St. Mary clinched the Cherryland Conference boys’ basketball title this week with a lopsided win over The Leelanau School.

“We started out with just a 12-8 lead after the first quarter. Then our guys got hot and our shots just started to go in,” said assistant coach Tim Schaub, who stepped in because head coach Peter Finch was out of town.

The Thunderbirds were without their starting point guard, who was sidelined by an injury.

All 12 St. Mary team members contributed in the 83-26 victory. Seniors Christian Krombeen led the Eagles with 19 points., and Tyler Shaffran scored 18. Contributing off the bench were juniors Cameron Pobuda (10 points) and Zack Weber (8).

The win gave St. Mary a 7-1 conference record, with their only league loss coming at the hands of T-C Christian.

The Eagles suffered their sixth loss of the season Saturday on the road at Frankfort, 60-47.

St. Mary led after one period 15-14, but the Panthers grabbed a 24-22 halftime edge and then outscored the Eagles, 19-11, in the third quarter to take control of the game.

“They pulled away in the third quarter,” Schaub said.

Bradford Schaub led the Eagle attack with 14 points, and Layton Korson chipped in 9.

Northport was scheduled to travel to Leelanau School yesterday in search of its fourth conference victory of the season. The Wildcats’ third Cherryland victory was Friday over Grand Traverse Academy, 55-37.

Northport led the entire contest with scores of 16-4 after one quarter, 37-10 at halftime and 45-22 at the three-quarter mark. Seniors Jason Tropf, Evan Morgan and Edward Perez stood out at in their final home contest by combining for 49 points. Tropf led the way with 28 points.

Conor Hatch had 12 points or the Mustangs, and Kenny Marrow scored 11.

Earlier in the week the Wildcats topped Alba at home, 59-48.

Tropf had a breakout game with 35 points, and teammate Alan Holt contributed 13. Wilby Gates put up 21 for Alba.

St. Mary was scheduled to travel to Pentwater Friday and at Suttons Bay Tuesday. The last regular game of the season will feature Elk Rapids next Thursday, March 4, in Lake Leelanau.

In addition to yesterday’s game in Glen Arbor, Northport was scheduled to continue its end-of-the-season road trip Friday at T-C Christian and Tuesday at Glen Lake.