LocalSportsJournal.com
BIG RAPIDS — Mason County Eastern’s girls basketball team defeated Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 38-27 in a Western Michigan D League game on the road Friday night.
It was the Cardinals’ second win in a row, improving their record to 3-0 in the conference and 3-1 overall. The Cougars fell to 0-3, overall and in the league.
“I thought we had a phenomenal first quarter, and were a little bit slow in the second and third,” Eastern head coach Jacob Smith said. “Big Rapids Crossroads came out and played tough in front of their home crowd.
“They got it down to six at one time, and we picked up our intensity a little bit more in the fourth quarter. The girls learned they have to play every minute of every game. We have to continue to fight for every rebound. We need to improve on the 50-50 battles a little bit.”
Eastern opened the game with a 15-6 lead after the first eight minutes, but the Cougars came back to outscore the Cardinals, 8-7 in the second. But the Cardinals still maintained a 22-13 lead at the half.
Both teams scored six points in the third period, which gave the Cardinals a 28-19 lead going into the fourth. The Cardinals outscored the Cougars, 10-7 in the final eight minutes.
Janessa Alvesteffer led the Cardinals in scoring with 14 points. Corinna Hernandez and Hillary Howe each had 10. Hernandez had three makes from the 3-point line and Howe had one.
Next on the schedule for the Cardinals is another WMD contest at home against Brethren next Wednesday.
