By Ron Rop
Local Sports Journal

Abby Cole got a good night’s sleep on Tuesday night and proved to be a nightmare for the Mona Shores Sailors on Wednesday night.

Cole, who spent last weekend in Colorado Springs trying out for the U.S. Women’s Junior National volleyball team, returned home late Sunday night and was in need of a good night’s sleep. A rested Cole scored 20 points and led the unbeaten Grand Haven Buccaneers to a 60-37 Class A district semifinal victory over the Mona Shores Sailors.

Grand Haven will meet Muskegon at 7 p.m. Friday with a district title at stake. The Bucs are seeking their fourth straight district crown.

“I slept until 12 o’clock,” said Cole, the Bucs 6-foot-5 senior post player. “I’m finally caught up.”

Mona Shores couldn’t catch up to Cole and her teammates right from the start. Cole poured in 10 points in the opening quarter and eight more in the second. Grand Haven (22-0) led 35-17 at the half.

“Coach wanted us to execute the high-low in this game,” said Cole, who also had 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. She made her first six shots over the first quarter and the early moments of the second.

In the second half, the Bucs cruised to the victory.

“Grand Haven is a good team and no one has found a way to beat then yet,” said Shores coach Brad Kurth.

Besides Cole, Taylor Craymer added 10 points and Mallory Beswick added seven.

“It’s tournament time so we respect everybody,” Grand Haven coach Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “It’s survive and advance.”

Mona Shores (11-10) was led by Sarah Jones and Jasmyn Walker with 11 points each. Jones canned three 3-pointers. Walker had seven rebounds.

Grand Haven 60, Mona Shores 37

MONA SHORES
Rachel Anderson 0 2-2 2, Amy Gillings 2 0-0 4, Kelcey Wolffis 1 0-0 2, Meredith Smith 1 2-6 4, Jena’a Matthews 1 1-2 3, Jasmyn Walker 4 3-5 11, Sarah Jones 4 0-0 11. Totals 13 8-15 37.

GRAND HAVEN
Courtney Springer 1 1-2 3, Amanda Merz 0 0-2 0, Grace Kendra 2 2-2 6, Angie Schultz 2 0-0 4,  Mallory Beswick 2 3-4 7, Hannah Wilkerson 2 2-2 6, Bailey Tebeau 1 1-2 3, Abby Cole 10 0-2 20, Amy Kober 0 1-2 1, Taylor Craymer 5 0-2 10. Totals 25 10-20 60.

Mona Shores 9 – 8 – 11 – 9 — 37
Grand Haven 18 – 17 – 13 – 12 — 60
3-pointers: Jones (3). Total fouls: Mona Shores 19, Grand Haven 18. Technicals: none. Fouled out: none.