Now the true test of the season awaits the Wildcats, who have to face the league’s best in Shelby, Whitehall and undefeated Oakridge across their next three games.

“The plan is to get at least one of those,” said Montague head coach Bill O’Connell. “We want all three, but those are three pretty good teams we’re talking about.”

For now, the Wildcats are one of the area’s hottest teams, reeling off five league wins since the middle of the month.

Friday night was no exception, as Montague dismantled the Spartans, particularly in the second quarter, when Mason County was held to just one field-goal make to Montague’s 6-for-11 shooting from the field. The Wildcats took a 29-14 lead into the locker room. From there, Montague outscored Central 14-6 to put the lead to 23 points, and cruised from there.

Still, O’Connell would like to see less turnovers — the Wildcats totaled 23 on the night — but was proud of the fact the team dished out 17 assists on the ‘Cats 21 baskets, led by senior Morgan Cullen’s four.

“We have to cut down on the turnovers,” lamented O’Connell. “Teams like Whitehall and Oakridge will take advantage of those. And we’re just not good enough to do that against them and win. But,” he added, “we’re starting to mesh.”

Senior Sara Horn led the Wildcats’ scoring effort with 10, while Makenzie Bortell poured in six points to go with 10 boards and three steals. Megan Rumsey and Rachel Flagstead also had six points apiece, with Flagstead adding six rebounds in the win.

Montague 49: Makenzie Bortell 3 0-2 6, Sara Horn 5 0-0 10, Bri Lambrix 1 0-0 2, Audrey Anderson 2 0-0 5, Katie LaRue 1 1-2 3, Rachel Flagstead 3 0-6 6, Anna Teichthesen 1 1-2 3, Megan Rumsey 2 2-4 6, Aubrey Boerema 3 2-2 6. Totals 21 6-15 49.

Mason County Central 28: LaVigne 3 5-9 11, Quinlan 2 0-0 4, King 1 2-2 4, Wiese 0 0-2 0, Tenney 3 3-6 9. Totals 9 10-19 28.

Three-point field goals: Montague 17, Mason County Central 13. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none.

Montague 11 18 14 6-49

Mason CC 6 8 6 8-28

R-P girls fall to Union

MUSEKEGON — Reeths-Puffer lost a close game at home to visiting Grand Rapids Union Friday night 49-41.

The Rockets kept it close despite Grand Rapids Union having three players score in double figures.

“The whole time it felt like we were in the game,” said Rocket head coach Brandon Barry. “We just never got our open looks to drop.”

Reeths-Puffer was in it the whole way, trailing 13-8 after one and 23-19 at the break.

But the Red Hawks’ Diana Rogers stole the show, pouring a game-high 14 points, while also dishing out six assists and handling three steals.

“We just couldn’t slow her down,” said Barry.

The Rockets’ Briana Fogle grabbed seven rebounds to go along with her six points, while Jennifer Wilson led the Rocket scoring effort with nine points.

Grand Rapids Union’s Erica Harris matched Rogers’ 14 points in the victory. Harris hit two three-pointers and went 8-8 from the free throw line.

Reeths-Puffer 41: Briana Fogle 2 2-6 6, Jennifer Wilson 2 4-5 9, Killian Barry 2 0-0 6, Cassie Swanson 1 0-0 2, Kelly Barnes 4 0-0 8, Erin Caughey 2 0-2 4, Emily Lindenbaum 2 0-0 4, Courtney Cave 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 6-16 41.

GR Union 49: Rogers 5 4-6 14, Hespers 5 0-0 10, Spell 1 0-0 2, J. Hesper 0 1-2 1, Dawson 2 0-0 4, Long 2 0-3 4, Harris 2 8-8 14. 17 13-19 49

Three point field goals: Wilson, Barry 2, Harris 2. Total fouls: Reeths-Puffer 17, Grand Rapids Union 13. Fouled out: Lindenbaum. Technicals: none.

Reeths-Puffer 8 11 7 15-41

Grand Rapids Union 13 8 9 19-49

Whitehall Girls

4th quarter’s a charm for Vikes

Senior Nicci Thomas had all 15 of her points in 4th-quarter explosion

RAVENNA — The Whitehall girls started slow at Friday night's game with Ravenna, but ended it with an impressive fourth quarter.

“It was an insane first half,” said Assistant Coach Kristen Schropp. “It didn’t look like Whitehall basketball at all.”

Senior Nicole Thomas poured in all 15 of her points in the fourth to lead the Vikings in scoring, and to a 23 point fourth quarter which resulted in a win over Ravenna.

Whitehall’s Autumn Christenson scored 10 and pulled down five rebounds, while teammate Haley Sohasky chipped in eight points to go with three assists and three steals to help lead the Vikings. Ravenna’s leading scorer was Emily Gardenour with seven points, including a three-pointer.

Ravenna 30: Gardenour 2 2-4 7, Brodeur 2 0-0 4, Shavalier 2 0-0 4, Hodges 1 2-2 4, O’Leary 1 1-2 3, Emory 1 0-0 3, VanderZanden 1 1-2 3, Beahan 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 5-10 30

Whitehall 44: Nicci Thomas 5 5-6 15, Autumn Christenson 3 4-7 10, Haley Sohasky 4 0-0 8, Allie Annese 3 0-2 6, Taylor Sikkenga 1 0-0 2, Sarah Gould 0 2-2 2, Hayden Stine 0 1-2 1. Totals 12-19 44

Three point field goals: Gardenour. Total fouls: Ravenna 17, Whitehall 12. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.

Whitehall 4 11 6 23-44

Ravenna 7 7 7 9-30\

Reeths-Puffer Boys

Rockets miss McKinley in Union loss

MUSKEGON — Despite outscoring Grand Rapids Union in the second half the Reeths-Puffer Rockets ran out of fuel.

The Rockets had the lead at the end of the first quarter, 15-13, but were in for a tough 2nd quarter.

Senior guard Dontreal McKinley went down with an ankle injury in the 2nd quarter and wouldn’t return. Grand Rapids Union capitalized by doubling the output of the sputtering Rockets in the 2nd quarter to open up a nine point lead at the half.

“Union took advantage, we were a little stunned,” said Coach talking about the McKinley injury.

Despite a steady second half, Reeths-Puffer couldn’t dig out of the hole they were in after the first half.

Reeths-Puffer’s Chris Anderson had a game high 23 points, while teammate Joe Melton added 13 points of his own.

Grand Rapids Union had a pair of 20 or more point scorers Friday night. Freddy Simpson led the team 22 points, nine of them coming from three point range. Landon Carnegie went 8-10 from the free throw line in route to a 20 point night.

Reeths-Puffer 55: Jhamonte Melton 1 1-3 3, Dontreal McKinley 1 1-2 4, Caden Beals 2 1-4 5, Ryan Oosting 1 0-0 2, Scott Schultz 1 0-0 3, Chris Anderson 10 3-6 23, Joe Melton 4 1-3 13, Benjamin Jordan 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 6-15 55

GR Union 60: Simpson 6 7-13 22 Carnegie 6 8-10 20, Watson 2 0-0 5, Hamilton 1 0-0 2, Parker 1 0-2 3, Hunter 1 3-4 5, Champan 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 18-29 60

Three point field goals: McKinley, Schultz, Joe Melton 4, Simpson 3, Watson, Parker , Chapman. Total fouls: Reeths-Puffer 22, Grand Rapids Union 16. Fouled out: Jhamonte Melton. Technicals: none.

Reeths-Puffer 15 11 13 16-55

GR Union 13 22 15 10-60