LocalSportsJournal.com
WALKERVILLE — A 13-0 start helped propel the Mason County Eastern girls basketball team to a 39-26 victory over the Walkerville Wildcats in a West Michigan D League opener for both teams in Walkerville Friday night.
Scoring was a lot closer in the second quarter, although the Cardinals maintained their lead throughout. It was 17-7 at the half, and 24-16 after three quarters.
“They (the Wildcats) got it down to eight at one time, I think, possibly six,” Eastern coach Jake Smith said. “We had just had two turnovers in a row, and missed a shot right before then.
“You know how basketball is, you get a call here and a call there, a travel that’s not called and the next thing you know the crowd is into it.
“I called a time out and I told our girls, ‘Hey, we’ve got to play our game. So, just calm down.’ They scored six points in a row, and okay. Neither team shot well. But, it was the first game of the year.”
Hillary Howe led the Cardinals (1-0, 1-0 WMD) with 18 points, Corinna Hernandez added 16 for 34 of Eastern’s 39 points for the game.
Eastern freshman Lucy Shoup didn’t score, but was big on the boards with 14 rebounds. Hernandez pulled down 10 rebounds for a double double.
Macy Garrett scored 12 points for Walkerville (0-1, 0-1 WMD).
