LocalSportsJournal.com
 

PENTWATER — Kaylyn Johnson and Grace Kidd proved to be too much for the Pentwater girls’ basketball team to handle Thursday night.

Kidd knocked down three 3-point baskets in the first quarter, and she and Johnson scored 32 of Manistee Catholic Central’s 45 points en route to a 45-25 victory.
 
The West Michigan D League game was played in Pentwater.
 
“When we adjusted to slow down Kidd, Johnson stepped up,” said Pentwater coach Joe Gorton. “That outside shooting combo they have was tough tonight.
 
“My girls didn’t back down all night,” Gorton said. “I thought we did well breaking their press. We just weren’t able to turn that into points. Other times, we’d move the ball down the floor brilliantly, run a great play, but make one costly mistake. That mistake quickly turned into two on the other end and we can’t have that many of those four-point swings against a team like them.”
 
Behind the long-range shooting of Kidd, the Sabers (15-3,12-2) ran out to a 20-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Sabers had a 7-4 edge in the second and led 27-12 at the half.
 
Pentwater was outscored, 8-6 in the third period and the Sabers took the floor for the fourth with a 35-16 lead. The Sabers closed the game with a 10-7 run.
 
Jocelyn Richison led the Falcons with 10 points, but the Falcons shot only 11-of-41 from the field as a team. Mandi Sayles, Charlie Swanger and Audrey Kieda added four points apiece.
 
Johnson pumped in a game-high 17 points for the Sabers and Kidd scored 15. The Sabers finished with five 3-pointers.
 
Pentwater (6-12, 4-10) hosts Mason County Eastern next Tuesday in another league game.