Seven West Michigan Conference girls basketball teams hit the floor Monday for MHSAA district openers.
Here is a roundup of the action from March 4, 2024:
DIVISION 2 AT FRUITPORT
WHITEHALL 36, OAKRIDGE 33: Whitehall used a 12-2 fourth-quarter run to pull out a tough victory over Oakridge. It was the third win of the season for the Vikings over the Eagles.
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FRUITPORT 39, ORCHARD VIEW 23: Fruitport (7-16) defeated Orchard View in a first-round district game and advances to Wednesday’s 7 p.m. semifinal at face Montague (8-14). Fruitport defeated Montague, 36-31, in a home game on Dec. 21.
Orchard View closes the season with a 4-18 record.
No details or stats were submitted for this game.
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DIVISION 2 AT BIG RAPIDS
LUDINGTON 62, REMUS CHIPPEWA HILLS 26: The long-awaited Hart vs. Ludington district matchup is happening at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Big Rapids after the Orioles took care of Chippewa Hills in a district opener Monday.
The typically balanced Orioles were that once again as coach Warren Stowe went to his bench as reserves got into the action, Ludington was led by Jaelyn Laird’s 12 points, followed by Jennah Skiba and Elianna Jeruzal with 10 apiece. Peyton Welch scored nine for Ludington, while Rylee Stone, Ashley Stowe, and Madelyn Kenyon added six points apiece.
Ludington led 15-8 after the first quarter and 32-16 at halftime before a 23-3 third-quarter scoring outburst by the Orioles completely broke it open.
Ludington (16-7) and Hart (17-5) last met in the 2022-23 season opener at Ludington, where the visiting Pirates pulled out a 43-42 overtime thriller.
Chippewa Hills closes the season with a 1-22 record.
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DIVISION 3 AT SHELBY
SHELBY 42, WHITE CLOUD 19: After a slow start, host Shelby broke it open with a 12-6 third-quarter scoring advantage and 17-6 fourth-quarter margin. Shelby (7-16) will face WMC Rivers Division foe North Muskegon (12-10) in the district semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Molli Schultz paced Shelby with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Kylie Brown nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, plus she notched two assists. Brylee Friedman finished with six points and five rebounds for the Tigers, while Biloxi Lee had five points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in a well-played floor game.
Kendall Zaverl added four points, four rebounds, and two steals for Shelby, while Lydia Soelberg had six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
White Cloud finished its season with an 8-15 record.
Shelby senior Molli Schultz (Courtney Jimison | CatchMark)
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DIVISION 3 AT KENT CITY
RAVENNA 68, GRAND RAPIDS WELLSPRING PREP 14: Ravenna outscored Wellspring Prep 23-3 in the first quarter and the rout was on in this district opener. The Bulldogs led 44-7 at halftime.
Ravenna (9-14) advances to Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. district semifinal against host and top-seeded Kent City (18-4).
Ravenna’s Mattisen Crowley led all scorers with 28 points, 12 of them coming in the first quarter and 21 by halftime. Alivia Gilbert and Sydney Morriseey scored seven points apiece for the Bulldogs, whose reserves saw plenty of playing time. Every Bulldog in the book scored.
Addison Gillard and Natalie Rosel scored six points each for Ravenna, while Bethany Olthof had four.
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DIVISION 3 AT MANTON
MANISTEE 61, LEROY PINE RIVER 58: Manistee (10-13) won a tight district opener over LeRoy Pine River to advance to Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. semifinal against a strong Manton squad (17-5).
Pine River finished the season with an 8-15 record.
No stats or details were submitted for the Manistee-Pine River game.
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