A Montague boys basketball team with West Michigan Conference title hopes was a bit staggered with two-straight losses coming out of Christmas break.
Things didn’t look good at the start of Thursday night’s league showdown with visiting Shelby, but the Wildcats found their footing thanks to their suffocating defense.
Montague defeated Shelby, 57-45, after falling into a 9-0 hole to start the game and handed the Tigers their first league defeat. Now, it’s game on again in the West Michigan Conference race.
Montague improves to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the WMC. Shelby slips to 4-2 and 2-1, respectively.
Ravenna and Whitehall, both 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the WMC, after winning close games Thursday, are tied atop the conference standings with Montague and North Muskegon both one game back.
Here are stats leaders from the hard-fought, physical game between the Tigers and balanced Wildcats:
Watch the game replay on the CatchMark SportsNet YouTube page:
WHITEHALL 62, OAKRIDGE 59: At Oakridge, Whitehall used double-doubles from Brodie Fogus and Camden Thompson to pull out a tight victory over Oakridge and remain tied atop the conference standings with Ravenna.
Red Watson 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Jack Houtteman 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Nate Bolley 6 points, 2 rebounds
Isaac DeHart 6 points
Oakridge leaders:
Ethan Jozsa 17 points
Hunter DeLora 17 points
Garrett Wever 11 points, 4 assists
Peyton Ruel 7 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
Records:
Whitehall 5-3 (4-1 WMC)
Oakridge 4-5 (1-4 WMC)
Next games:
Whitehall at Shelby, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18
Oakridge at North Muskegon, 7 p.m. Tuesday
RAVENNA 56, MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 54: At Ravenna, Mason County Central had a chance to win the game on a late 3-pointer, but the shot would not fall. With the win, the Bulldogs stay tied atop the league standings with Whitehall.
Ravenna leaders:
Grant Becklin 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals