LocalSportsJournal.com

CADILLAC — It was not a pleasant ride home from Cadillac for the Ludington girls’ basketball team Thursday night.

The Orioles were upset, 26-16, by the Vikings in non-conference action in their regular-season finale.

Long-range shooting vaulted the Vikings into an early lead when they burned the Oriole defense for four baskets from beyond the 3-point line in the first quarter.
 
“We didn’t find the shooters early,” said Ludington coach Warren Stowe. “We switched to a man-to-man defense and did a better job of keeping the scoring down.”
 
Ludington couldn’t buy a basket in the first quarter and the Orioles were looking at a 10-point deficit, 14-4, at the end of the period.
 
An improved defensive showing in the second quarter enabled the Orioles to keep the Vikings scoreless, but only managed two points of their own and trailed 14-6 at the half.
 
The Orioles only outscored the Vikings 4-2 in the third period which still left them trailing 16-10.
 
“We had a hard time manufacturing points,” Stowe said. “We missed free throws, we missed layups. If it could go wrong, it did.”
 
Karli Meysar finished the night with a game-high seven points to lead the Orioles. She had one basket and made 5-of-6 free throws. Olivia Lynn scored three points.
 
Ludington (15-7) plays Wednesday in the Division 2 district tournament at Reed City, where the Orioles play the winner of Monday’s Reed City-Cadillac game.