By Ron Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com
FRUITPORT – Ella Andree had just one wish heading into Friday night’s Division 2 district title game between the Spring Lake Lakers and the host Fruitport Trojans.
“I just wanted to hold that trophy tonight,” said Andree. “I was doing everything in my power to get that trophy tonight.”
Andree and her Laker teammates got their wish after a 55-17 victory over the Trojans.
The victory pushes the Lakers into Monday’s Division 2 regional semifinal game at 7 p.m. in Sparta. Fremont, which defeated Grant 49-40 on Friday night, will be the Lakers’ opponent.
“Our girls earned the right to be here,” Spring Lake coach Rich Hyde said. “We were pretty heavily favored coming in and we took care of business all week. It’s March Madness for a reason. We don’t look by anybody.”
The Lakers (17-6) rushed out to a 9-0 lead and led 17-2 after the opening quarter.
“Our team was very nervous going into this game especially after what happened last year,” Andree said, referring to last year’s district title game in Allendale. “It’s the same scenario … they had the home court advantage. They are a good team and they’ve been playing good lately. Once we got those first nine points, I think everybody was ready to play after that.”
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A 13-4 advantage in the second quarter put the Lakers ahead 30-6 at the half. Andree had 16 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 24. Her previous high was 23. She also hit the 100 mark for career 3-pointers. In the game, Andree had four 3-pointers.|
“Ella is phenomenal,” Hyde said. “She just took over and they tried to box-and-one her early and she still gets to the rim and still gets her 3s off. It’s a tribute to the girls around her because if we don’t have (Alexa) Carter inside and (Tessa Britt) and (Brianna) Kirby inside then they can key out our guards. Ella just does Ella.”
It wasn’t just the Ella Andree show.
Ellie Wrona hit a trio of 3-pointers and finished with 12 points. Alexa Carter was strong inside and added eight points and Kirby had six. Carter finished with 10 rebounds and Andree had eight.
“My teammates got me into those positions and I couldn’t be happier where we are right now,” Andree said.
Fruitport (7-18) was led by senior Ashton Olson with seven points and senior Rhiannon Raleigh with six. Leading scorer Izzy Hanson-Wilbur did not score in the game.
“(Fruitport coach) Brian (Packard) has his kids playing hard,” Hyde said. “They had a good week and I’m super proud of two OK-Blue teams coming to the finals. We are excited that Fruitport got to be here.”
“They are a tough team to play against and they are loaded at every level,” said Packard. “We had two great wins this week, program wins. Those are the things that you build on and your culture grows on. These seniors were awesome mentors to the younger girls, they are engaged every day and it’s going to be tough to replace these ones, but we have to. You have to find the next girls and, hopefully, they’ve laid the foundation.”
Fruitport finished the season 7-18.
Take a look at photos from Spring Lake’s win over Fruitport.
