, Tymon Horn-44, Andrew Chambers-52, Riley Chaffee-34, Woody Beardsley-13, Michael Gamble-32, Robert Chambers-33, Paul Fisher-45, with Coach Mary Patay.

Mary Patay To Coach Lakers in First Year on

Hardwood Since 1990

The Mackinac Island school has reinstated girls basketball into the athletic program after the Michigan High School Athletic Association moved volleyball play to the fall, leaving an opening for girls sports during the winter. Mary Patay has been named the Lakers coach.

The Lakers have co-ed soccer and volleyball in the fall. Starting in December, the school will have boys and girls basketball during the winter, and golf and track and field in the spring.

The last time Mackinac Island had a girls basketball team was in 1990, coached by Susan (nee Vojtko) Bennett. Eileen Cowell, Nicole Beaume, Darlene Gougin, and Tawna Urman were members of the team.

Coach Mary Patay (left) and former coach Susan Bennett.

The Lakers' new coach is no stranger to Mackinac Island athletics, as Patay has coached volleyball, soccer, and golf and has been part of the community of Mackinac Island since 1996.

Patay played junior high and high school basketball in Toledo and presently teaches one business class and two physical education classes at the Island school. She has a major in sports exercise science.

"I am excited about the opportunity to help build the program from scratch, since it has been 17 years since basketball was played," said Coach Patay.

The players, who began practicing Monday, November 5, include sophomore Shelbie Mosley (forward), freshmen Morgan Brodeur-Bunker, Marie Bunker (guard), and Maggie Chambers (forward), and Zhane Nash, seventh grade (center).

"These girls are excited about basketball, but we hope to get two or three more girls to come out before out first weekend series at Beaver Island Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1. My goals for the girls are to make them enjoy the sport of basketball, don't get discouraged, and to work hard on the basic fundamentals in preparation for the season. We haven't talked about wins and defeats, but to just enjoy the sport and have fun," added Patay.

Two former coaches, Jack Dehring and Susan Bennett, former player Brenda Bunker, and school secretary Barb Fisher are happy to see basketball back at Mackinac Island. All are pleased that the girls have a sport to participate in during the winter months.

"I hope the sport has the support that it once did," said Mr. Dehring, who led the Lakers to a district title in 1974. "I will change from coach to being a fan and be at the home games."

"This gives the girls an opportunity to experience a different sport," said Bennett. "I am happy for the girls that want to play."

"I can't wait to watch the girls play," said Bunker, who played on the 1974 team and was graduated from Mackinac Island in 1976. "Although there is a small number on the team, I remember when we had to finish games with three girls on the court. I hope the girls have as much fun as I did."

"This is a good, positive thing for the girls that want to play," said Mrs. Fisher. "The community is excited that girls basketball is back."

The Lakers' schedule includes Grand Marais, Paradise, Beaver Island, and Hannahville in the Northern Lights League and Maplewood Baptist Academy and Ojibwe in non-conference action.

Lakers Boys Basketball

Mackinac Island Lakers boys basketball team, with third-year coach Jim Fisher, will be out to defend the Northern Lights League (NLL) regular season title and tournament crown during the 2007- 08 season.

Coach Fisher will have the luxury of playing nine returning players from their championship season, and the Lakers will be one of the favorites to win the win the league and tournament title coming into the new season.

Returning players are seniors Woody Beardlsey (forward/ center) and Riley Chaffee (center), juniors Robert Chambers (forward/ guard), Michael Gamble (guard), and Tyler McLean (guard/forward), sophomores Paul Fisher, Thomas Rilenge, and Tymon Horn (guard), and freshman Andrew Chambers (guard).

First-year Lakers are eighth grade students Devon Hunt, Anthony Rickley, and Tyler Cherwonka.

"We have the diversity on our roster that will be a positive factor during the season," said Coach Fisher. "Our combination of inside and outside offense will be a key to our success."

Mackinac Island is a member of the NLL, which is affiliated with the Michigan High School Athletic Association. The NLL includes two island schools, Mackinac Island, with a high school enrollment of 28 students, and the Beaver Island Islanders, with 33, Grand Marais Polar Bears, with 27, Paradise Rockets, with 31, and Hannahville Soaring Eagles, with 51.

The Lakers, Polar Bears, and Rockets were members of a former league, which once included schools from the northern Lower Peninsula. The league disbanded in the 1980s. The Islanders joined with the three U.P. teams to form the NLL. Later, the Soaring Eagles became the fifth team.

The teams play a two-game series on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, with visiting teams sleeping in the host team's gymnasium. The Lakers' two non-conference opponents this year are Maplewood Baptist Academy of Kincheloe and Ojibwe of Brimley.