LocalSportsJournal.com
CUSTER — When you’re shut out in any quarter, it’s not a good omen. But when it happens in the very first period, it puts you in an exceptionally bad spot.
That’s what happened to the Mason County Eastern girls’ basketball team Friday night. That led to a 33-26 loss to visiting Bear Lake in the West Michigan D League.
Eastern came into the game with a six-game winning streak, but a cold shooting night doomed their chances of making it seven. The Cardinals made just 18 percent of their field goal attempts.
“I thought we didn’t have good quality execution,” said Eastern coach Jake Smith. “Bear Lake came in and they were ready to play. Plain and simple, they made more shots than we did.”
Foul trouble also plagued the Cardinals, with their guards falling into it with their aggressive play.
Bear Lake (3-8, 3-7 WMD) didn’t light up the scoreboard in the first quarter, either, managing just three points. The score was tied, 15-15 at the half.
Janessa Alvesteffer and Maria Gomez-Jimenez scored eight points apiece to lead the Cardinals.
Bear Lake’s Victoria Hall and Taylor Merrill each scored eight points.
Kennady Tyler contributed three steals for the Cardinals, while Gomez-Jimenez pulled down 12 rebounds and finished with four steals to lead in both categories. Alvesteffer had seven rebounds and three steals.
The Cardinals (6-6, 6-4) hosts Hesperia on Tuesday in non-league action.
