The Ovid-Elsie Lady Marauders traveled to Chesaning Friday night for a Mid-Michigan Activities Conference showdown which saw OE come away with a 46-37 win.  Ovid-Elsie improves to 11-4 (6-1 MMAC) and secures second place in the MMAC behind undefeated Byron.  The Indians fell to 7-5 (4-3 MMAC).

"Tonight was a game of runs - we would make a run and they would answer, " said Head Coach Ryan Cunningham. "We made a nice run to close the first half and built a ten point lead only to see it evaporate in the third. I think that’s one of the biggest improvements I’ve seen from this young team - we didn’t panic and we didn’t fold. We battled back and answered with a run of our own."

Ovid-Elsie held a slim 7-5 lead after the first stanza but put together a 17-9 second quarter to lead 24-14 at half.  Chesaning would battle back from the ten point deficit and take a two point lead before the Marauders responded.  OE still led 37-32 at the end of the third and finished the game with a 9-5 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter.

Junior Braylon Byrnes led the way for the Marauders with 8 points including two big triples in the first half.  Ava Bates also knocked in 8 points while Hailee Campbell added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.  Kiah Longoria and Evalyn Cole each added 6 points, Tristin Ziola (4 rebounds) and Caitlyn Walter (3 assists, 2 steals) 4 points each and Madison Cunningham 3 points and 4 rebounds.  Cole added 6 assists and 4 steals while Longoria added 5 rebounds.

"I was really happy for Byrnes," added Cunningham.  "It was a career high for her and those three's couldn't have come at a better time for us.  She's one of those kids who just keeps grinding and knows her role on this team.  Tonight she stepped up and delivered big time for us.  That's what makes her such a great teammate and this such a great team to coach.  Nobody cares who gets the credit as long as we can post a win."

No Ovid-Elsie player reached double figures on the night but 8 different players reached the scoring column.

Ovid-Elsie will move on to the State tournament next week as Owosso will host District #40.  The Marauders will play Durand in the 5:30 p.m. game on Monday with Chesaning and Owosso playing the 7:00 p.m. game.  The winner of the OE/Durand game will take on Corunna Wednesday night while the winner of the Owosso/Chesaning game will get Lake Fenton.  Lake Fenton is the odds on favorite to win the District title - the Lady Blue Devils are currently 11-1 having won eleven straight games to close out the season.