Shoup scores 27 points as Mason County Eastern gets by Manistee Catholic

MANISTEE — After leading by 21 points late in the third quarter, Mason County Eastern had to survive a major rally by Manistee Catholic Central for a hard-earned 53-46 West Michigan D League victory Friday night.

Clay Shoup’s hot hand with 21 points in the first half allowed the Cardinals to break away from a narrow four-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Cardinals entered the half with a more comfortable 17-point margin.

“We rode Clay,” said Eastern coach Mark Forner. “We’ve been riding him all year, and he was feeling it in the first half. But we got some other kids involved tonight, which is great.” That included Zach Howe with 16 points.

“We’re a little shorthanded,” Forner said. “We only have six guys who are varsity players, so we needed him. But, we have to learn how to finish ball games. We’re not used to playing with a lead, we’re used to playing from behind.”

The Cardinals never trailed after Shoup, who finished the night with a game-high 27 points, swished a 3-pointer, the first of his five for the game.

But the Sabers kept it close throughout the first quarter, tying the score twice, the last at 12-12, before the Cardinals edged ahead, 17-13 at the horn.

Eastern extended its lead to nine, 21-12 early in the second quarter until another 3-pointer by Shoup pushed the lead to 11 at 25-14. The Cardinal star hit a 3-pointer to send the Cardinals into the locker room at half with a 33-16 advantage.

Nate Wing, who finished with 10 points, knocked down a 3-pointer which ballooned the Cardinals lead to 21 points, 41-20, midway through the third quarter. The Cardinals had a 42-24 lead at the third-quarter break.

“We kind of stepped into it in the fourth quarter,” Forner said. “I tried to prepare them. Nick (Fortier) is a good coach, and I knew they were going to come at us hard, and they did. They made their run. It takes twice as much energy when you’re coming from 20 points down. Our kids have been playing better the last two weeks, more physical, which is great. In the tournaments, that’s what you want.

“We’re young, playing some JV kids because of injuries. (But) no excuses. Our team is on the floor. They played hard and it was a nice win for them.”

Nate Oleniczak scored 11 points to lead the Sabers, with Jackson Star Chief and Matt Gunia adding nine points apiece.

Eastern (6-13, 5-10 WMD) travels to Mesick in search of its third straight win Monday night.