STANDISH-STERLING - Mar. 5 2010 - The best of the Northeast Michigan Conference met the best of the Jack Pine Conference during Friday's district championship, with Tawas, the NEMC champion, pulling off a 42-30 win for its third straight district championship.

“We knew they were good coming in,” Tawas head coach Todd Kaems said. “They beat Standish on their home floor on Monday night and that took quite a bit. They had a couple nice players and we tried to handle them. They played hard and that's what you expect out of a district final.”

The Braves appeared determined to keep Gladwin standout Melanie Smalley off her game, as Molly Stoll kept pace with her for the duration, holding her to 16 hard-earned points.

“I thought we made Smalley work for everything she got,” Kaems said. “Molly definitely made it difficult for her. I thought we made her earn it.”

Tawas took an 8-2 lead midway through the first quarter, and appeared to be running away with things early on but Smalley scored five points, including a three pointer with 20 seconds to go in the frame to cut the gap to 9-7 after one.

A three-point basket by Gladwin's Britni Balzer gave the Flying G's a 10-9 lead early in the second quarter, but Tawas closed the half on a 9-2 run to take an 18-12 lead at the break.

“I just think defensively we played really well,” Kaems said. “We gave up a few rebounds on the back side and a few open looks but I thought for the most part we played really well. We handled the ball really well but we missed some shots we were accustomed to making."

The Braves took a quick 22-12 lead in the second half on baskets by Courtney Clothier and Audrey Thoryk, before an off balanced three by Smalley and a free throw by Jenna Willford cut the gap to 22-16.

That was as close as the G's could get as Tawas took a 29-22 lead at the end of three and gradually pulled away to the 42-30 final.

“It's been a fun last few years,” Kaems said of his team winning their third district in a row. “We've had a lot of success and a lot of good kids come through. I think the kids, they're hungry for a little bit more but to win a league title and a district title, that's pretty special.”

Tawas (19-3) opens regional play on Tuesday in Grayling, where they will play Kingsford (17-5) which topped Sault Ste. Marie 74-42 in its district final.

Kingsford also ended the Braves' season in last year's regional final, 55-46.

“They're not real big, but real quick and they're going to look to press,” Kaems said of the Flivvers. “They will man press, look to drive and kick it out for the three. They're not a whole lot different than last year.”

On the other side of the bracket is Petoskey and Manistee. The Northmen, ranked fifth in the state, gave Tawas its first loss of the season, a 48-43 blemish in their season-opener on Dec. 4.

“I think the biggest key is we have to handle the pressure,” Kaems said. “If we don't turn the ball over we stand a really good chance of winning. If we have a lot of turnovers its going to be a long night for us.”