Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
WHITEHALL — In a 2022-23 boys basketball season opener where the lead changed hands several times, host Whitehall came up with enough big plays down the stretch against Spring Lake Tuesday night.
Sophomore Camden Thompson made many of those plays, although the Vikings received contributions from throughout their roster in a hard-fought 64-61 nonconference victory.
Here are notables and details from the contest:
- Thompson, a 6-foot-5 wing, who was the West Michigan Conference Player of the Year as a freshman in leading the Vikings to the outright league title, battled foul trouble throughout the game but showed up when his team needed him most. He scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a tough leaner in the lane that rolled in to give Whitehall a 62-61 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
- After a pair of Thompson free throws with 7 seconds left to make it 64-61, Spring Lake pushed the ball up the court looking for a potential game-tying 3-pointer, but a pass was stolen by Whitehall senior Nate Bolley and that sealed the win for the Vikings.
- Thompson finished 7-of-15 from the floor and added six rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists.
- Sophomore Kal Koehler, a 6-3 forward, was a big presence for Whitehall with 15 points and six rebounds. He made both of his 3-point attempts, displaying range that could make the Vikings even tougher to defend.
- Junior guard Ca’Mar Ready was the sparkplug Whitehall needed in the first half when Thompson was saddled with foul trouble. Ready hit three 3s in the first half, when he scored 10 of his 12 points. He filled out his stat sheet with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Senior guard Jack Houtteman provided solid minutes off the bench for the Whitehall with five points, four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
- Junior point guard Kyle Stratton dished out six assists for Whitehall.
- Sophomore Zane Stahl paced the young, balanced Spring Lake team with 15 points. Junior Zachardy Schlepp scored 13, while junior Elijah Morrison had 11 and junior Wren Dephouse nine.
- In a game of runs, Whitehall built a 58-51 lead on Thompson’s 3-pointer with 4:23 left in the contest. Spring Lake answered with an 8-0 run to hold a 59-58 edge with 1:30 remaining. The lead changed hands three more times in the final 1:02.
- Whitehall finished 8-of-13 from 3-point range compared to 3-of-10 for Spring Lake.
- Spring Lake outrebounded Whitehall, 32-27.
- Spring Lake’s roster features only two seniors to go with seven juniors and three sophomores.
- Whitehall’s roster lists seven seniors, six juniors and three sophomores.
- Next up: Whitehall hosts Fruitport on Friday at 7 p.m. Spring Lake is not in action against until Dec. 16 at Coopersville.
Photos by Courtney Jimison | CatchMark
