Pentwater closes the regular season with a 40-38 loss to Mesick

It’s been an up and down season for the Falcons, who never were able to have everyone healthy and again found themselves short one starter Thursday night, Mikaylyn Kenney missed the game because of an academic obligation.

Kenney participated in the Forensic Science State Competition. She had just returned to the team two games ago after going through concussion protocol.

“However, my girls came out fighting,” Falcons coach Joe Gorton said. “But, a couple bounces went the wrong way, and we found ourselves down at the half.

“We were right in the game heading into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Mesick was able to get a few shots to drop early in the fourth.

“Couple that with a few miscues on our end, and a rough night at the charity stripe (6 of 20) and we found ourselves down seven to eight points with about three minutes to go. In a world with no shot clock in the state of Michigan, that spells doom.”

Especially if your opponent can hit their free throws.

The Falcons battled their way to a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. But, they couldn’t maintain the momentum and were outscored, 13-5 in the second to trail Mesick (14-5 overall, 12-4 WMD), 21-15 at the half.

Although the Falcons hung tough in the third period, and kept the score close, they were still outscored, 11-10 and went into the fourth period on the low end of a 32-25 score. Mesick had an 8-3 edge in the fourth quarter.

Haidyn Adams paced the Falcons with nine points, while Jocelyn Richison added seven, Mackenna Hasil six, Audrey Kieda three, Samantha Schaefer and Mandi Sayles two each and Maren Martinsen one.

Martinsen led the Falcons with seven rebounds, Hasil had five and Richison and Adams four apiece. Adams picked off three steals, and Richison dished out two assists.

Pentwater finishes the regular season 3-14 overall and 3-12 in the league. The Falcons open MHSAA Division 4 district tournament action on Monday, 7 p.m. at Marion.