Whitehall – “Our expectation at Whitehall is to win conference championships, and that expectation was met again this year,” Whitehall boys’ head coach Christian Subdon said.
The Vikings have had a dominating season, but there are a couple of games they wish had turned out differently.
Nonetheless, Coach Subdon has his guys heading into the playoffs as league champs.
With a 40-point win over Fremont last Friday, the veteran-led squad took away any possibility of a second-place finish.
Camden Thompson led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Hunter Osborne scored 12, and Cy Black added nine points.
Whitehall is surrounded by scorers this season, with Thompson being the main guy they go through. Thompson averages 24.2 PPG on 14.2 RPG, as well as 5.9 APG.
Senior Kal Koehler serves as a true big who can shoot the rock as well, averaging 14.1 PPG and five rebounds. Brock Morningstar rounds out the Vikings’ top three scoring threats, all of whom are seniors.
Thompson, Koehler, and Morningstar were all on the team last season when Spring Lake upset them in the district round.
“Pressure is earned, and with our success in multiple sports, we have earned plenty of it. We know that in each game, we are going to get everyone’s best. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves after losses, they have gotten themselves up off the canvas and continued to work and continued to stay the course,” Subdon said.
The Vikings had a spotless regular season last year—this time around, not so much.
Losses early to Hudsonville, Grand Blanc, and Rockford certainly put Whitehall on its heels. However, none were bad losses.
A two-game stretch this past week may have been the Vikings’ worst in the last three years. Allendale, who has had a tremendous season so far, caught Whitehall at home and took a six-point win. The very next day, the Vikings hosted Manistee, whom they had a little trouble with earlier in the season. The Mariners pulled off the upset and shocked the state of Michigan in a 55-54 win.
“We have decided to use each of the losses as a learning experience, and each of them has shaped us into the team we are and the team we are becoming,” Subdon said.
Nobody can let these losses distract them from the amount of firepower this squad has, though.
Wins against Mona Shores, Coopersville, and Forest Hills Central show just how dangerous Whitehall can be come March.
“I know that this team can be great defensively, and that will win us big games down the stretch. We are going to continue to work to EARN more in practice each and every day,” Subdon said.
The Vikings will finish the regular season against Orchard View on Thursday and will then set their sights on bringing home a district title. Spring Lake will play Orchard View in the first round, and the winner of the two will play Whitehall.
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