LocalSportsJournal.com
CUSTER — Mason County Eastern senior Clay Shoup exploded for 53 points against Big Rapids Crossroads Academy Friday.
The Cardinals won the homecoming game, 90-9, in the West Michigan D League.
Shoup sank a school-record 10 3-point shots and had 24 points by halftime.
Eastern had no trouble asserting its will on the hapless Cougars (0-12, 0-10 WMD) by forcing a bundle of turnovers to gain several extra offensive possessions and shredding their zone defense with hot outside shooting.
“We’ve been on a little bit of a roll,” said Eastern coach Mark Forner. “We played really hard in Bear Lake and we were really physical.”
The Cardinals finished the first quarter with a whopping 23-6 advantage and then buried the Cougars, 28-3 in the second to cruise into the half with a 51-9 lead.
Eastern held the Cougars scoreless in the second half.
“Clay had 53 tonight, and that was a team goal,” said Forner. “What I’m proudest of is that was within the flow of our offense. We didn’t do anything unique. He’s got to score a lot of points for us to have a chance to win.”
Nate Wing followed Shoup in double-figure scoring for the Cardinals with 15 points and Zach Howe contributed 10 points.
The Cardinals, who had a running clock throughout the second half, improved their record to 4-10 overall and 4-7 in the league. They are scheduled to travel to Brethren for a game with one of the top tier teams in the WMD on Tuesday night.
Seriously, “a team goal”?? You are that far ahead and you leave your top scorer in to break 50? What ever happened to teaching kids respect for your opponent and the game?
I had a career spanning three and a half decades as a teacher, coach, and 17 years as an administrator and this would never be tolerated. I was taught during my playing days to compete honorably and with passion, but to never rub your opponents nose into it. Our coach took players out midway through the 3rd period after having scored 40 so as to not disrespect the other team and this was against state ranked opponents!
As a former Cardinal, I certainly hope this becomes a learning process for the team and coaches on how to play the game the right way.
Agree all the way
This is an example of horrible coaching and sportsmanship. We all want to win but the disrespect the Cardinals showed should never happen in a game.