LocalSportsJournal.com
LUDINGTON — With a large crowd rocking Hawley Gym from start to finish, Ludington and Mason County Central engaged in the kind of game you would expect in an inter-county rivalry.
Pitching a shutout over Ludington in the first quarter, the Mason County Central girls’ basketball team went on to earn a 37-32 victory over the Orioles on Monday night.
It was the Spartans’ fourth straight win to start the season.
Junior point guard Mallory Miller was the catalyst for the Spartans in the opening period, scoring seven of her game-high 12 points during that span and senior guard Jayden Baker buried a 3-point shot.
But the Orioles fought back with Karli Mesyar knocking down two triples in the second quarter to lead them back to outscore the Spartans, 16-8 and shave the margin to just two, 18-16, at the half.
Ludington junior center Jordan Anderson notched nine of her 11 points in that second period to help lead the Orioles’ charge back into the game.
“We started the game with great defense,” Spartans’ coach Brian Beebe said. “Anytime you can keep an athletic, well coached team like Ludington scoreless in a quarter, you are doing good things. All kinds of credit to them. They played a great second quarter in a great atmosphere. Super fun, very intense game.”
The second half turned into a physical affair, which was not surprising with these two clubs.
Ultimately, a pair of Spartan seniors made some key plays in the fourth quarter despite being in foul trouble.
Wren Nelson scored six points in the second half and cleared a team-high 10 rebounds, and came up with a huge blocked shot which led to 3-point shot from off the wing by Grace Weinert.
A few possessions later, Weinert got a steal and made two free throws to stake the Spartans to a lead which they would keep the rest of the game.
Weinert scored eight, and sophomore Jessica Peterson added six points for MCC, which went 9-12 from the line in the second half to clinch the win.
“We didn’t play our best offensively, which Ludington will do to a lot of teams this year,” said Beebe. “I’m happy for our kids – everyone played a key role in the game tonight and contributed to a great road win.”
Anderson finished the game as Ludington’s leading scorer wiht 11 points, while Emma McKinley had eight, Eliana Jeruzal six and Mesyar five.
Ludington (3-2) competes in the Michigan Hardwood Classic at Romulus next Thursday against Bay City John Glenn, followed by a matchup with Ann Arbor Pioneer on Friday.
The Spartans (4-0) hosts White Cloud in a non-conference matchup Thursday night.
