Several West Michigan Conference girls basketball teams tipped off the 2023-24 season Tuesday night (Dec. 5).
Here is a roundup of the action reported to CatchMark SportsNet:
WMC NONDIVISIONAL
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 62, MANISTEE 54: Host MCC earned the win in a high-scoring season opener, giving Brian Beebe his first victory as head coach of the Spartans. MCC shot 45 percent from the floor compared to 32 percent for Manistee, helping to offset the Mariners’ 18-6 advantage in points at the free-throw line.
“We made a lot of great plays down the stretch in the second half. Really proud of the kids for answering the bell,” Beebe said. “A ton of credit to Manistee. (Libby) McCarthy and (Jayna) Edmondson did a great job getting to their spots and scoring in transition against us. We were able to keep the pedal down offensively in the second half and made the plays necessary to win an opener.”
MCC leaders:
Wren Nelson 24 points, 9 rebounds
Mallory Miller 17 points, 9 rebounds
Eva Hradel 9 points
Grace Weinert 6 points
Jessica Peterson 6 points
Manistee leaders:
Jayna Edmondson 20 points
Libby McCarthy 17 points
Records:
Mason County Central 1-0
Manistee 0-1
***
HOLTON 40, OAKRIDGE 24: Visiting Holton used a balanced effort for a convincing season-opening win against Oakridge. The Red Devils outscored the Eagles in the second half, 25-10.
“Sluggish start for us as expected for the first game. But we were able to pick it up a little and pull away in the second half,” Holton coach BJ Jordan said. “We weren’t able to create turnovers tonight really at all, but we also didn’t turn the ball over that much, either, which is a very good thing for us — less than 10 on the night, hich we will take any game, let alone the first.”
Holton leaders:
Lexi Bartolameolli 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Ryann Robins 10 points, 15 rebounds
Layla Cannady 10 points
Aubrey Goyings 9 points, 6 rebounds
Abbie Fowler 8 assists, 3 steals
Oakridge leaders:
No stats or details submitted
Records:
Holton 1-0
Oakridge 0-1
***
NONLEAGUE
Photos by Harper Leon for CatchMark
CADILLAC 50, WHITEHALL 18: Visiting Whitehall fell into an 11-0 first-quarter deficit and never recovered. Host Cadillac scored 30 of its 50 points from beyond the 3-point arc.
Whitehall leaders:
Kendall Osborne 7 points, 3 rebounds
Lexi Daggett 4 points, 5 rebounds
Taylor Ottinger 4 points, 4 rebounds
Cadillac leaders:
No stats or details submitted
Records:
Whitehall 0-1
Cadillac 1-0
***
NEWAYGO 34, MONTAGUE 23: Visiting Montague led 15-12 at halftime, but the Wildcats went cold in the second half as Jess DeBruin lost her head-coaching debut.
“This was a good first game to get under our belt to see where we’re at,” DeBruin said. “We will get back at it tomorrow at practice and focus on the mistakes we made and prepare for a big game against Whitehall on Thursday.”
Montague leaders:
Addison Pranger 9 points
Braylyn Bultema 7 points
Maizie Collins 4 points
Newaygo leaders:
No stats or details submitted
Records:
Montague 0-1
Newaygo 1-0
***
SPRING LAKE 54, FREMONT 32: Visiting Spring Lake jumped out to an 8-0 lead out of the gate and stretched it to 17-7 by the end of the first quarter. The Lakers led 36-11 at halftime. Fremont had 17 first-half turnovers, which Spring Lake converted into 25 points.
“We played a much better half in the second half and outscored Spring Lake 21-18 even though they continued to press,” Fremont coach Pete Zerfas said. “This was a good sign of how hard our girls work and how they did not give up. We talked about after the game that playing such a well-rounded and talented team early is good for us.”
Fremont leaders:
Mia Clemence 9 points, 5 steals
Jessica Bennett 7 points, 5 rebounds
Spring Lake leaders:
Alexa Carter 16 points
Ella Andree 16 points
Records:
Fremont 0-1
Spring Lake 1-0
***
NORTH MUSKEGON 51, MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL 12: Visiting North Muskegon raced out to a 31-4 halftime lead in giving Jill Young her first win as Norse head coach.
“Catholic is a fun team to play against with lots of upcoming future talent,” Young said. “Our senior leadership and pressure ended up helping us win this one.”
North Muskegon leaders:
Delaney Young 14 points, 4 steals, 2 rebounds
Allie Jensen 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Emma Buchmiller 8 points, 4 steals
Grace Philpot 7 points, 3 steals
MCC leaders:
L. Ladd 5 points, 5 rebounds
A. Cook 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
***
SHELBY 47, MANISTEE CATHOLIC 13: Molli Schultz packed the stat sheet in leading host Shelby to a comfortable, season-opening win in a nonleague matchup.
Shelby leaders:
Molli Schultz 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists
Biloxi Lee 6 points, 6 rebounds
Bailey Dickman 6 points, 4 rebounds
Brylee Friedman 5 rebounds
Manistee Catholic leaders:
No stats or details submitted
***
GRAND HAVEN 48, LUDINGTON 19: Visiting Grand Haven led 12-1 after one quarter, built a 27-8 halftime lead, and rode that momentum to the season-opening win.
Ludington leaders:
Peyton Welch 4 points
Jordyn Anderson 4 points
Grand Haven leaders:
No stats or details submitted
Records:
Ludington 0-1
Grand Haven 1-0
