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VERSE CITY - Momentum Êseemed to be on the Bay Reps' side as they prepared for last Tuesday night's regional tournament game against Traverse City West at Howe Arena. After a frustrating season that was filled with amazing highs and agonizing lows, the Bay Reps came into their regional opener on a roll. Going 4-11 through their first 15 games didn't exactly stamp the Bay Reps as a likely district championship timber. But, they entered the game against West having won seven of their last nine games and stoked for a run at the Titans. West, however, peppered the Bay Reps goal with 33 shots and moved on in the tournament with a 5-3 victory. The Titans crushed Manistee, 8-1, in the regional final. Mitch Snider paced the Titans with 4 points in leading West to its first regional title. Although the Titans had the better record (17-7-0) coming in, the Bay Reps showed plenty of heart and determination to stay with them throughout the contest. The decisive goal came off the stick of West defenseman Andy Bezotte with the Bay Reps playing shorthanded. Bay Reps goalie Andrew Mills of Elk Rapids couldn't deflect the shot as Bezotte skated in on him all alone. Dan Tinkle of Kalkaska threatened to draw the Bay Reps within a goal of the Titans when he had a clear look at the net, but the shot careened off goalie Spencer Sonneveldt's mask. Sonneveldt was also able to knock down a shot from the Bay Reps' Andrew Zelinski for two incredible saves that essentially secured the win. "I was worried about two things," Bay Reps' head coach Rex Luxton said. "I was worried about the Titans' quickness, and their reputation for coming back in the third period. "Coming into the game I felt we'd need to score at least two, and probably three goals to win. Well, we got the three goals I thought we'd need. "Unfortunately, it proved to be short of what we actually needed. The kids fought hard. I have a great deal of respect for them, and the character they showed out there." Although the Bay Reps got off only 15 shots on goal for the game, they were only one goal down with just 2 minutes and 53 seconds left in the third period. Tinkle found the net on a power-play goal, spearing a pass from Grayson Myas (Kalkaska). It was the third point in the game for Myas as he rivaled West's Snider. Seconds later, the Bay Reps threatened to score the tying goal on another power-play, but failed and Bezotte scored for West to cut off the Bay Reps' momentum. It was a 2-2 game after two periods, but the Titans forged a 4-2 advantage with 4:20 to play in the third on goals by Todd Knaus and P.J. Dienes. West scored first in the game, but Myas answered for the Bay Reps on a break-away. Zelinski and Steve Srdjak assisted on the goal that tied it up, 1-1. But it the Titans opened the scoring just 3:39 into the second period. Despite the loss, Luxton was pleased with the Bay Reps' finishing push. "We finally hit our stride and played the way we're capable of," he said of last Tuesday's game. "I just wish it would have happened earlier in the season." Luxton will have most of the team returning next season with only five seniors graduating in June. He has 11 juniors coming back from a team that won 10 games. Other Elk Rapids players on the team this year included Brandon Ferguson, Ian Webb, Adrian Ringlever, Karl Williamson and Jake Mills.