Put-in-Bay opens its basketball season this weekend at the “Great Lakes Island Schools Tournament” on Beaver Island, Michigan. This is the first time for this event, bringing together high school basketball teams from Beaver Island, Put-in-Bay, Mackinac Island, and Washington Island, Wisconsin. Both girls and boys teams will play a round-robin tournament format starting Friday afternoon, ending Saturday evening.
This is not the first time Put-in-Bay has competed against other island schools. Put-in-Bay defeated Beaver Island in 2013 in their only other contest against each other, and the Panthers have had a regular series going with Mackinac Island since 2008. This will be the first time Put-in-Bay plays Washington Island, Wisconsin.
Coach Craig Schuffenecker enters his eleventh season as the coach of Put-in-Bay School Basketball. His Panthers finished last season with a 7 – 6 record for the boys varsity and 4 – 1 record with the girls squad. Senior Jack Booker returns to lead the boys with a 13.3 points-per-game average; senior Lauren Peter averaged 14.5 per game to lead the Lady Panthers.
“Our kids are looking forward to making the trip north. Their goal and motto for the weekend is, ‘Claim the Lakes!’” said Coach Schuffenecker. WPIB Radio will broadcast live audio/video, featuring local broadcaster Patrick Myers–“Voice of Put-in-Bay!”