Whitehall’s Frank Owens is surrounded by Kody Ambrose (00), Payton Tyndall (10) and Coltyn Tyndall of Mason County Central as he goes in for a layup during Friday night’s WMC basketball game. Owens scored seven points, but Whitehall lost 67-53.

The Spartans scored 13 straight points in the second quarter to build a lead that Whitehall was never able to seriously threaten, and the Vikings lost 67-53 to MCC.

Whitehall (1-3, 1-2 West Michigan Conference) held an 18-17 lead after a three-point play to start the second quarter by Isaac Love, but by the time the Vikings scored again, it was 30-18 in favor of the Spartans.

“We tried to force a couple of passes, which led to empty possessions,” Whitehall coach Nate Aardema said. “We didn’t get a good look at it, and then they are getting runouts and easy baskets.”

The Spartans had several easy baskets over the course of the game, forcing turnovers with tight defense and running well in transition to attack the Whitehall defense for layups. Aardema said the team didn’t rotate or stop the ball well and added that the Vikings were unable to get many second chances on the glass.

“You can’t do those things and be successful,” Aardema said. “They dominated the boards on us. They were more aggressive. More often than not, the more aggressive and physical team wins.”

Love led the Vikings with 19 points and hit several key shots that kept things from getting out of hand. Aardema credited Love with terrific leadership to this point in the season.

“Isaac’s put in the work to do this,” Aardema said. “He stayed 40 minutes after practice Wednesday. He wants to be great.”

Dylan Medendorp scored 11 points for Whitehall and Frank Owens had seven. Jevontae Sims scored six points, Matt Rohen had five and Matt Russell had four.

On the Spartans’ end, Kody Ambrose had 19 points and Payton Tyndall had 12. The Spartans controlled things throughout the second half and Whitehall couldn’t get any closer than eight points in the late portions of the game.

“They did a good job,” Aardema said. “They run and attack.”

MASON COUNTY CENTRAL (67) Ambrose 8 2-2 19, C. Tyndall 2 5-7 9, P. Tyndall 4 2-2 12, Asiala 1 0-0 2, Ritzema 1 2-2 4, Bennett 6 3-4 15, Anderson 2 0-2 4, Shafer 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 14-19 67.

WHITEHALL (53) Medendorp 5 0-0 11, Owens 2 3-4 7, Rohen 2 1-1 5, Russell 1 2-3 4, Love 6 4-6 19, Sims 1 4-4 6, VanLoon 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 15-20 53.

Mason Co.......17 21 14 15 — 67

Whitehall........15 15 12 11 — 53

Three-point goals — Ambrose 1, P. Tyndall 2, Medendorp 1, Love 3. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none. JV score: Mason Co. Central 49, Whitehall 35.

Vikes lose

to Oakridge

WHITEHALL — The Whitehall Vikings lost a close one at home Tuesday night to Oakridge, 53-47. With the loss, Whitehall fell to 1-2, 1-1 in the West Michigan Conference.

The game was close throughout, but the Vikings were unable to get over the top to earn the victory. A slow first half in which Whitehall scored 18 points was the main culprit in keeping the Vikings on the negative side of the ledger.

Isaac Love led all scorers by pouring in 18 points for Whitehall. Love also had five assists. Frank Owens scored eight and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Francis Decker led Oakridge with 14 points and Austin Wright added 12.

OAKRIDGE (53): Greenawalt 1 1-2 3, Warren 4 1-3 9, Wahr 0 0-2 0, Decker 5 3-4 14, Wright 3 6-6 12, Honyon 2 1-2 7, Lazarock 0 1-2 1, Eacker 3 1-7 7. Totals 18 14-28 53.

WHITEHALL (47): DeCouto 2 0-0 5, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Medendorp 2 0-0 4, Owens 2 2-4 8, Rohen 2 0-1 4, Russell 2 2-2 6, Love 5 7-9 18. Totals 16 11-16 47.

Oakridge....10 11 17 15 — 53

Whitehall...9 9 12 17 — 47

Three-point goals — Decker 1, Gonyon 2, DeCouto 1, Owens 2, Love 1. Fouled out — Eacker, Love. Technical fouls — none.