LocalSportsJournal.com
BIG RAPIDS — Defense has been the hallmark of the Ludington girls’ basketball team the last several years.
It certainly was a key factor again in Wednesday night’s Division 2 district semifinal in Big Rapids.
The Orioles held off a solid Hart squad for a close 42-37 victory and punched their ticket into the district championship game against Reed City on Friday night.
“We knew that Hart’s an amazing team, and an amazing program (and) they really give you problems because they have a lot of girls that can play,” said Ludington coach Warren Stowe. “We just played with immense amounts of effort. When we needed stops, we got stops. When we needed scores, we got scores.”
Ludington squeezed into a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter then stretched it out to four points, 18-14, at the half with an 11-8 second quarter.
Hart bounced back with a 12-9 third period to narrow the gap to one point again, 27-26, starting the fourth quarter. Ludington had a 15-11 run to finish the game.
“Addie Hovey and Abby Hicks start finding the ball, they start making shots because that’s the type of players they are,” Stowe said. “I was really proud that we stepped up in those closing moments and got some stops.”
Peyton Welch and Madelyn Kenyon led the Orioles with 13 points apiece. Jordyn Anderson contributed six.
Hovey had a big night for the Pirates, finishing with a game-high 20 points, including a 5-of-9 performance at the free-throw line. Hicks followed with eight.
Ludington is now 17-7.
