Wednesday Hoop Roundup

Viking Buzzer Beater Tames Tigers, Warriors Cool Off Devils, Panthers Crush Crusaders, Eagles Alone Atop Silver After Clipping ‘Hawks

Photos by Sue Harrison
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Boys
Tri County 67 Grant 64
Blake Nelson canned a three pointer at the buzzer to deliver the win for the visiting Vikings.
Grant took the lead early holding a 7 point lead after one and holding the same advantage at the break 31-24. TC came out of intermission strong and fought their way into a tie entering the final frame. Down 2 in the final minute Seth Schuitema drained a pair at the charity stripe to forge a tie and a possible overtime before Nelson hit his game winner.
Schuitema led the Tigers with 27 points with Orion Evans notching 10, Gage Burrows scoring 8 and Elliott Butchart dropping in a half dozen.
Grant (5-4, 5-6) will saunter up ‘37 Friday to face Newaygo
 
 West Mich Christian 44 Holton 31
The Warriors and Red Devils played pretty even in the first half but the hosts couldn’t find the basket in the third as WMC stretched a 4 point lead into an even dozen heading into the fourth and held back the Devs for the win.
Coach Swanson: ”I thought we played well defensively. WMC did a great job of keeping us out of the paint, and I think their length bothered us at times. We will look at the tape and find ways to come out of this game stronger.”
Brodrick Fialek led the RD’s with 10 points while grabbing 3 rebounds and Aidan Poling scored 9 to go with 4 boards and 3 assists.
Holton (9-2, 6-0) will host Kent City Friday with a chance to put distance between themselves and the Eagles in the Silver race.
 
Girls
 Hesperia 56 Muskegon Catholic 33
The Panthers took charge early with a 14-5 lead after one and by halftime cruised to a 32-18 edge.
Coach Grodus :” We got balanced scoring from 5 players. It was a scrappy game the whole way.”
Emily Bayle (18), Emmi Tinkham (12) Alison Homfield (10) Emma Joppich (8) and Rachel Romero (8) [provided that balanced offense while Tinkham added 7 boards, Bayle notched 7 steals and Romero dished out  4 assists.
Hesperia (3-4, 1-4) returns to conference play Friday when they host Morley Stanwood.
 
Kent City 43 Morley Stanwood 32
The Mohawks came into the Nest riding a 5 game winning streak and poised to take on their  co-leader in the Silver in a battle for the top spot heading into the home stretch of the season.
A 9 point Eagle lead helped along by a pair of triples by Taryn Preston eva[orated quickly as the visitors climbed back to within 3 by the end of the first. MS took a one point lead in the second but a pair of Maddie Geers buckets put the Eagles back on top by the break.
The teams continued to battle for the lead in the 3rd but late in the third Maddie Geers dropped in another layup and Jenna Harrison found the nets from long range and the Eagles took a lead they would hold the remainder of the contest.
Harrison led the Eagle scoring attack with 15 points while Kenzie Bowers knocked down a dozen. Maddie Geers finished with 8 key points for KC.
Kent City (11-0, 6-0) will take their undefeated record to  OK White powerhouse East Grand Rapids for a Saturday afternoon contest.
 
Tri County 47 Grant 32