By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
MANISTEE — Mia Clemence held the hot hand for Fremont on Thursday night in a 77-47 victory over the Manistee Mariners.
Clemence struck for all four of her 3-pointers in the first quarter in the overwhelming victory in a makeup game played in Manistee.
The victory came just two days after the Packers had recorded a hard-earned and emotional 41-35 win over Ludington that was their first over the Orioles in their last 20 games. Coach Pete Zerfas was concerned they might have a letdown.
“After such an emotional win at Ludington on Tuesday, we were worried probably just as much for this game because Manistee is good and we have to come right back up in two days all the way up here,” Zerfas said. “I think our girls handled it well. They had a really good third quarter where they looked like they were quicker than us, and we’re a really quick team.
“They adjusted really well to our press and got some open 3’s. We were able to keep it, I think 16 was the lowest it got. I think our mental state is very strong.”
Fremont showed it wasn’t suffering from any letdown when they exploded out of the blocks, rocking the Mariners back on their heels with a 24-8 first quarter.
Manistee turned the ball over a ton in the first quarter, and the Packers converted almost every one into baskets and gained second chance baskets when they didn’t.
“You can’t give the other team the ball that many times without getting a shot in the first quarter and expect to be anywhere near where you should,” said Manistee coach Kenn Kott. “It was definitely an opportunity and it didn’t happen for us. We understand that. We’re halfway through the league right now and we have to go through everybody one more time.
“Like I said earlier this season, every game is a challenge in the West Michigan Conference. They’re all good teams and every team that we play like this prepares, hopefully, for something down the line that we’ll be able to execute.”
Manistee did a little better in the second quarter, but was still outscored by Fremont 17-12 and went to the locker room with a 21-point deficit, 41-20.
The Mariners made a run at the Packers in the third quarter, chopping their lead down to 16, and outscored Fremont 16-13 overall in the period but still trailed by 54-36.
Jayna Edmondson knocked down two 3-pointers and scored eight points in the quarter for the Mariners.
Clemence finished with 20 points for the Packers, followed by Chase Riley who had 18 and Taylor DeKuiper and Khaila Noordyk scored nine apiece.
Edmondson had a game-high 23 points to lead Manistee. Libby McCarthy added eight.
Fremont bumped its record up to 10-2 overall, and the Packers maintained their first-place position in the conference at 6-0. They host Morley Stanwood on Tuesday night.
Manistee fell to 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference. The Mariners host Orchard View Friday night.
