LocalSportsJournal.com
WALKERVILLE — After a close first half, the Mason County Eastern girls basketball team pulled away from the Walkerville Wildcats in the second and finished with a 42-17 win in the West Michigan D League.
Eastern was outscored 7-5 in the first quarter before getting the better of the Wildcats, 8-4, in the second and taking a 13-11 edge at the half.
The Cardinals started to spread out the margin in the third, outscoring the Wildcats 12-8 and carrying a more comfortable 25-19 lead into the last period. MCE finished the game with a 17-8 run.
“I was really proud of the girls defensive intensity tonight,” said Eastern girls coach Jake Smith. “We had 20 steals as a team and forced another 15 turnovers with our pressure. Brailyn Johnson, Kennedy Tyler, Annabelle Zwagerman and Lucy Shoup really led the team early on our press. We got quality time out of a lot of girls tonight.”
Johnson led the Cardinals in scoring with 15 points, followed by Zagerman and Shoup with seven apiece. Eline Schulstad had a big night rebounding, and played well defensively.
Walkerville’s top scorer was Maria Rodriquez with 12.
It was the Cardinals’ second win on the season, leaving them 2-10 overall, 2-6 in the league. Eastern travels to Bear Lake for another league game Wednesday.
Walkerville is 2-7 overall and 2-4 in the league. The Wildcats travel to Bear Lake on Tuesday for another league game.
