LocalSportsJournal.com

The Orchard View girls basketball team has stepped into the victory column for the first time this season. LSJ Logo incert

And the Cardinals’ coach, Sandra Bush, has captured her first victory at the varsity level.

The Cardinals topped visiting Muskegon Heights 59-46 on Monday to improve their record to 1-13 on the season. Every Orchard View player scored at least one point in the win.

“The girls were excited and it feels good to get a win and my first win as a head varsity coach,” said Bush, whose team will not get much rest this week with games on Wednesday and Friday. “We’re starting to execute and I see improvement every day. We just gotta keep playing hard.”

Orchard View led 32-24 at halftime.

Janaya Ferrell scored 10 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter to help O-V jump out to a 52-30 lead heading into the fourth. Ferrell also grabbed 15 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Amari Brown scored 10 points and had six assists for the Cardinals. Makayla Rennells scored all eight of her points in the pivotal third quarter while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

Shaqnelle Carr chipped in nine points for the winners.

The Cardinals took care of the ball, something they’ve struggled with all season. They had had only four turnovers in the first half and came in well below their season average of 30 per game.

“It took a lot of work to get this win tonight,” said Bush, who has been working out with her team at every practice to help even out the numbers on the floor. “We moved the ball really well in the third quarter and fought past foul trouble and found Janaya in the post.”

Muskegon Heights was paced by Diamond Franklin with 15 points and Frendreka Watkins-Oliver with 13 points.