LocalSportJournal.com
REED CITY – Hot shooting by the Reed City boys basketball team in the first quarter allowed the Coyotes to take a big lead, and they held off Mason County Central down the stretch for a 59-51 non-conference win Tuesday night.
It was the second game of a girls-boys doubleheader in Reed City.
“We knew coming in they were a physical and aggressive team,” said Spartans coach Chris Vander Haag. “They had us on our heels the first quarter, which caused us to turn over the ball. We made some adjustments at half, but just could not make back the first quarter deficit.”
The Coyotes rocked the Spartans with a 22-9 first quarter and managed to hold the lead the rest of the game. The two teams had the same number of points, 12 in the second quarter and Reed City led, 34-21, at the half.
Central was edged, 9-8 by the Coyotes in the third period and came out for the fourth trailing, 43-29. The Spartans outscored the Coyotes in the final period, 22-16, but it was not enough.
Peyton Merz had a nice game for the Spartans with 15 points and eight rebounds. Cole Vander Haag also scored 15 points, passed off for four assists and came up with three steals. Braylin Thurow came through with another solid game with 11 points.
The Spartans fell to 7-9 and return to West Michigan Conference Rivers Division play Friday at North Muskegon.
