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 — Slow offensive starts are the problem that has plagued the Montague Wildcats all year long, and it reared its ugly head again Tuesday night as Montague dropped a 50-32 decision to the West Michigan Conference’s top team, the Shelby Tigers.
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.”
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.
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Grace Swanson led R-P with nine points, while Camaryia Williams added eight. The Rockets struggled at the free-throw line, making just four of eight attempts.