Local Sports Journal
The host Whitehall Vikings turned in a defensive gem on Monday night and defeated the Western Michigan Christian Warriors 39-32.
The Vikings limited WMC senior post player Bernard Smith to 12 points, 16 under his season average.
In the meantime, the hosts limited the Warriors to just six points in the first half.
“They turned it over and we forced some turnovers,” Viking coach Nate Aardema said. “Bernard in there takes a guy and a half to box out.”
WMC did make a late run in the final quarter, but could not cut the deficit to less than six points.
Whitehall led 7-4 after the first quarter and 18-6 at the half. WMC did cut the deficit to 24-16 after three quarters.
Matt Russell led the Vikings (4-2) with 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also drew the assignment of banging on Smith all night long. Matt Rohen was the leading scorer for Whitehall with 12 points. Keenan Aylor added nine points.
Smith added 18 rebounds to his 12-point performance.
WMC (5-2) saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. The Warriors were coached by assistant Matt Dugener. Head coach Kyle Mastenbrook and his wife, Ashley, became the parents of a baby girl earlier in the day on Monday.
WHITEHALL 39, WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN 32
WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Alex Rop 1 0-0 2, Jacob Ray 2 1-2 5, Derrick Holt 2 0-0 4, Sam Mast 0 0-0 0, Bernard Smith 4 4-10 12, Kyle Kingma 2 0-0 4, Jared Varnado 2 0-0 5. Totals 13 5-12 32.
WHITEHALL
Noah Trombley 1 0-2 2, Dylan Medendorp 1 0-0 2, Matt Rohen 3 4-4 12, Patrick Johnson 1 0-0 2, Matt Russell 5 1-2 11, Keenan Aylor 3 2-5 9, Cheston Manns 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 8-15 39.
WMC 4 – 2 – 10 – 16 — 32
WH 7 – 11 – 6 – 15 — 39
3-pointers: Varnado, Rohen (2), Aylor. Fouled out: Rop. Technicals: none. JV: Whitehall 56-52.
