Rematch with Grant coming Friday Fremont 45 Sparta 32 In a game that saw a high level of physical play from both teams the Packers were able to finally shake loose from a relentless Spartan squad and move on to Friday’s District Finals But it wasn’t pretty Coach Zerfas: “It was probably the sloppiest game I’ve seen but we were able to come out of it with a win. We’re mostly a high scoring, up and down, shoot the ball team, but we’ve had a few like this against Ludington and Grant where we’ve had to grind it out.” Missing a key starter in Mia Clemance who is out with an ankle injury the Packers struggled early, not only missing shots but rarely getting off decent attempts. The free throw line was no refuge from futility with the Packers going 0-4 during that stretch. As a result the Spartans were able to build an 8-0 lead. Then 5 ½ minutes into the game Riley Chase wove her way to the basket to put her team on the board. After Sparta went 2-2 at the line Chase nailed 2 triples on successive possessions and suddenly the Pack were on track Fremont took the lead early in the second with Katie Ackerman hitting twice then Jessica Bennett joined in the fun finding net from beyond the arc twice. After Taylor DeKuiper pulled off a steal and score, Spartan Averi Peot popped in a 3 and the Packers hit halftime up 21-18. Peot was keeping the Spartans in the game accounting for 7 of the 8 Spartan points in the period. Sparta kept hanging close early in the third before Chase got to the line and converted followed by Khalia Noordyk taking an offensive rebound and muscling the ball in while also drawing a foul in the process. Her conversion made it a 6 point lead and the next 2 Spartan baskets were answered by another Bennett three and another Noordyk put back off a board. The teams headed to the final frame with Fremont holding a 35-28 edge. The 4th belonged to the Packers. Chase scored from the field and the line and Bennett also hit from the stripe down the stretch. The Spartan offense had gone mostly silent and their season came to an end and the hands of the Packers. Coach Z: “I thought two players in particular had really good games. Riley Chase had a monster game for us and I thought Khaila Noordyk came off the bench, rebounded and played extremely well in the middle. I don’t think we win without big games from Riley and Khaila.”
Chase finished with a team high 17 points to go with her 8 steals. Bennett hit for 14, rejected 7 shots and added 7 rebounds while Noordyk scored 6 and pulled 9 off the glass. DeKuiper was a demon on defense collecting 7 steals and battling for 7 boards Fremont will face Grant in the District Finals Friday at Newaygo High School beginning at 7 pm. The winner moves on to the Regional play in Sparta.
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