By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
SCOTTVILLE — It was a battle all the way through during Friday night’s boys basketball game, with North Muskegon coming away with a hard-earned 60-50 West Michigan Conference Rivers Division decision over Mason County Central in Scottville.
“They made us pay for every defensive lapse we had,” said Norsemen head coach Chuck Rypstra. “The decisive quarter was the fourth as we clamped down a bit more defensively.
“We made some free throws to ice the game.”
North Muskegon took a narrow 13-12 edge after one quarter, but outscored the Spartans 16-13 in the second to spread the margin to 29-25 at the half.
Mason County closed the gap again, though, by outscoring the Norsemen 18-17 in the third which left North Muskegon holding a slight 46-43 edge. The Norse outscored the Spartans 14-7 in the fourth.
“We came out with good intensity,” Spartans head coach Craig VanderHaag said. “Our transition offense was better, and our turnovers were down, but not where I want them.
“The kids showed they can take a punch. Now, we just need to finish. I’m really proud of these guys. They took it to a talented North Muskegon team. We will only get better.”
Adam Dugener led three players in double figures with 16 points for the Norsemen. Jaxon Lisinski contributed 13 and Lamarkis Graham added 12. Graham also had three steals.
Martin Matoses led the Spartans with 15 points and three assists. Eathen Huffman scored nine points, hauled down five rebounds and had two steals. Peyton Merz finished with seven points and gathered three rebounds.
North Muskegon improved to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in the conference. The Norse travel to Western Michigan Christian for a non-conference game Tuesday.
The Spartans fell to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the conference. Next on the schedule is a home game against inter-county rival Ludington on Monday.
