Junior split squads dominate tourney

The Muskie junior girls’ volleyball team dominated their opponents at a tournament here last weekend–even though they were split up into two squads.
Both the Fort “Black” and Fort “Gold” teams came away with 3-0 records, and most of their wins were, well, blowouts.
“We were kind of disappointed with the level of competition that showed up,” noted coach Mike Busch. “[The lack of competition] is partly due to the fact that their programs just recently got up and running.
Fort “Black” opened play in dominating fastion Friday night, overwhelming the Ignace Falcons 70-0. Tricia Smith and Jessica Wilson led the way with 14 points apiece, followed by Jennalee Korzinski (12).
Nikki Baker added 10 points, Ivory Tuesday and Miranda Miller netted six, Sarah Barton had four, and Kala Caul and Laura Chabot each got two.
“Sarah Noonan coached that game for me because I couldn’t make it,” noted Busch.
It was somewhat closer in their second game Saturday morning against Red Lake but Fort “Black” prevailed 52-23.
Barton paced the attack with 14 points, followed by Wilson (12). Rounding out the Muskie scoring were Caul (eight), Chabot (six), Baker and Smith (four apiece), and Carly McCoy and Miller (two each).
Their final game of the tournament Saturday afternoon–and closest match–was against the Kenora Broncos, which the Muskies won 35-22.
The leading scorer in that game was Smith with 10 points, followed by Barton and Korzinski with eight apiece. Wilson, Baker, Tuesday, and Chabot all scored two points each, with Miller chipping in one.
It was a similar story for the Fort “Gold” squad, who won all three of their games, including 44-23 over the Kenora Broncos in their opener Friday.
Allison Hyatt led the way with 18 points, followed by Malarie Woolsey with eight. Other scorers included Eri Devlin (six), Stephanie Mattson and Carly McCormick (four apiece), and Hillary Morgan and Melanie Hyatt (two each).
Next up, they drubbed Igance 55-2, paced by 15 points from Andrea Boileau. McCormick had 10 points while Christina Romaniuk followed with eight.
Mattson and Morgan were next with six points apiece, Morgan had four, with Woolsey, Devlin, and Megan Hebert chipping in a pair each.
Then in their final game Saturday against Sioux Lookout, Fort “Gold” earned a comfortable 42-25 victory led by McCormick’s 14 points.
Hyatt chipped in six points, Devlin, Boileau, Romaniuk, and Sally Drazenovich had four each, and Woolsey, Mattson, and Morgan all netted two apiece.
“The girls showed their class to able to split the squad up and still dominate the court,” noted Busch.
“They played hard ball at the beginning and then when they knew they were dominating, they backed off–there is no point in humiliating the other team.”
“I was very impressed with how they played,” echoed co-coach Dave Ashworth. “All the girls played very well together. There was a lot of unselfish play and a lot of teamwork.
“The junior team is a great group of girls. All the girls are very talented and theer is a real core of good athletes,” he enthused. “This team will be really strong in the future.”
Next up for the juniors is a game against Atikokan here tomorrow, then a return match there next Tuesday (Oct. 31).
“I haven’t seen Atikokan play but they will be along the same lines as the other teams,” noted Busch.
The team’s next tournament action is slated Nov. 3-4 in Kenora.