Montague’s LeAnne Fessler (left) looks for an open teammate while Shelby’s Chloe Sillman defends during Tuesday night’s WMC girls basketball game. Montague lost to the Tigers, 50-32.

Montague scored just two points in the first quarter and it took over halfway into the second quarter before the Wildcats scored a field goal, allowing Shelby to gain control quickly.

“We have to stop doing that,” Montague coach Bill Stone said ruefully. “I’m taking advice if you have any.”

The Wildcats (2-10, 2-7 WMC) continued to play shorthanded, as Sarah Harrie was out due to a family illness and Madison Aebig continues to be sidelined with a concussion. Stone said Aebig is unlikely to return this season.

“She was giving us great minutes, especially on defense,” Stone said of Aebig. “She’s a fantastic defensive player. Especially with our press, with how quick she was, that’s having an impact.”

Montague trailed 28-9 at the half, and Shelby largely called off the dogs in the second half. The Tigers’ played exclusively reserves in the fourth quarter, and Montague played well against them, outscoring Shelby 23-22 in the second half.

“Even when we went to our own bench towards the beginning of the fourth quarter, I thought they did ok,” Stone said. “I thought we got some good minutes.”

Stone added that the Wildcats achieved a goal they set out to meet pregame by posting their lowest amount of turnovers so far this season (16).

Hailey Cockerill led the Wildcats with 11 points and Karleigh Davis added six. The bigger and taller Tigers dominated the inside, as Sydney Czurak scored 14 points for Shelby and Tristen Moore had 11.

Montague’s struggles are not for lack of effort, Stone said.

“The girls are just amazing,” Stone said. “Whatever is asked of them, they do. They don’t complain and they work hard. They’re an amazing group of girls.”

SHELBY (50) Sillman 0 1-2 1, Felt 2 0-0 4, Roberts 1 0-0 2, Kinstner 1 0-2 2, Fox 3 0-0 6, Rodriguez 3 0-0 9, Brown 0 1-4 1, Czurak 6 2-4 14, Moore 4 3-4 11. Totals 20 7-16 50.

MONTAGUE (32) Kessler 1 0-0 2, Cockerill 4 2-2 11, Shugars 1 2-2 4, Taylor 1 0-0 2, Rice 1 2-2 4, Fessler 1 0-0 3, Davis 3 0-0 6. Totals 12 6-7 32.

Shelby.....14 14 14 8 — 50

Montague... 2 7 15 8 — 32

Three-point goals — Rodriguez 3, Cockerill 1, Fessler 1. Total fouls — Shelby 9, Montague 12. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none. JV score: Shelby 40, Montague 36.

Hart takes down ‘Cats

HART — Montague battled hard for three quarters against the Hart Pirates Friday night, but Hart overwhelmed the Wildcats late for a 59-39 West Michigan Conference win.

Montague (2-11, 2-8 WMC) trailed only 39-32 going into the final quarter, but Hart exploded for 20 points in the pivotal fourth frame.

Elyse Taylor had a big night in a losing effort for Montague, piling up 19 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. Kaylee Kessler added eight points.

Hart’s Macayla Greiner scored 22 points to lead all players.

Vikes fall at Mason

Co. Central

SCOTTVILLE — The Whitehall Vikings couldn’t hold a late lead Friday night, and it cost them a win, as the Spartans of Mason County Central came back to defeat Whitehall 41-35.

Mason County outscored Whitehall (2-12, 2-8 West Michigan Conference) 18-7 in the fourth quarter to erase a late deficit.

Emily MacArthur posted a double-double for Whitehall, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She also had five blocks. Jenna Pesch added 13 points and five steals.

Madison Geers upstaged everyone, though, notching a triple-double, with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 10 steals.

Whitehall routed

at Oakridge

MUSKEGON — The Whitehall offense couldn’t get off the ground Tuesday night against one of the West Michigan Conference’s best.

The Vikings scored just two points in the first quarter and none in the third as Oakridge rolled past Whitehall 68-19.

Oakridge forced Whitehall (2-11, 2-7 WMC) into several turnovers. Keyara Wiard, Morgan Giddings and Ashley Weaver combined for 20 steals against the Vikes.

Emily MacArthur had Whitehall’s top individual performance, scoring eight points and grabbing a game-best 10 rebounds. Bailey Seeger added four points.

Wiard scored 26 points for Oakridge.

R-P tumbles

at Muskegon

MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer struggled early and couldn’t snap out of an early deficit, as the Rockets dropped an O-K Black game to Muskegon Friday night, 57-30.

The Rockets were down 25-13 at the halftime break and couldn’t seriously threaten the Big Reds in the final 24 minutes. R-P dropped to 10-4 and 3-2 in the O-K Black with the defeat.

Rockets top

Kenowa Hills

GRAND RAPIDS — The Reeths-Puffer Rockets improved to 10-3 Tuesday night, defeating Kenowa Hills in an O-K Black Conference game, 46-37.

No further information was reported.

R-P falls to Shores

MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer’s offense sputtered last Friday night, failing to score double-digit points in any quarter of its 46-28 loss to Mona Shores.

The Rockets trailed 20-13 at halftime, but couldn’t draw much closer.