LocalSportsJournal.com

TRAVERSE CITY — In a low scoring and defensive slugfest, the Ludington girls basketball team gained a slim two-point edge in the fourth quarter to snare a thrilling 39-33 non-conference win over Traverse City Central on the road Tuesday night.

Although the Orioles enjoyed solid leads throughout the contest, they never could put the Trojans away and found themselves in a real scrap the entire game.

“When I look at the scores from the Big North (in which the Trojans play), they’re all a slugfest,” Orioles head coach Warren Stowe said. “They’re big, strong girls and well-coached. I was happy bow we controlled their physicality and pressure.”

Ludington grinded out a 9-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, which would be just enough along with the fourth quarter for them to prevail at the end.

Both teams scored 10 points in the second quarter, which sent the Orioles into the halftime break holding a slim 19-15 advantage. Each team scored nine points in the third, as the Orioles carried a 28-24 edge into the fourth period, in which they outscored the Trojans, 11-9.

The Trojans closed Ludington’s lead to just two at in the fourth period, but could not get any closer.

Stowe was particularly happy to see how far Annie Kline has come since returning to the lineup after a sustained absence because of an injury. Olivia Lynn also received praise from the coach for her continued strong performance for the Orioles coming off the bench.

Lynn and RyAnn Rohrer scored 10 points apiece to lead the Orioles. Ludington made four 3-pointer on the night, one each from Rylee Stone, Kline, Abi Bandstra and Karli Mesyar.

It was the sixth straight win for the Orioles, which improved their record to 9-4 overall. Ludington is next scheduled to host Western Michigan Christian in a Lakes 8 Activities Conference game Friday night.