The Brandon-Oxford girls ski team is still alive and well in their quest to reach the state meet.
The squad finished third in both the slalom and giant slalom at the Mt. Holly Divisional Ski Tournament on Feb. 5, earning a total of 82 points.
Flushing took first in the tourney with 41 points, while Fenton was runner-up with 68.
The win qualifies the girls squad for the Southeastern Michigan Ski League Meet Feb. 17 at Alpine Valley in Milford, the next step on the road to the state finals. The top three teams and any individuals finishing in the top ten qualify for the SEMSL meet.
Brandon-Oxford finished third overall in the final Mt. Holly Division standings, compiling a 6-2 record in dual meet action while finishing with 14 points.
Flushing (8-0, 18 points) finished first, while Fenton (7-1, 16) took second.
In the slalom, Karen Offer led the Brandon-Oxford unit, finishing fourth with a time of 1:01.15. The top three finishers in that event were: Christina Ouellette (Fenton), 55.92; Miranda Olds (Fenton), 56.81; and Lisa Baier (Flushing), 57.16.
Others competing for Brandon were Grace Auchterlonie (10th, 1:05.69), Lauren Bayliss (12th, 1:08.86), Casey Nesterowich (20th, 1:14.50), and Emily DeWitt (29th, 1:34.34).
In the giant slalom, Offer finished sixth (53.45), while Bayliss placed eighth (55.08) and Auchterlonie ninth (55.18).
Other Brandon competitors were Heather Tiffany (16th, 59.55) and Nesterowich (27th, 1:03.60).
Meanwhile, the Brandon-Oxford boys team earned eighth place in the divisional meet with 205 points. Fenton won the meet with 42 points, followed by Holly (92) and Saginaw Heritage (101).
Brandon-Oxford also finished eighth in the final division standings, compiling a 1-7 dual-meet record for a total of four points.
Fenton (8-0, 18 points) finished first, while Holly (7-1, 16) took second and Heritage (6-2, 14) third.
Brandon-Oxford’s Tim Smith placed ninth in the slalom (55.04) to qualify for the state meet.
‘Tim has been placing well in dual competition all season and proved that he was a top racer in the Holly Division,? Coach Ed Haley said. ‘This is a goal that Tim has been striving for.?
Other Brandon competitors in the slalom were Ryan Hotchkiss (13th, 56.35), Shawn Dean (30th, 1:03.68), Trevor DeWitt (36th, 1:07.48) and Brandon Fletcher (44th, 1:22.17).
Hotchkiss led the team in the giant slalom, placing 18th in a time of 53.66. Other Brandon competitors were: DeWitt (29th, 57.47), Fletcher (33rd, 59.44), Dean (37th, 1:07.55), and Smith (42nd, 1:19.10).