LocalSportsJournal.com
SPRING LAKE — The Whitehall boys basketball team punched its ticket into a MHSAA Division 2 district championship game Wednesday night with a 62-57 victory over Spring Lake in Spring Lake.
Whitehall nosed ahead of Spring Lake, 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers turned the tables on the Vikings in the second quarter and outscored them, 13-8 to shave the Vikings lead to four, 25-21 at the half.
The Vikings outscored the Lakers, 14-12 in the third quarter and headed into the fourth with a six-point lead, 39-33. Spring Lake had a 24-23 edge in the final eight minutes.
Spring Lake cut the Vikings lead down to two points, 59-57 with 13 seconds left, but Whitehall would hit three free throws to ice the game.
Jack Houtteman scored 14 points to lead the Vikings, followed by Isaac Dehart with 13, Camden Thompson with 11 and Nate Bolley with 10.
Thompson also hauled down 14 rebounds while Brodie Fogus cleared down seven. Red Watson had three steals and Watson had five assists.
Porter Saunders paced the Lakers with 21 points while Kaden Geroge added 19.
Jackson Core contributed eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Spring Lake graduates seven seniors including Saunders, George, Core, Dylan Lisman, Nino Padula, Link Dephouse and Evan McDermott.
Whitehall improved to 16-5 and will play Montague for the district title Friday night at 7 p.m. in Spring Lake.
Spring Lake finished 9-13.
