Kirtland Community College

Sports News Release

10775 N. St. Helen Road, Roscommon, MI 48653 (989) 275-5000     kirtland.edu
Subject: Kirtland Firebirds down St. Clair
For Release: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005		 Office: Public Relations 
Contact: Irene Borak, (989) 275-5000 Ext. 242

Kirtland Firebirds down St. Clair
ROSCOMMON – Kirtland’s 6’8” center from Pontiac, Craig Ash, managed to add 23 points to a whopping 17 rebounds and 8 blocked shots to help the Kirtland Firebirds defeat visiting St. Clair County CC 89-80 on Saturday, Feb. 12, in MCCAA men’s basketball action.

Now with an MCCAA Eastern Conference record of 7-5 (17-9 overall), the Firebirds are in a tight race for second place in the conference.

Mott CC – which is on Kirtland’s schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 16 – has clinched the first-place slot with a perfect 12-0 record. They’re followed not at all closely by Henry Ford CC at 7-4, while Wayne County CC shares Kirtland’s 7-5 record.

“Tomorrow’s game with Mott is vital in order for us to have a chance to place in second,” said Kirtland coach Glen Donahue. “It will have to be one of the best games we play all season.”

He has players who share his goal. Leading that pack is Bernard Daniels, a 5’8” guard from Detroit, who hit 10 for 10 from the free throw line on Saturday and tagged four three-point shots toward a team-high 26 points. He added 10 assists to the stat sheet as well.

Daniels has been the team’s leading scorer this season, as well as its spark plug, applying pressure when pressure is needed and always keeping the ball in forward motion.

Frank Washington, also of Detroit, added 21 points against St. Clair and is not far behind Daniels in total points this season.

All the Firebirds will need to be in top form when the travel to Flint Wednesday to take on Mott (game time is 7:30 p.m.). They’ll continue on the road with their final season games in Alpena on Saturday, Feb. 19, then at Macomb on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

The state tournament begins Friday, Feb. 25. Kirtland will host Vincennes for the opening of the regional tournament Friday, March 4, at the CRAF Center.