LocalSportsJoiurnal.com
MANISTEE — Manistee’s girls basketball team built up a solid lead at the half and then held off a determined Fremont squad for a 58-45 victory Friday night.
It was the final game of the regular season for both teams.
Jayna Edmondson fired up 20 points for the Chippewas, who were celebrating Senior Night as well as closing out their first season in the West Michigan Conference Lakes.
“We played a strong first half,” said Manistee coach Kenn Kott. “Our defense carried us. You have to give Fermont a lot of credit, they matched us in the second half and did not go down easy.”
Mariah Bialik made her Senior Night count for the Chippewas with 15 points, while Libby McCarthy contributed 11 rebounds and three steals.
“Jayna has been really consistent with her scoring, and Libby does everything else when she isn’t scoring,” Kott said. “It was a good, solid four quarters of basketball for us tonight.”
Manistee took a 12-5 lead after one and outscored the Packers, 14-8, in the second period to build a 26-13 halftime lead.
But, the Packers refused to go away and matched the Chippewas in each of the final two quarters. Each team scored 32 points in the second half.
“Credit Manistee for coming out so strong to start the game,” Fremont coach Wes Zerlaut said. “We struggled and fell behind early. We played a much better second half. We were more aggressive on both ends of the floor and executed much better on offense.”
Olivia Hansen led Fremont with 15 points and Jessica Bennett added 13.
The Chippewas finished the regular season 9-12 overall, 4-7 in the WMC Lakes. They open district play at 7 p.m. Monday night against Grand Traverse Academy.
Fremont finished the season 8-14, 5-7.
