Whitehall forward Brandi Balzer (left) battles Hart’s Jenny Herrygers for the basketball in the post during Thursday night’s WMC game at Whitehall. Balzer had nine points in the Vikings’ 57-45 loss to Hart.
WHITEHALL — The Whitehall Vikings played a solid two and a half quarters of basketball Thursday night against a good Hart team, but an early first-quarter swoon proved lethal to their chances of victory.
The Vikes fell behind by 12 early on, and though they battled back, they could never take the lead in a 57-45 West Michigan Conference loss to Hart.
Whitehall dropped to 2-10 overall and 2-6 in WMC play with the loss.
“We talked in the locker room afterwards about how we can’t keep giving up these big first quarters,” Whitehall coach Rachel Kent said. “We just have to come out and play our game. We can’t let other teams frazzle us.”
The Vikings stumbled early as Hart raced out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter. The team looked tentative and overcautious, leading to problematic turnovers.
Montague edges N. Muskegon
NORTH MUSKEGON — The Montague Wildcats notched their second win of the season Thursday night, edging North Muskegon for a 41-38 victory.
Montague trailed by 10 at one point in the first half before coming back for the victory.
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