Coleman extends winning streak to six
The walls inside Coleman’s gymnasium are peppered with championship banners.
Some celebrate state championships, others conference and district crowns.
When you look up at the girls basketball banner though you can’t help but wonder where’s the championships?
It reads: Conference – 94 Districts – 73, 94.
In short, the crowning achievements list is short when it comes to the Coleman girls basketball team as it’s only won two districts and one conference crown dating back to the early 1970s. While the Comets haven’t exactly been world-beaters in basketball like they are in softball, that trend might be on the cusp of change.
On Monday night the Comets rolled to their sixth-straight victory of the 2021 campaign as they topped Beal City 47-33 in a nonconference contest. The win over the Aggies was two days removed from one of the biggest wins in program history as Coleman bested fifth-ranked Mt. Pleasant
Sacred Heart Academy 3633 Saturday.
It was Coleman’s first win over the Irish since 1997.
“Things are going pretty good,” said fifth-year head coach Nick Katzinger, who’s Comets improves to 7-2 via Monday’s victory. “We’re a young team. We start two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. Our goal was to build as the season goes. But from game three (on) it’s really started to mesh.”
After starting 1-2 the Comets have won six in a row by an average of 18 points. With the inside play of junior star center Katelyn Pnacek leading the way and the youngsters chipping in here and there Coleman has suddenly become a team to reckon with. Whether it makes a run at the conference title or a district title awaits to be seen, but the Comets are in the conversation this year which is a step in the right direction.
“The win (over SHA) was a big confidence-builder for us,” said Katzinger.
As for how the Comets went about business Monday, well they took an early lead and pulled away in the second half.
Pnacek was absolutely dominant as she finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists. Freshman Madison Miller added in eight points while Lexi Aultman had four points. Madisyn Croslin also had five assists while Havahna Dejongh had eight boards.
Paige Antcliff led Beal City with 10 while Mykenzie Kent had nine.