Traverse City Central Scores Overtime Win, Playoff Race Tightens

Traverse City Central edged Alpena 3-2 in overtime to advance to the Division 2 regional finals, local coverage noted. "In hockey we had a great rivalry covered in the regional semifinals as Traverse City Central topped Alpena in overtime 3-2 to advance to next week's regional finals in Division 2," the roundup said.

Local writers described the matchup as tightly contested, with the overtime period deciding a long-standing rivalry between the two programs. The overtime victory sends Central into the regional final round in Division 2, though specific date and opponent for the regional final were not listed in the local roundups.

The same sports roundup tightened the high school playoff picture across the county. Upnorthlive reported that Traverse City St. Francis handed McBain a 51-49 loss, noting "McBain entered the night as the top ranked boys team in the Division 3 media polls but it was Traverse City St. Francis handing the Ramblers just their second loss of the season 51-49." That upset will reverberate in Division 3 playoff seeding and the media polls tracking McBain’s season.

Traverse City Christian finished its regular season with a 53-43 victory over Leland, a result Upnorthlive framed this way: "Traverse City Christian got a test from an impressive Leland team but the Sabres pulled off a perfect boys basketball regular season as they defeated the Comets 53-43." In girls basketball, Sault Ste. Marie beat Traverse City West 52-44, with Upnorthlive noting "the Blue Devils taking the bus trip back up north 52-44."

Traverse City Central’s boys basketball program added to the local postseason momentum with a district title. "The Traverse City Central Trojans sought revenge and earned it in a 71-64 overtime win over the Petoskey Northmen," 9&10 News reported, adding that the Northmen had eliminated Central the last two seasons. "The Trojans’ Anthony Ribel lead the night with 32 points while the Northmen’s Cade Trudeau followed with 30 points." The basketball Trojans are scheduled to face Mount Pleasant in the regional semifinals on Monday, March 13 at 5 p.m. in Gaylord.

Between Central’s hockey berth in the Division 2 regional finals and the Trojans’ district crown in basketball, Grand Traverse County faces a compressed stretch of regional and postseason matchups. McBain’s narrow setback, Traverse City Christian’s perfect regular season claim, and Sault Ste. Marie’s girls win all change the calculus for seeding and travel logistics as teams prepare for regional play and the next round of competition.