28 Turnovers Cost Manistee as Seniors Shine in 69-59 Loss

Manistee's home court hosted a hard-fought contest on Jan. 14 that ended in a 69-59 defeat to Traverse City West, a game decided by execution rather than effort. The Tigers managed strong individual performances from seniors but could not overcome a costly 28 turnovers that fed a late second-quarter 15-4 run by the Titans.

Senior forward Avamae Fett carried the offensive load, finishing with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Backcourt leader Alayna Edmondson added 18 points and an eye-catching eight steals, anchoring the defensive effort even as the team struggled with ball control. Those stat lines underscore that Manistee’s production came from veteran leadership, but the cumulative effect of turnovers repeatedly handed Traverse City West extra possessions and momentum.

The decisive sequence came at the end of the second quarter. Traverse City West compiled a 15-4 run to close the half, turning broken possessions into a halftime cushion the Titans maintained through the second half. Manistee’s 28 turnovers were the headline statistic: they interrupted offensive rhythm, limited second-chance opportunities, and put the defense in short-handed situations that the Titans exploited.

Manistee falls to 5-4 on the season. Coaches and players emphasized the same corrective priorities after the game: better consistency, more reliable defensive stops, and tighter ball security. Those are practical, game-to-game objectives with immediate implications for scheduling and regional positioning. With regular season play moving toward conference matchups and district seeding, reducing turnovers will be essential to converting individual talent into wins.

For local fans and families across Grand Traverse County and neighboring communities, the game both reassures and warns. The senior duo offers a foundation for scoring and leadership, which makes Manistee a team to watch in close contests. At the same time, the turnover problem is a solvable operational issue that can shift the team’s trajectory quickly if addressable in practice and game planning.

What comes next is straightforward: Manistee must translate the seniors’ production into cleaner possessions. As the Tigers work through the balance of the schedule, expect coaches to prioritize ball-handling drills and defensive rotations that limit easy points off turnovers. For readers following season progress, this game highlights where improvements will have the biggest payoff for the community’s team.