LocalSportsJournal.com

The Whitehall girls basketball team had to come from behind to beat a determined Oakridge squad 40-35 in the Division 2 district semifinals on Wednesday at Spring Lake High School.

Oakridge jumped out to an 11-5 lead after one quarter of play. The Vikings cut the lead to 23-19 by halftime. The Vikings outscored the Eagles 10-6 in the third quarter, bringing the score to 29-29 to start the fourth. 

Whitehall’s Karleigh Jeffries got hot in the fourth quarter, hitting eight of her game-high 16 points, to help Whitehall pull out the come-from-behind victory.

Jeffries also had six rebounds in the game. Greta Hosticka chipped in with six points for the Vikings while Jade Taylor finished with eight rebounds and four steals. 

Leah Lowry paced the Eagles with 12 points and four assists. Gena Lundquist had six points and three rebounds while Anna Lundquist recorded four points and nine rebounds. 

Whitehall will face rival Montague on Friday in the district finals at Spring Lake.

DIVISION 1

GR UNION 55, MUSKEGON 48 – The Big Reds’ successful season ended in disappointment with the loss to Union in the Division 1 semifinals at Grand Haven High School.

Muskegon started out strong, leading 12-9 after one quarter and 26-29 at halftime, but the Red Hawks managed to tie the score 35-35 at the end of the third, and outscore the Big Reds 20-13 in the fourth.

Senior standout Kailyn Nash led Muskegon with 23 points in her final varsity contest. Jamaya Robinson added nine points.

Muskegon finished the season with a 10-8 record.

GR Union moves on to play Mona Shores in Friday’s district championship game.

DIVISION 2

LUDINGTON 50, MANISTEE 25  – The Orioles jumped out to a 8-4 lead after one quarter, and 20-12 after the first half of play. The momentum carried into the second half as the Orioles extended the lead to 32-22 after three quarters. 

RyAnn Rohrer and Abi Bandstra paced the Orioles with 13 points each. Keelyn Laird chipped in with seven points  while Annie Kline finished the evening with six points.

Ludington improved to 12-4 and will play the winner of the Cadillac-Benzie Central game on Friday in the district finals at Kingsley High School.

DIVISION 3

MORLEY STANWOOD 44 RAVENNA 42 – The Mohawks ended the Bulldogs’ season in the Division 3 district semifinals at White Cloud.

The game was tied 13-13 after one quarter before the Mohawks took a 29-20 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs fought back, taking a 33-32 lead into the fourth quarter, and the game came down to the wire.

Ravenna’s Laney Mabrito hit a 3-pointer with about a minute to go to give Ravenna a 42-41 lead, then Morley Stanwood hit a bucket to go up by one. Ravenna turned the ball over, then a Mohawk player was fouled and hit one of two free throws. The Bulldogs attempted a game-winning three as time ran out, but the shot did not fall.

Morley Stanwood advances to play either Kent City in Friday’s district title game. Ravenna finished the season with a 6-12 record.

MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 44, HESPERIA 25 – The Spartans outscored the Panthers 8-3 in the first quarter and 13-7 in the second to take a 21-10 lead into halftime. They increased their edge in the third and led 32-19 headed into the fourth.

Charlie Banks paced the Spartans with nine points while Wren Nelson had eight points and eight rebounds. Nyah Tyron turned in a good all-around performance with five points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. 

The Panthers were led by Emily Bayle and Emma Joppich with seven points apiece. 

Mason County Central improved to 6-13 and will play the winner of the Hart in the district finals at Shelby High School on Friday night.

Hesperia finished the season with a 7-7 record.

NORTH MUSKEGON 48, SAUGATUCK 45  – The Norse jumped out to a 14-8 lead after the first quarter, and 32-22 at halftime. They helped their own cause by hitting seven triples in the first half and 10 in the game.

North Muskegon extended the lead to 40-28 to start the fourth quarter. Saugatuck fought back and cut its deficit to one point down the stretch, but the Norse held on for the win.

Molly Stewart paced the Norse with a game high 17 points while Jena Francis chipped in with nine.

The Norse, now 5-10, move on to play the winner of West Michigan Christian on Friday night in the district title game at Fennville High School

WEST MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN 65, HOLLAND BLACK RIVER 36 – The Warriors jumped out to a 16-8 lead after the first quarter, 32-16 at halftime and 51-20 headed into the fourth.

Kyla Wiersema paced the Warriors with 21 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Folkema chipped in with 20 points and five steals while Kelcea Waller recorded eight steals. 

The Warriors, now 15-1, will play North Muskegon in the district championship on Friday night at Fennville High School.

HART 49, SHELBY 27 – Jayd Hovey scored 21 points as the Pirates defeated their Oceana County rivals and earned a spot in the district finals.

The Pirates jumped out to a 19-7 lead after one quarter of play, 30-16 at halftime, and  40-19 at the start of the fourth.

Hovey also recorded four steals and three assists. Rylee Noggle and Aspen Boutell scored seven points each for Hart. 

Kendall Zoulek paced the Tigers with 12 points and five rebounds, while Lauren Dean finished the evening with seven rebounds and five assists. 

Hart improved to 11-4 and will play Mason County Central on Friday in the district title game at Shelby High School. 

Shelby finished the season 10-9.

KENT CITY 57, WHITE CLOUD 14 -The undefeated Eagles were dominant, jumping out to a 14-4 lead after one quarter, 34-9 at halftime and 44-12 after three.

Kenzie Bowers paced the Eagles with 21 points. Jenna Harrison chipped in with 12 points while Maddie Geers recorded 11. 

Kent City, now 16-0, moves on to play conference rival Morley Stanwood in the district title game on Friday night at White Cloud High School. 

DIVISION 4

MCBAIN NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN 58, PENTWATER 21 – Pentwater hung in the game through the first quarter, only trailing 6-3 at the first buzzer, but then Northern Michigan Christian pulled away, leading 28-6 by halftime and 45-11 after three quarters.

Pentwater finished the season with a 5-8 record.