High school basketball fans in the White Lake area were hoping it could happen. Now, it’s a reality.
Neighboring rivals Montague (16-6) and Whitehall (16-5) are squaring off with a district championship on the line. They’ll collide at 7 p.m. Friday at Spring Lake.
The Wildcats and Vikings both pulled out Division 2 district semifinal victories Wednesday to set up the showdown, their third matchup of the season. Whitehall swept Montague in the regular season, 53-43 and 52-46, en route to winning the West Michigan Conference title.
Five teams from the conference will be vying for district titles on Friday. Ravenna, North Muskegon and Mason County Central are also playing for trophies after picking up district semifinal wins Wednesday.
Here’s a roundup of district semifinal games Wednesday (March 9, 2022) involving West Michigan Conference teams, including updated schedule graphics for each of those districts:
DIVISION 2 AT SPRING LAKE
WHITEHALL 62, SPRING LAKE 57: The visiting Vikings avenged a 22-point season-opening loss to the Lakers in a district semifinal thriller that went from a Whitehall blowout to a white-knuckle finish.
Whitehall raced out to a 17-8 first-quarter lead and extended it to 50-33 midway through the fourth quarter before Spring Lake mounted a furious rally.
The Vikings used a balanced effort to pull out the victory, placing four players in double figures.
Whitehall leaders:
Jack Houtteman 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Isaac DeHart 13 points, 4 rebounds
Camden Thompson 11 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Nate Bolley 10 points, 3 rebounds
Brodie Fogus 4 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks
Red Watson 4 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
Spring Lake leaders:
Kaden George 21 points
Porter Saunders 21 points
Jackson Core 6 points
Eli Morrison 5 points
Records:
Whitehall 16-5
Spring Lake 9-13
Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
MONTAGUE 55, OAKRIDGE 39: In a district semifinal battle between two teams playing well down the stretch of the regular season, the Wildcats used a balanced effort and big contributions from their sophomore trio of Paul Olson, Isaiah Atchison and Owen Raeth.
Those three players combined for 33 points and 20 rebounds for Montague, which trailed 13-12 after one quarter but took control with a 17-8 second-quarter scoring advantage.
The Wildcats have won 12 of their last 14 games. The Eagles saw their seven-game winning streak snapped. Montague has won six straight in the series with Oakridge, which had reeled off seven victories in a row over the Wildcats prior to this current streak.
Montague leaders:
Paul Olson 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Isaiah Atchison 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 blocks, 2 steals
Owen Raeth 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Tate Stine 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Tugg Nichols 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Braeden Johnston 4 points, 5 rebounds
Oakridge leaders:
Ethan Jozsa 18 points
Garrett Wever 16 points
Records:
Montague 16-6
Oakridge 12-9
Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
DIVISION 3 AT WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
NORTH MUSKEGON 50, SHELBY 40: The Norsemen hit shots early and jumped out to an 11-4 first-quarter lead. They put the game away at the free-throw line, as they finished 17-of-21 for the game.
North Muskegon will face Holton in the district finals for the second straight year. The Norsemen knocked off the Red Devils last year en route to the regional finals.
North Muskegon leaders:
Troy McManus 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Jason Bogue 11 points
James Young 6 points, 3 steals
Brandon Rypstra 6 points
Sam Gallo 6 points
Shelby leaders:
Joseph Hayes 23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals
Bishop Lee 11 points, 3 rebounds
Wyatt Dickman 4 points, 3 rebounds
Records:
North Muskegon 14-8
Shelby 12-9
Photos by Zach Zweigle | CatchMark
HOLTON 54, HART 45: In a game that was tight throughout, Holton came away with the victory and earned a spot in the district finals. Hart led 20-19 at halftime.
“It was a very tough district basketball game. Credit to Hart for pushing us so hard,” Holton coach Keith Swanson said. “I was happy with our guys’ adjustments later in the game, which helped lean in our way tonight.”
Holton leaders:
Austin Fowler 16 points, 4 rebounds
Carter Brant 16 points, 4 assists
Wyatt Monette 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
Hart leaders:
Wyatt Dean 15 points
Caleb Bitely 7 points
Records:
Holton 15-6
Hart 7-15
DIVISION 3 AT WHITE CLOUD
RAVENNA 53, KENT CITY 40: The Bulldogs placed three players in double figures and knocked off the Central State Activities Association Silver Division champion Eagles in the district semifinals.
It was Kent City that ended Ravenna’s unbeaten season two years ago in the district semifinals.
Ravenna leaders:
Grant Becklin 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Kyle Beebe 15 points, 5 rebounds
Clay Schullo 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Travis May 4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Hunter Hogan 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Owen Scott 6 assists
Kent City leaders:
Jaret Jaramillo 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Hayden Carlson 8 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
Kyler Larson 7 points, 5 rebounds
Records:
Ravenna 14-6
Kent City 15-7
DIVISION 3 AT MCBAIN
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL 55, EVART 44: The Spartans used a 12-3 second-quarter scoring advantage and monster game from Jayden Perrone to pull away in the district semifinals.
Mason County Central will be playing for a second straight district championship.
MCC leaders:
Jayden Perrone 27 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals
Will Chye 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Evart leaders:
Dakobe White 17 points
Kam Darling 11 points
Bryant Calderon 12 points
Records:
Mason County Central 7-14
Evart 5-16
RELATED CONTENT:
Kaye
March 10, 2022 at 9:16 am
Still waiting on the interview with Kyle Bebe a couple weeks ago.
Scott DeCamp
March 10, 2022 at 9:56 am
Kyle Beebe is our Profile of the Week this week. Those publish on Sundays, so look for it in a few days.
We try to work ahead on the Profiles of the Week, so that’s why we conduct the interviews 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before the stories publish.