LocalSportsJournal.com
 

HART — Holton’s girls basketball team traveled to Hart for Friday night’s West Michigan Conference Rivers Division matchup and gave the Pirates all they could handle in the first half.

 
The Pirates pulled away in the second half and rolled to their third straight win, 63-36.
 
The Pirates contributed to the Red Devils success in the first half by committing some
uncharacteristic mistakes and turning over the ball five times, which led to offensive transition for the Red Devils to keep them close. Hart led 13-12 after one quarter.
 
Poor free-throw shooting plagued the Pirates in the second quarter, when they were only 1-of-7 at the stripe. Their defense limited the Red Devils to just seven points while they scored 12 for a 25-19 halftime lead.
 
Hart’s coaching staff made some adjustments at halftime which sparked a big 20-3 third quarter to advance their lead to a 45-22 margin going into the fourth quarter.
 
Mariana VanAgtmael burned the Holton zone defense with two 3-point shots early in the third and the Pirates constant ball pressure also played a major role in the second half as they came away with 17 steals.
 
Addi Hovey filled up the stat sheet for the Pirates with a triple double, scoring 25 points, hauling down 10 rebounds and coming away with 13 steals.
 
The Pirates also had Abby Hicks with a double double, knocking down 14 points and coming away with 11 steals. VanAgtmael added nine points and Aspen Buttell contributed seven points, four assists and four steals.
 
Savana Owens and Makayla Rockwell provided a valuable spark off the bench in the second half.
 
“We probably played one of our better halves, and we were only down four,” said Holton coach Robert Jordan. “We battled foul trouble all night. Two of our starters picked up their third fouls in the second (quarter) and then got their fourth early in the third. and eventually fouled out in the fourth.
 
“But I was very pleased with the fight we put up. We all know how great of a team Hart is, and to be able to compete with them for a half is something. I’m hoping we can build some confidence off of it.”
 
Abbie Fowler led the Devils with 19 points and Ryann Robins pulled down 16 rebounds and scored six points.
 
The Pirates (7-2, 6-0) will host Manistee in non-conference action Monday.
 
Holton (5-6, 2-4) host Whitehall in a non-conference matchup Monday.