Whitehall’s trip to Cadillac Tuesday for a battle of boys basketball beatens delivered everything that head coach Christian Subdon was hoping to see.
A well-coached, tough opponent. A game where every possession matters. Hard-nosed defense. Physicality. Hostile environment. Mental toughness. Composure down the stretch. And, of course, a hard-earned victory.
Whitehall earned this one against Cadillac, 58-56, in a nonleague contest that was tight the entire way.
In a showdown of teams both nicknamed Vikings, Whitehall remains perfect on the season with a 13-0 overall record while Cadillac is now 11-1.
In the latest Michigan Associated Press state rankings, Whitehall was No. 5 in Division 2 and Cadillac honorable mention in Division 1.
Here are more details and notables from the game:
Whitehall’s Camden Thompson, a 6-foot-5 junior, led his balanced team with 15 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Whitehall junior Kal Koehler finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and one steal.
Four Whitehall players scored eight points apiece: Seniors Kyle Stratton, DJ Jamison, and Camar Ready as well as junior Brock Morningstar.
Stratton added four steals, two assists, and one block, and he went 2-for-3 from 3-point range.
Jamison notched three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Ready had three steals and one assist and he shot 4-of-6 from the floor.
Morningstar was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Cadillac’s Charlie Howell, a 6-5 senior, led all scorers with 29 points.
Whitehall shot 42 percent from the floor (20-of-48), including a solid 36 percent from 3-point range (8-for-22).
Cadillac shot 43 percent from the field (20-of-46), connecting on 43 percent of their 3-point tries (6-of-14).
Whitehall finished 10-of-14 from the free-throw line, while Cadillac was 10-for-11.
The taller Cadillac team edged Whitehall on the boards, 23-19.
Last season, Cadillac captured a Division 2 regional championship and lost a 61-57 heartbreaker to Saginaw in the quarterfinals. Cadillac ended Hart’s dream season in the district finals, 56-32, handing the Pirates their lone loss of the campaign.
Next up for Whitehall is another nonleague game Thursday at Newaygo.