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Boys Basketball: Chassell tops Lakes in district opener, 60-48

CHASSELL — Although turnovers were an early issue Monday night, the Chassell boys’ basketball team used a big-scoring first half to take down visiting Lake Linden-Hubbell 60-48 in the opening game of MHSAA Division 4, District 98 state playoff action.

It was a rematch of Friday’s regular-season finale in Lake Linden, where Chassell (17-4) also won. Chassell, winners of four straight games, host Baraga in a district semifinal game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The Chassell sophomore duo of Daba Holmes and Karl Rautiola led the Panther offense, combining for 37 points between them — including 24 before halftime. Both played an inside-out game, but Holmes did most of his damage on mid- to long-range jumpers, while Rautiola made a living right under the basket with a series of reverse layups.

Rautiola also went 3-4 at the free throw line — part of an 80% Chassell team effort — to score 18 total points. Senior Bill Rautiola chipped in 10 points for the Panthers. “Daba had a really good game tonight,” said Chassell coach Raphael Suomis after the game about Holmes’ game-high 19 points. “Lake Linden was covering Bill Rautiola because he’s our shooter. They did a good job on him. And Daba picked up where he should have. He’s a good shooter, too.”

Lake Linden (9-12) competed well at both ends of the court all game, but the Lakes really had to work hard to score. LL-H was mostly unable to make outside shots and did not get a lot of second-chance opportunities – especially in the first half. Three Lakes did hit double figures though.

Senior Cole Gregorie led his squad with 13 points, trailed by fellow senior Alex Marhley and sophomore Marcus Sutherland with 11 points apiece.

“(Chassell) hit their shots and we didn’t. That’s to their credit,” said LL-H head coach Jack Kumpula. “I think offensively, we got what we wanted, but for the most part the shots just didn’t fall.”

This contest started out as a back-and-forth affair with five lead changes in the opening minutes. Chassell did throw the ball away several times on bad passes though. Holmes was finally able to string together back-to-back buckets — including a 3-pointer — to forge a 10-6 Chassell lead about halfway through the first quarter.

Karl Rautiola then laid in consecutive baskets for a 9-0 Panther run. Holmes capped off the first frame with another triple in the last minute and the home team had a 19-10 advantage after eight minutes of play.

Karl Rautiola then took his turn with a make beyond the arc in the second quarter to bring the score to 27-14 in Chassell’s favor. The Panthers would maintain a 13-point advantage until halftime.

Lake Linden did show some life to start the third quarter, scoring the first six points out of the break. Three times the Lakes cut the Chassell lead to seven points in the quarter, holding the Panthers to only eight total points in the period. But Chassell baskets were timely and kept LL-H at bay. The score was 45-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lake Linden applied a lot of ball pressure defense in the fourth, often doubling the ball in the back court. Chassell consistently found the open man for easy scores though. The Panther margin maxed out at 17 points with less than two minutes to go and Kumpula subbed out his seniors in two shifts over the last minute to nice ovations from the crowd.

“I’m proud of my seniors,” Kumpula said after addressing his team post-game. “The season didn’t go the way we wanted, with injuries and things. But they played hard and they never quit.”

LL-Hubbell 10 14 11 13 — 48

Chassell 19 18 8 15 — 60

LAKE LINDEN-HUBBELL (48): Cole Gregorie 13, Marhley 11, Sutherland 11, Caleb Gregorie 7, Codere 3, Ongie 3. FT: 5-10. 3-point FG: Codere 1, Caleb Gregorie 1, Sutherland 1.

CHASSELL (60): Holmes 19, Karl Rautiola 18, Bill Rautiola 10, Pietila 7, Usitalo 4, Kilpela 2. FT: 12-15. 3-point FG: Holmes 3, Pietila 1, Karl Rautiola 1, Bill Rautiola 1.

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