Trifecta!

Lions Hold Off Spartan Rally to Capture 3rd Straight District Crown

Photos by Alexis Mercer, Story by Ken DeLaat

Two years in a row the Sparta girls were bounced from the dance by the Lions. Spartan seniors Bella Vallone and Ashley Cowdrey in particular remembered watching the Lions celebrate those District crowns and this time, this year they were determined to turn the tables. This time it was their turn to hoist the trophy with the Lions watching. This time it would be Sparta moving on to the Regionals.
Nope. Not this time.

Some games are like track meets. Some become real physical resulting in a slowing of the action.
This one was both. These teams left nothing on the court as they battled, banged and bashed each other while moving up and down the court at a speed that saw heads in the crowd moving back and forth like they were at a tennis match.
Coach Thomasma was worried going into this one and with good reason. Sparta had but 8 players on their team, but they had a solid lineup and we all know a team that made it to Breslin with just 7 players last year.
The game got physical right from tipoff. Sparta’s Cowdrey started the scoring then Jaxi Long began hitting the target like a sniper banging in a pair of threes then forcing a foul and draining a pair. Suddenly it was 8-2. The Spartans responded as Makayla Hatchew tripled and another Spartan stop with a basket and free throw forged a tie. Vallone fired in a pair from distance that sandwiched a similar scoring strike from Long and the quarter ended with Sparta up 14-12.
The second quarter belonged to the Lions. A Long bucket and a split from the line from Emmerson Goodin inched Newaygo back into the lead then as a Spartan player was about to lay in a basket to regain the lead Goodin leapt up and rejected the shot, a move that brought the crowd to its feet.

Goodin wasn’t done. She drove in for a pair, drew a foul and converted both then Long hit a floater and suddenly the Lions were up 21-14 midway through the second quarter.
Coach Applin called a time out but it didn’t stop the bleeding. After Long slipped a pass to Lily Swinehart for 2, Swinehart and Long made trips to the charity strip converting 4 of 4 as the fouls began to pile up for Sparta. Cowdrey's basket finally put the Spartans on the board again after a 13 point Lion run and when the teams left the floor for intermission Newaygo held a 27-16 lead.

A lot of teams might have folded after falling behind by double digits but Sparta isn’t a lot of teams. They came out of the locker room on fire continuing their fierce defense while putting the offense into gear. Cowdrey scored and after 2 stops Vallone hit a 2 and Delaney Desillier fired one in from distance. Vallone continued with another pair of buckets answered by Goodin and just when the Spartans got within 2, Grace Painter hit a clutch three pointer to provide the Lions with a little breathing room. Undeterred, the Sparta team kept grinding it out led by Vallone and tied the game at 34. Long launched a missile for 3 but was immediately answered by Hatchew.
An exchange of buckets ended the third all even at 39 and the Lion faithful looked a bit tense after seeing an 11 point lead evaporate.

While there may have been a seed of doubt in the stands there was none on the Lion team. These warriors took to the court for the final 8 minutes on a mission. This is a team that doesn’t get rattled. A team with confidence in their ability to bring home the groceries and on this night they delivered big time.
Goodin scored twice, Kayla Fisk the defensive demon tapped away an errant pass then looped a pass to Long who converted. Fisk caused another turnover and got the ball into Painter’s hands who drained it. Cowdrey split at the line before Goodin scored and was fouled completing the three point play and putting the Lions up 10.
Though the Spartans continued to battle, the Lions were content to put the ball in Long’s capable hands as she ate up clock when not being sent to the line. When the buzzer finally sounded the large Newaygo student section poured onto the court to celebrate with their beloved Lions.

Goodin “We knew they were going to be tough and they came out quick and fast so we knew we were going to have to keep up with their pace.”
The key to the Lion response to the 3rd quarter run by Sparta?
”Good communication and defense. We knew we needed to cover their player that was getting the open shots and we adjusted to get it done.” 

Long: “It was really fun. It was a good game, they’re a tough team and we worked really hard to get here so it was nice to get the win.”

Both players were asked about the next game and, as it is with these Lions, neither knew nor seemed to care who the next opponent would be. They just knew they were moving on.
Moving on with their third straight District crown.

Coach Thomasma: “"Unbelievable performance by their girls tonight.  Sparta is a tough team.  They are well coached and talented.  Our girls were able to withstand a good run by the Spartans in the third quarter.  In the 4th quarter, our girls made championship plays when it counted.  Jaxi and Emmerson were great at making big shots and free throws.  Lily also made some big buckets late.  Kayla was great as always on defense and really set the pass for us defensively tonight.  Grace hit some big shots for us.  Our bench gave us minutes and energy throughout the game."
 
"It was a great win for the girls and the program.  Winning three straight district titles is a difficult accomplishment.  These girls work hard and it has paid off for them."

And now it’s on to Orchard View where the team will travel Tuesday to take on former Lakes 8 rival Spring Lake, a team that shut down Montague in their District final. 
On the other side of the bracket? West Catholic and GR Christian.
2 teams with a bit of history when it comes to these Lions.