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CHEBOYGAN – With the experience they have on the court, the Cheboygan Chiefs are confident they’re going to have a strong girls basketball season.
On opening night, the experience of the Chiefs was on full display in a 65-33 victory over the Onaway Cardinals in Onaway on Monday, Dec. 8.
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The Chiefs (1-0) were led by junior star Cloee Rupp, who netted a game-high 23 points, including 13 in the first half. Sophomore Diem Schley, who logged several varsity minutes a season ago, hit double figures with 10 points and blocked multiple shots defensively.
Defense was the theme of the night for the Chiefs, who forced the Cardinals (0-1) into several turnovers, which allowed them to build an 18-5 lead after one quarter and a 32-13 advantage at the break.
“We executed our defense relatively well for it being our first game,” Cheboygan coach Walter Hanson said. “Onaway is a tough team. Every time you come and play them, they’re going to be scrapping, playing their hardest and giving it their all, so it was a good challenge for us.”
Addison Ptasnik and Olivia Patrick, two senior Cheboygan starters, were also productive with seven and six points respectively, while fellow senior Caleigh Easter chipped in with six. Elise Markham and Ella LaRocque tallied four apiece. Estella Redding had three. Jaelyn Wheelock added two.
“We preach ball movement a lot in practice and try to get that extra pass and pass up that good shot for a perfect shot,” Hanson said. “It’s not just Cloee (Rupp), the entire team is a special group of ladies, and they all work hard and play well together.”
Meanwhile, the Cardinals had trouble finding a rhythm against Cheboygan’s pressure defense. However, senior Andrea Ruppert started the campaign strong by netting a team-high 10 points, while Aleigha Garms and Marley Szymoniak helped out with six each.
“This is going to be a work in progress, and we know that,” Onaway coach John George said. “We’ve got to learn how to play with one another again. The last group that we had here was pretty cohesive, so there’s just a lot of kids learning the ropes, and it showed tonight. We’re going to be a different team halfway through (the season), I honestly believe that.”
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Onaway also received four points from Jerzie Garms, three from Natalee Hyde, and two apiece from Brooklyn Hedlund and Gianna Marzolo.
Monday also marked the return of Wheelock, who didn’t play any games for Cheboygan last season because of a knee injury. In her return, Wheelock was a presence on both ends of the floor.
“It’s absolutely amazing having Jaelyn back,” Hanson said. “We all went into the locker room and gave her a huge hug after the game, especially coming off a double knee surgery and all the mental toughness it took to come back from that, and to come back arguably better than her sophomore season.”
In the junior varsity game, Sophie Ecker scored 13 points and Adele Schulz netted 10 to lead Cheboygan to a 47-24 victory. Audrey Redding, Estella Redding and Sophia Tamlyn tallied six points each. Makayla Abernathy had four, and Mallory Ekdahl recorded two.
For Onaway, Maya Shimel scored seven and Demi Decker added six.
Cheboygan plays at Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Onaway heads to Pellston for a Ski Valley matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan girls basketball team wins at Onaway in season opener
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On opening night, the experience of the Chiefs was on full display in a 65-33 victory over the Onaway Cardinals in Onaway on Monday, Dec. 8.
WHO WILL BE TOP GIRLS HOOPER? VOTE: Vote! Who will be Cheboygan area's girls basketball MVP in 2025-26?
TOP PERFORMERS, DEC. 5-6: Check out the Cheboygan area's top sports performers for Dec. 5-6
GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cheboygan-area's 25 girls basketball players to watch this winter
The Chiefs (1-0) were led by junior star Cloee Rupp, who netted a game-high 23 points, including 13 in the first half. Sophomore Diem Schley, who logged several varsity minutes a season ago, hit double figures with 10 points and blocked multiple shots defensively.
Defense was the theme of the night for the Chiefs, who forced the Cardinals (0-1) into several turnovers, which allowed them to build an 18-5 lead after one quarter and a 32-13 advantage at the break.
“We executed our defense relatively well for it being our first game,” Cheboygan coach Walter Hanson said. “Onaway is a tough team. Every time you come and play them, they’re going to be scrapping, playing their hardest and giving it their all, so it was a good challenge for us.”
Addison Ptasnik and Olivia Patrick, two senior Cheboygan starters, were also productive with seven and six points respectively, while fellow senior Caleigh Easter chipped in with six. Elise Markham and Ella LaRocque tallied four apiece. Estella Redding had three. Jaelyn Wheelock added two.
“We preach ball movement a lot in practice and try to get that extra pass and pass up that good shot for a perfect shot,” Hanson said. “It’s not just Cloee (Rupp), the entire team is a special group of ladies, and they all work hard and play well together.”
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Meanwhile, the Cardinals had trouble finding a rhythm against Cheboygan’s pressure defense. However, senior Andrea Ruppert started the campaign strong by netting a team-high 10 points, while Aleigha Garms and Marley Szymoniak helped out with six each.
“This is going to be a work in progress, and we know that,” Onaway coach John George said. “We’ve got to learn how to play with one another again. The last group that we had here was pretty cohesive, so there’s just a lot of kids learning the ropes, and it showed tonight. We’re going to be a different team halfway through (the season), I honestly believe that.”
AREA VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cheboygan senior finds voice, wins Tribune volleyball player of year
ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL TEAM: Meet the Cheboygan Daily Tribune’s 2025 all-area volleyball team
Onaway also received four points from Jerzie Garms, three from Natalee Hyde, and two apiece from Brooklyn Hedlund and Gianna Marzolo.
Monday also marked the return of Wheelock, who didn’t play any games for Cheboygan last season because of a knee injury. In her return, Wheelock was a presence on both ends of the floor.
“It’s absolutely amazing having Jaelyn back,” Hanson said. “We all went into the locker room and gave her a huge hug after the game, especially coming off a double knee surgery and all the mental toughness it took to come back from that, and to come back arguably better than her sophomore season.”
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In the junior varsity game, Sophie Ecker scored 13 points and Adele Schulz netted 10 to lead Cheboygan to a 47-24 victory. Audrey Redding, Estella Redding and Sophia Tamlyn tallied six points each. Makayla Abernathy had four, and Mallory Ekdahl recorded two.
For Onaway, Maya Shimel scored seven and Demi Decker added six.
Cheboygan plays at Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Onaway heads to Pellston for a Ski Valley matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan girls basketball team wins at Onaway in season opener
Continue reading...
