Local Sports Journal
Host Western Michigan Christian raced to an early lead and never looked back in a 69-25 nonleague boys basketball victory over the Bear Lake Lakers.
WMC, winners of 10 straight games, had an 18-2 lead after one quarter and 37-12 at the half.
Sophomore guard Jacob Ray canned five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 16 points. Three of those long-range shots came in the final quarter.
“He’s a player,” said WMC coach Kyle Mastenbrook, whose team is 11-3. “He hadn’t played like that in a game yet, but he’s been having some great practices.”
In all, 10 Warriors got on the scoreboard. Nate Taylor also reached double figures with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Eight Warrior scored at least five points each.
Bernard Smith led the way in rebounding with seven. Taylor had four assists, Chaise Schuiteman had five steals and Henry DeKam had four assists.
“We really had a lot of guys step up tonight,” Mastenbrook said.
Post player Joshua Metiva led Bear Lake with 12 points.
Also, Bear Lake coach Garrett Waller is the brother of WMC baseball coach Darren Waller. Cousins Bryson Waller (Bear Lake) and Logan Waller (WMC) were pitted against each other.
Western Michigan Christian 69, Bear Lake 25
BEAR LAKE
Cody Brown 0 0-1 0, Shane Peterson 1 0-2 2, Bryson Waller 2 2-6 7, Reilly Merrill 0 1-2 1, John Girven 0 2-3 2, Zachary Rupert 0 1-2 1, Joshua Metiva 6 0-2 12. Totals 9 6-18 25.
WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Nate Taylor 4 0-0 10, James Jackson 3 0-0 6, Logan Waller 3 2-2 8, Henry DeKam 2 0-0 5, Bernard Smith 3 0-0 6, Chuckie Phillips 1 0-0 2, Alex Rop 1 3-4 5, Chaise Schuiteman 3 2-2 8, Jacob Ray 5 1-2 16, Sam Mast 1 1-2 3. Totals 26 9-12 69.
Bear Lake 2 – 10 – 8 – 5 — 25
WMC 18 – 19 – 14 – 18 — 69
3-pointers: B. Waller, Taylor (2), DeKam, Ray (5). Total fouls: Bear Lake 14, WM Christian 19. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none. JV: WMC 68-12.
