By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com

SCOTTVILLE — It was Mason County Central’s intention to put pressure on Shelby’s guards from the outset in the hope of eventually wearing them down.

For the most part, the strategy worked as planned. But the Tigers shut down the Spartans’ offense in the first quarter Thursday night.

After that, though, it was all Mason County Central as the Spartans raced to a 19-point victory, 46-27, in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division contest on their home floor.

“They really crash the boards and are a very physical team,” Spartans coach Chris VanderHaag said. “It was a great effort for both teams. Our defense was an all-out team effort. The kids really got after it, which is where we need to be.”

Mason County started out slowly against the Tigers defense and had just a 6-2 lead after one. But the Spartans picked up the offensive pace in the second, outscoring the Tigers 14-11 in the second for a 20-13 halftime lead.

Continuing to press the Tigers’ guards in the second half, and holding their own under the glass, the Spartans had a 17-9 edge in the third and extended their lead to 15 points, 37-22, entering the fourth period.

Leading the defensive charge for the Spartans was Cole VanderHaag, who finished with four steals as well as three assists while scoring 15 points.

Braylin Thurow contributed 10 points while Eathen Huffman added six.

“I wasn’t displeased with our effort defensively, because we know how to play hard on defense,” said Shelby coach Rick Zoulek. “We can’t figure out how to play hard, but under control offensively. We’re bouncing back and forth between playing well and not playing well. A lot of it has to do with when we try too hard, then we lose control. That’s what happened tonight.”

Shelby committed 28 turnovers.

Wyatt Dickman led the Tigers with seven points and six rebounds and Lalo Garcia had eight rebounds.

The Spartans improved to 7-8 on the season, 4-3 in the conference. Next up for them is road trip to Reed City for a non-conference game Tuesday.

Shelby fell to 2-9 on the season and 1-5 in the conference, with the Tigers’ next game Tuesday at Morley Stanwood.