LocalSportsJournal.com

PENTWATER — A big first quarter got the Pentwater boys basketball team off to a fast start.

The red-hot Falcons soared to a 68-38 West Michigan D League victory over visiting Mason County Eastern Thursday night.  

Six players scored in the first quarter for the Falcons led by Jonny Arnouts and Trey Johnson with six points each.

Clay Shoup had all of the Cardinals’ points, but Pentwater owned a 22-8 lead after one quarter.

Pentwater went on to outscore Eastern, 15-10, in the second period and flew into the half holding a 37-18 lead.

The Falcons didn’t slow down in the second half, either, notching an 18-5 third quarter advantage and 15-13 in the fourth.  

Will Werkema-Grondsma and Mikey Carlson topped the scoring for the Falcons with 14 points each. Werkema-Grondsma also dished out seven assists, hauled down seven rebounds and picked off three steals.  

Kaleb Brown finished with 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. Arnouts contributed eight points, distributed five assists and had four steals. Carlson and Brown pulled down five rebounds apiece, while Johnson added four steals.  

Pentwater was almost perfect at the free throw line, shooting a sizzling 93 percent on 14-of-15 from the stripe and hit 45 percent of their field-goal attempts.  

Shoup ended the night as the leading scorer with 19 points for the Cardinals. Nate Wing followed with 15. The Cardinals were 10-of-12 at the line.  

The Falcons (3-8, 3-4) return to action Wednesday at Mesick.  

Eastern (1-8, 1-6) hosts Hesperia on Monday in a non-conference contest.