Local Sports Journal
When it came right down to it, Western Michigan Christian’s Bernard Smith had a bit more help than Whitehall’s Isaac Love on the offensive end of the court on Tuesday night.
Love outscored Smith 29-27, but it was Smith and the Warriors who came out on top 64-48 in a boys nonleague basketball game.
Love scored from the inside and the outside, he made all seven of his free throws and carried the Vikings’ offense.
By contrast, Smith used his wide body and strong post moves to score 12 baskets, all from close range. He also pulled down 15 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end.
“Bernard cleaned up the boards,” said WMC coach Kyle Mastenbrook, whose team has won seven games in a row and is 8-3 overall. “We hit the glass hard.”
Love was a one-man offensive show for the Vikings. He scored all 12 of his team’s points in the third quarter and seven of 11 in the final quarter.
“He is a versatile player,” Mastenbrook said. “We didn’t do a good enough job identifying where he was, but he did earn those points.”
WMC led 14-7 after one quarter and 30-25 at the half. The Warriors opened up a double-digit lead in the third quarter then cruised in the fourth.
Besides Smith, the Warriors received eight points from Christian Brower and Henry DeKam and seven from Logan Waller. Alex Rop had six assists.
Western Michigan Christian 64, Whitehall 48
WHITEHALL
Devontae Vance 2 0-0 4, Dylan Medendorp 1 2-2 4, Frank Owens 1 1-2 3, Matt Rohen 1 0-0 2, Matt Russell 1 2-2 4, Isaac Love 10 7-7 29, Joe VanLoon 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 12-13 48.
WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Nate Taylor 2 0-0 5, James Jackson 3 0-0 6, Logan Waller 3 0-0 7, Henry DeKam 4 0-0 8, Bernard Smith 12 3-5 27, Alex Rop 0 2-2 2, Chaise Schuiteman 0 1-2 1, Christian Brower 3 2-2 8. Totals 27 8-11 64.
WH 7 – 18 – 12 – 11 — 48
WMC 14 – 16 – 17 – 17 — 64
3-pointers: Taylor, Waller, Love (2). Total fouls: Whitehall 14, WM Christian 11. Fouled out: none. JV: WMC 56-34.
