Cardinals Defeat Pioneers, Advance to Regional Championship

Big Rapids girls basketball team earns spot in regional final with 50-33 win over Clare

Mar. 10, 2026 at 8:46pm

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The Big Rapids Cardinals girls basketball team defeated the Clare Pioneers 50-33 on Monday night to advance to the regional championship game. The Cardinals struggled early but made defensive adjustments in the second quarter to force turnovers and score in transition, taking a 29-16 halftime lead. Big Rapids maintained defensive pressure in the second half to pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This win marks a significant milestone for the Big Rapids girls basketball program, as they have now earned a spot in the regional championship game. The Cardinals will face a tough opponent in Petoskey, who also advanced with a win over Negaunee. This game will determine which team moves on to the state quarterfinals.

The details

The Cardinals fell behind early, trailing 11-7 late in the first quarter. But they made defensive adjustments in the second quarter that forced Clare turnovers and allowed Big Rapids to score in transition. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Nuray Fricke late in the half extended the Cardinals' run and gave them a 29-16 halftime lead. Big Rapids maintained defensive pressure in the third quarter, holding the Pioneers to just 6 points. Although Clare cut into the lead early in the fourth, Big Rapids used crucial ball movement to pull away for the 50-33 victory.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • Big Rapids will face Petoskey in the regional championship game on Wednesday, March 12, 2026. Tipoff is expected at 7 p.m. in Gaylord.

The players

Nuray Fricke

The leading scorer for the Big Rapids Cardinals, finishing with 24 points in the win over Clare.

Nalaya Fricke

Scored 10 points for the Cardinals in the regional semifinal victory.

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What they’re saying

“We definitely hit some outside shots tonight, so that was nice to see. We have a lot of kids that understand their role and we played great defense.”

— Coach Haist

What’s next

The winner of Wednesday's regional championship game between Big Rapids and Petoskey will advance to the state quarterfinals.

The takeaway

Big Rapids' girls basketball team has proven its resilience, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Clare and earn a spot in the regional championship game. This run to the regional final is a testament to the team's defensive intensity and ability to make key adjustments, setting them up for a chance to advance even further in the state tournament.