Lions Hold Off ‘Yotes

Photos by Alexis Mercer
Story by Ken DeLaat

Newaygo 36 Reed City 25
The Lions went ahead early then held off a determined Coyote team to hold court in the CSAA-Red matchup.
The early shooting was as cold as the temperature outside and with a couple minutes left in the first the teams were knotted at 4. Ruby Hughes hit a bucket and Naomi Schillman followed with a triple giving the Lions a lead they would hold throughout the game. But not without seeing the ‘Yotes make a couple of runs at their hosts. Midway through the second the visitors got within 3 with possession but a turnover and a basket by Amaya Lathrop followed by another deuce by Arney and the Lions went up by 5 at intermission.
The second half saw Kija Schultz split at the line then hit a basket but Morgan Hammond scored from distance and was answered by a three from Arney. The 7 point lead took a hit from a basket then RC got  a triple from Casey Terryn and it was a one possession game again. Schillman provided another clutch basket zeroing one in from beyond the arc to give the Lions a 6 point lead heading into the fourth. The fourth was all Newaygo as Hughes dropped 2 in a row and Schillman canned another three to stretch the lead to 13  The Coyotes fought back with a pair of buckets and another 3 pointer from Terryn but it proved to be too little too late and the Lions notched the win. 
Coach Nate Thomasma: "Gutty win for the girls tonight.  Reed City threw a few different defenses at us and we responded well for the most part. We played well again on the defense tonight.  Rebounded well and contested shots." Arney led the Lions with 10 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds. Hughes hit for  8 points and grabbed 12 off the glass while  Kija Schultz knocked down 7 points and Naomi Schillman finished with 6 from distance.
Newaygo (5-1, 9-2) travels to Ravenna Tuesday before heading 5 miles south for the rematch with Grant on Friday.