By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
SCOTTVILLE — It was a battle of two heavyweights in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division when Hart traveled to Scottville for a girls basketball game with Mason County Central.
The game certainly lived up to the billing. In the end, the Pirates escaped with a 44-36 victory over the Spartans.
The Spartans held the lead at half.
But the Pirates were unfazed, made some halftime adjustments, and outscored the Spartans 30-19 in the second half.
Hart was sent reeling back on its heels early in the game when the Spartans exploded for a 9-0 lead. The Pirates didn’t score their first field goal until three minutes. The Spartans finished the first quarter with a 13-5 lead.
A more energized defense limited the Spartans to just four points in the second quarter, and the offense received a boost from sophomore Rilyn Porter, who scored six points. The Pirates trimmed the deficit down to three, 17-14, at the half.
Central clung to a 20-18 lead in the third quarter when Breslyn Porter sank a pair of free throws to tie it with three minutes left and then Addi Hovey gave the Pirates their first lead of the game, 22-20.
Mallory Miller had the answer for the Spartans, however, tying the game and then hitting a 3-pointer later that gave Central the lead back, 25-24.
Central senior Riley Mast penetrated inside for a bucket that stretched the Spartans’ lead to three, 27-24.
Abby Hicks drained a triple, and then Hovey scored on layup after a defensive stop sent the Pirates into the fourth period holding a 29-27 lead.
“The girls stayed poised and executed our spread offense well, which forced MCC to extend its defense, and opened up driving lanes,” said Hart coach Travis Rosema. “With the paint open, we extended our advantage. I was pleased with how the girls responded to adversity and battled to the end. Each girl contributed to this win.
“Our experience in big games made a huge difference.”
Hart had command the rest of the way, opening as much as a nine-point lead. However, the Spartans narrowed it to three twice, but could not get over the hump.
“There’s no secret in this game,” Spartan coach Brian Beebe said. “They know what we’re going to do and we know what they’re going to do. We got off to a fantastic start, really played well on both ends in the first half. Unfortunately, Hart scored a lot in transition, which they do very well.
“We had a few wrinkles that worked early on, but ultimately we need to take care of the ball better,” said Beebe. “Congrats to Hart. . It’s a really good program and they made plays in the second half to win the game.”
Hovey finished the game with 16 points which led all scorers, and also hauled down five rebounds. Hicks and Porter had nine apiece and Kelsey Copenhaver added six points and led with 12 rebounds. Porter had six steals and she also dished out five assists. Hicks came away with five steals and assisted on five buckets as well.
Wren Nelson and Miller led the Spartans with 12 points apiece. Evan Hradel had a team-high 10 rebounds.
The Pirates rose to 12-3 overall, 9-0 in the WMC. Hart steps out of the conference for a home game with Kent City on Tuesday.
Mason Central saw its record dip to 12-4, 7-2 in the conference. The Spartans travel to Whitehall for a conference crossover matchup Monday night.
