Central Lake Rallies Past Forest Area, Honors Longtime Coach

CENTRAL LAKE – Behind a 15-3 third-quarter run, the Central Lake girls basketball team registered a 51-41 win over Forest Area in Ski Valley Conference action on Tuesday.

The Warriors trailed 12-7 after the opening quarter but took a 26-22 lead at the half.

McKenzie Szymchack paced Forest Area with 20 points.

At halftime of Tuesday’s game, Central Lake coach Quinn Barry, who is retiring at the end of the season, was honored with a surprise celebration. Barry, who has been coaching boys and girls basketball for a combined 30 years and served as an athletic director for more than a decade, was presented with an engraved desk clock, a book with letters from former players, a t-shirt commemorating his tenure, a framed photo of his current team and a bouquet of flowers for his wife.

“We come from a long line of basketball junkies,” Barry said. “I just want to thank my Dad for turning me on to the game of basketball, and I don’t think it’s ever turned off. My best friends are the parents of the kids that I’ve coached, and the players that I’ve coached.”

The surprise celebration included a short video with messages from fellow Ski Valley coaches and athletic directors as well as from former players.

Forest Area welcomes in Grand Traverse Academy on Thursday.