BAY CITY ALL SAINTS - Mar. 10, 2010 - AuGres-Sims was as prepared as it could be for Bay City All Saints. The Wolverines even played one of their best games against the season.

It still wasn't enough to beat the Cougars, who pulled away from AGS in the second half to advance to Friday's district title game with a 58-41 victory.

"We were prepared," said AGS coach Gordie Ostrander. "We had a good scouting report. We worked on (defending) the high-low that they run all week. We brought in graduates to play it. But you just can't simulate what they do. They're like Hale in that they don't really have a weakness, but they're more athletic."

Nevertheless, the Wolverines led 13-11 after one quarter and 21-20 midway through the second period before All Saints closed with a nine-point run to end the half with a 29-21 lead.

"We played really well, especially the first 12 minutes," Ostrander said. " We hung within a point and then we just couldn't score."

The Wolverines hurt their cause by shooting 1-of-6 at the free throw line in the second quarter (4-of-12 for the game). And then Adam Pijaszek and Justin Villano took over in the third quarter, scoring eight points apiece as the Cougars pulled out to a 48-34 lead.

"They've got two 6-8 kids (twin brothers Justin and Thomas Villano), but they also have guys who can hit you with the 3-pointer. The only way we were going to beat them was if we could get them in foul trouble and we weren't able to do that."

Justin Villano finished with a game-high 26 points, with Pijaszek adding 13 for the Cougars (14-7).

Travis Byard paced the Wolverines (10-11) with 16 points, with Kendall Rollins adding nine.

Ostrander said he hopes the game provides a stepping stone for the Wolverines heading into next season as they lose just two players -- Kyle Shanks and Mike Wallace -- to graduation.

"This team has a lot of potential," he said. "Next year we'll be as good as the work we put in during the summer.

"Obviously with a game like this, you play to win, but the kids did a nice job. I'm not disappointed at all. Losing like that you can live with. We showed up physically and mentally and that's all you can ask."