By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
LUDINGTON — The Ludington boys basketball team dropped 100 points on visiting Traverse City Central in a 100-77 non-conference win.
The game was played at Hawley Gymnasium Thursday.
It’s the fourth time the Orioles have hit the century mark, the first coming 35 years ago, when they did it against Reed City then again in 2009 against Fruitport. But it’s not the most Ludington has ever rang up. The Orioles swamped Cadillac for 119 in 1971.
The Trojans hung with the Orioles early, tying the score twice in the first quarter. When it was 14-14 the Orioles started the show, senior Spencer Holmes rolling up eight points in less than one minute.
David Shillinger, shown shooting a free throw last season for the Orioles, led the way on Thursday with 33 points. File photo/Joe Washington
Ludington eventually finished the first quarter with a 22-14 lead. The Orioles opened a 17-point lead, 48-31, at the half as seven players scored in the second quarter in a 24-15 burst.
David Shillinger fired in 17 points of his 33 points, with Jack Stidham and Cam Gunsell adding seven apiece in the third quarter to power the Orioles to a 32-16 advantage and an 80-47 lead.
“I thought we did a great job offensively spacing Traverse City Central out and taking advantage of mismatches,” said Ludington coach Thad Shank. “We’re a hard team to guard if we can really spread you out, and we can play drive and kick basketball. This has been a goal of these kids, to score 100 points.”
Shillinger increased his career total to 1,451, sending him by Jeffery Carrier, who graduated in 2020 with 1,423.
Holmes contributed 18 with four 3-pointers and Gunsell chipped in with 14.
Ludington improved to 8-4 on the season and will be on the road for its next game, at Cadillac on Tuesday.
