LocalSportsJournal.com

The Ludington boys’ basketball team finished its home season with an exclamation point on Wednesday, overcoming a double-digit third LSJ Logo incertquarter deficit and upsetting Muskegon Heights 61-57 in overtime.

Ludington trailed 26-21 at halftime and was down 11 points two minutes into the third quarter, but didn’t buckle under the pressure.

The Orioles outscored the Tigers 15-8 in the fourth quarter. Josh Laman hit a bucket with about a minute left to tie the game at 49-49 and force overtime.

Ludington built a six-point lead in overtime, but Muskegon Heights kept fighting. Anthony Jones hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to bring the Tigers within a point, 58-57.

But Ludington’s Cam Bandstra responded with a free throw, then Sam LaDuke grabbed an offensive rebound off the missed second free throw, drew a foul and drained two from the line to seal the victory.

Ludington improved to 12-5. Muskegon Heights fell to 13-4.

“We just chipped away for the next quarter and a half and kept our composure,” said Ludington Coach Thad Shank, whose team hadn’t topped the Heights since 2006. “Sometimes with teams like Muskegon Heights, teams will just start to fade away.

“It makes it special being our last home game of the season. We have a lot of dedicated kids and we’re graduating six seniors. It’s a pretty good way for those kids to go out.”

Freshman forward Josh Laman stepped up in a big way for Ludington with 19 points and nine rebounds. He filled in nicely for his brother Noah Laman, the team’s leading scorer, who was out with an injury.

“He rebounded the ball well tonight especially against a team like the Heights who takes pride in rebounding,” Shank said. “He’s been playing well with his back to the basket this year. He’s a skilled kid for a post player.”

LaDuke finished with 16 points, Zac Schoon added 14 and Bandstra had nine points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Muskegon Heights was led by Kendrick Watson with 19 points and Jones with 13.