By Dave Tomczak
LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTON SHORES – Struggling on both ends of the court and trailing early, the Western Michigan Christian girls basketball team just needed a minute to regroup.

That occurred when Warriors coach Jeremy Goorman called a time out with his team down 12-4 in the first quarter.

WMC responded with an 11-2 run to get back in the game, then continued rolling to a 66-45 victory over traditional rival Grand Rapids Covenant Christian on Tuesday.

Western Michigan Christian improved its record to a sparkling 14-2 on the season.

“That’s probably our most fulfilling win of the season, because Covenant blitzed us last year,” Coach Goorman said after the game.

Anna Sytsema drives from the post for WMC. Photo/Jason Goorman

The visiting Chargers got off to a good start, hitting their first five shots, all from close range, to build the early lead.

But after the time out, the Warriors took control of the contest.

Taylor Folkema put back an offensive rebound as the first quarter expired, giving WMC its first lead of the game, 15-14.

Western Michigan Christian’s inside game began to take over in the second quarter. Forwards Aubrey Goorman and Anna Sytsema combined for 10 of the team’s 17 points, giving the Warriors a 32-27 halftime edge.

Goorman and Sytsema’s ability to move through the paint and find open spots gave Covenant problems the rest of the night. The two combined for 17 second-half points, half of the Warriors’ total.

“Anna really has a knack for those cuts when Aubrey has the ball,” Coach Goorman said. “That really got us going offensively, when Anna was able to finish. It’s a nice dynamic between those two.”

Leading 50-38 after three quarters, WMC held the Chargers to just seven fourth-quarter points while scoring 16 to pull away.

Goorman finished the game with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to lead the Warriors.

Sytsema added 16 points and five rebounds while Folkema had 10 points and Meghan Heiss dished out seven assists.