Hart’s boys basketball coach Adam Jerry and his Pirates said all the right things at VanDyk Mortgage CatchMark SportsNet media day a couple weeks ago, that this could be a different season.
They backed up their words, at least in Tuesday night’s season opener.
Hart outscored host Western Michigan Christian 17-5 in the pivotal third quarter to erase a halftime deficit and go on to a 57-47 nonleague victory.
“Finishing out the game in the fourth quarter, Parker Hovey scored seven points, Caleb Bitely went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, and players made winning plays,” Jerry said. “Kohen Porter was on the floor, securing loose balls; Diego Escamilla and Wyatt Dean were all over defensively; Tony Rayo pulling down rebounds – it was a true team win.”
Hovey finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four steals to power Hart. Bitely had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Jake VanderWilk added seven points and six rebounds.
Hart opens West Michigan Conference play this Friday at home against Mason County Central. Tip-off time will be approximately 7:30 p.m.
Photos by Zach Zweigle | CatchMark
SPRING LAKE 58, WHITEHALL 36: At Spring Lake, Whitehall led 10-8 after one quarter but the host Lakers used a 15-6 second-quarter advantage and began to pull away in the head-coaching debut of the Vikings’ Christian Subdon.
Whitehall leaders:
Jack Houtteman 9 points, 3 rebounds
Red Watson 8 points, 2 assists, 2 steals
Brodie Fogus 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
Jack McDowell 6 points
Records:
Whitehall 0-1
Spring Lake 1-0
Next games:
Ravenna at Whitehall, 7 p.m. Friday
Grand Haven at Spring Lake, 6 p.m. Dec. 17
OAKRIDGE 50, FRUITPORT 47: At Oakridge, the host Eagles built a 30-19 halftime lead, then held off a late Fruitport run to win their season opener Tuesday night. Oakridge tips off West Michigan Conference play Friday at Montague in the CatchMark SportsNet Game of the Week.
Oakridge leaders:
Ethan Jozsa 29 points, 11 rebounds
Garrett Wever 8 points, 6 assists
Peyton Ruel 3 steals
Fruitport leaders:
Andrew Spyke 16 points
Bode Anspaugh 14 points
Records:
Oakridge 1-0
Fruitport 0-1
Next games:
Oakridge at Montague, 7 p.m. Friday
Fruitport at Fruitport Calvary Christian, 7 p.m. Friday
NORTH MUSKEGON 53, MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL 23: At North Muskegon, the host Norsemen jumped out to a 17-5 first-quarter lead and cruised to the season-opening victory. The Norse converted turnovers into baskets and played good defense from the start.
North Muskegon leaders:
Troy McManus 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Jason Bogue 10 points
Sam Gallo 9 points
Brandon Rypstra 6 points, 5 rebounds
Ben Meyers 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
MCC leaders:
Bradon Gustin 5 points
Jaden Johnson 5 points
Dane Rutz 4 points
Records:
North Muskegon 1-0
MCC 0-1
Next games:
North Muskegon at Shelby, 7 p.m. Friday
MCC at Manistee, 7 p.m. Friday
FREMONT 54, SHELBY 47: At Shelby, the host Tigers went cold for a stretch in the fourth quarter in a season-opening loss Tuesday night. Coach Rick Zoulek said he was pleased with the effort of his team, which battled on the boards and forced turnovers in its press.
Shelby leaders:
Joseph Hayes 14 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 assists, 2 blocks
Wyatt Dickman 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Mason Garcia 3 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
Records:
Shelby 0-1
Fremont 1-0
Next games:
North Muskegon at Shelby, 7 p.m. Friday
Big Rapids at Fremont, 7 p.m. Friday
FRUITPORT CALVARY CHRISTIAN 64, MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 58: At Mason County Central, Fruitport Calvary’s one-two punch of Bradley Richards and Jacob May was too much for the host Spartans in the season opener Tuesday.
Mason County Central leaders:
Will Chye 22 points, 4 rebounds
Zach Draper 12 points
Tyler Thurow 9 points, 5 rebounds
Fruitport Calvary Christian leaders:
Bradley Richards 27 points, 10 rebounds
Jacob May 27 points
Records:
Mason County Central 0-1
Fruitport Calvary Christian 2-0
Next games:
Mason County Central at Hart, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Fruitport at Fruitport Calvary Christian, 7 p.m. Friday
MONDAY
RAVENNA 65, WEST MICHIGAN AVIATION ACADEMY 50: At West Michigan Aviation Academy in Grand Rapids, the visiting Bulldogs used a 16-7 second-quarter scoring advantage and pulled away in the final three quarters to post a comfortable season-opening win Monday.
Ravenna leaders:
Travis May 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Grant Becklin 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Clay Schullo 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Kyle Beebe 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
West Michigan Aviation leaders:
Luke Riebel 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
Zakaria Mohamed 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Records:
Ravenna 1-0
West Michigan Aviation 0-1
Next games:
Ravenna at Whitehall, 7 p.m. Friday
Grand Rapids Adventist at West Michigan Aviation, 7 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 8)
