LocalSportsJournal.com
ONEKAMA – It was a tough night for the Mason County Central boys basketball team Tuesday.
The Spartans committed a costly turnover in the game’s final seconds and dropped a disappointing 39-35 decision to host Onekama.
“As a team, we need to be better taking care of the ball,” said Central coach Chris VanderHaag. “We continue to make costly mistakes. We will hopefully learn from this. This one hurt.”
Central started the game out well enough and took a 12-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But things turned in the second when the Portagers outscored the Spartans 15-8, which narrowed the gap to just two points, 20-18, at the half.
Central gained a 12-11 edge in the third period, and entered the fourth clinging to a 32-29 lead.
The Portagers prevailed, however, with an 8-5 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes.
Cole VanderHaag paced the Spartans with 14 points and Trent Hawke tossed in 11, but that was about the extent of the scoring for Mason County Central.
Onekama had three players in double figures, led by Luke Bradford with 12 points.
It was the Spartans third straight loss and dropped them to 1-3 on the season. Central is back in action Thursday when it hosts Holton in a West Michigan Conference-Rivers contest.
