With a packed crowd cheering them on in Grayling, the Firebirds set a high bar for the season, leaving fans eager for more.

The Kirtland Firebirds basketball teams launched their season with an impressive home-opening
doubleheader against Community Christian of Detroit, securing victories for both the women's
and men's teams. The Lady Firebirds set a strong precedent with a commanding 65-43 win. Key
players propelled the team to victory: Alyssa Kiel posted 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists;
Mariah Ellis contributed 11 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals; Kayla McCoy added 12
points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists; and Lucy Hall rounded out the performance with 10 points. The
Lady Firebirds' assertive play on both offense and defense kept Community Christian from
gaining traction, solidifying a decisive win.

Kirtland Basketball Head Coach Josh Holman commented on the performance stating, "Any
time you have four double-digit scorers, it's a remarkable achievement. But what I was most
pleased with was our ability to involve every player, all of whom contributed right away. Each
team member scored, contributed on rebounds, and all but two recorded at least one assist. It
demonstrates the depth of our squad, and I look forward to developing that further as the season
progresses."

Following the women's success, the Firebirds men's team took to the court, maintaining the
evening's momentum in a hard-fought game that concluded with a 78-67 victory. In a closely
contested matchup, the men's team leveraged resilience and effective adjustments in the second
half to pull ahead, countering Community Christian's competitive push. Key players in the
victory: Troy Jenkins 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals; RJ Smith contributed 14
points, and 13 rebounds; Wesley Saint Juste added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists; and
Domonique Ramsey rounded out the performance with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. All
players delivered outstanding performances, contributing both offensively and defensively to
secure the season's first win.

"I thought the group rallied together very well. In a back-and-forth match-up, especially early in
the year it's easy to lose your composure. It was very nice to see how our young squad handled
some adversity and responded in the right ways," said Coach Holman. "As I look over the stat
sheet, the two things that stick out to me the most are the rebounding and assist columns. Every
single member of our unit contributed in the rebounding column and all but one member of our
team had at least one assist. We have an incredibly unselfish unit that wants to see one another
succeed daily."

These back-to-back victories underscore a promising start to the season for the Firebirds,
showcasing the skill, teamwork, and endurance that could drive a successful season. The
enthusiastic crowd in Grayling enjoyed an electrifying evening, celebrating Kirtland's first
victories of the year and setting high expectations for the games ahead.