Monday Hoops: Packers & Panthers Pick Up Wins; Dawgs Down Devils

Fremont 72 Mason County Central 61
The Spartans came into the game with a 9-1 record with the only setback a loss to Hart, the top ranked team in D2. The Packers have been on a win-lose win-lose pattern since the calendar turned and  had yet to beat a team with a winning record.
And they were on the road, playing the Rivers Division  Spartans in Scottville on a Monday night.
Down 16-10 after one the Packers caught fire in the second to take the lead they would hold the rest of the night as they notched the victory.
Coach Bowen: “It was a really good win for us on the road vs a good team. I thought both teams played really hard and it was very competitive. We started a little slow and fell behind early but to our kids credit, we battled back and took a 10 point lead going into halftime. We were able to hold them off in the second half. We handled their press very well which is something that we’ve struggled with so that was good to see.  We also were able to make 13 out of 15 free throws in the fourth quarter to ice it. The kids are really working hard and improving.”
Jordan McDonald led a quartet of Packers who hit double figures finishing with 21 points. Chaz Miller dropped 20 on the Spartans while Gavin Richards hit for 15 and Will DeBlake knocked down 10.
Fremont (3-3, 6-4) will look to make it three in a row when the Bulldogs of Ravenna (3-3, 4-7) from the Rivers Division comes to town Thursday.

Hesperia 66 Mason County Eastern 59
Ian Fox fired in 20 points and teammate Maddox Mosely tallied 18 as the Panthers picked up win number 3 on the season. Hesperia fell behind after one but battled back to take the lead and held off a determined Cardinal team to capture the win.
Coach Worcester: “I’m really proud of our guys. They were able to take tonight’s game and improve on our deficiencies. Ian Fox and Maddox Mosley had a great game offensively. Overall I felt our team improved and played together well.”
Hesperia (1-5, 3-9) will host Belding (2-9) next Tuesday (Jan. 31). The Black Knights compete in the OK Silver.

​Ravenna 83 Holton 43
The Dogs came out strong to take an early lead they would maintain through the night as the Red Devils fell short in the Rivers Division game.
Coach Swanson:” Ravenna played a really nice game tonight.  I thought we were quite competitive until we took on heavy second quarter foul trouble.  However, the reality is if our defense doesn't get better we won't be hanging around late very often.”
Holton will get a week off before meeting Newaygo in the Lions home gym next Tuesday.


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