By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
MANISTEE — Fremont led from start to finish Friday night in racking up a convincing 54-37 win over Manistee in a West Michigan Conference Lakes Division game in Manistee.
The score was tied twice in the first quarter after the Packers led off with the fast basket of the game, the last time at 6-6 before Fremont gradually pulled away.
Actually, it was a close game throughout the first half as the Mariners trailed by just seven, 20-13 late in the second quarter and it looked for a time like they’d stay in range the whole game.
“The boys played with great effort and we did a lot of positive things as a team,” said Fremont coach Adam Bowen. “Our defense was very good, holding Manistee ton only 13 points in the first half. I thought we did some good things on offense as well. We got out in transition and did a better job of moving and sharing the ball in the half court.”
Fremont scored the final five points of the first quarter. Travis McDonald knocked down a 3-pointer and Chaz Miller popped in a short jumper to give the Packers an 11-6 lead.
Tramel Caviness buried a shot from beyond the arc to close the gap to two points, 11-9, to start the second quarter and the difference was only four, 17-13, later in the quarter when Austen Halcomb got inside for a layup.
But the Packers managed to keep the lead throughout and Will DeBlake finished the half with a personal 6-0 run to extend Fremont’s lead to double figures at 26-13.
“A little disappointing after how we battled in the Ludington game,” Manistee coach Zach Bialik said. “Eight days off … I think that had a little bit to do with it. Seven practices in a row and then a game, just tough circumstances. We kept it close for a lot of the first half, we just couldn’t get any baskets and were just really spinning our tires in the mud.
“There are some lessons to be learned from today’s game. It won’t dictate our whole season. We have three road games next week and that will a good indicator how we finish out the rest of the season.”
Fremont outscored the Mariners 8-2 in the first minutes of the second half with Gavin Richards scoring six himself, as the Packers lead grew to 20 points at 36-16.
Mason Gunnett had a free throw to go with a mid-range jumper and Kaden Kott buried a triple as the Mariners sliced some off the Fremont lead. The Mariners trailed 39-24 after three.
DeBlake ended up with 17 points and claimed five rebounds to lead Fremont.
Miller had his best game of the season, narrowly missing a double-double with 16 points and nine assists while adding six rebounds and five steals. McDonald added seven points and four rebounds in a reserve role off the bench.
Grayson Prince led the Mariners with nine points on three 3-pointers coming in off the bench and Scharp added seven.
The Packers improved to 6-7 on the season and 3-4 in the WMC Lakes. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday at Mason County Central in a non-conference tilt.
Manistee fell to 6-6 on the season and 1-5 in the WMC Lakes. Its next game is at Montague on Monday night.
