Martin’s girls’ basketball squad improved to 4-0 for the season overall Friday night with a 47-38 victory over league rival Gobles.

Both the Hopkins girls’ and boys’ basketball teams fell short in non-league basketball encounters Friday night. The girls lost 40-31 to Forest Hills Northern and guys bowed to Hastings, 54-51.

“We battled through an extremely physical game tonight to improve to 4-0 on the season.,” Martin girls’ coach Ben Schipper said. “I’m proud of the way the girls kept their composure in such a physical game. They were bruised and battered, but they never backed down and held on for a good win.”

The Lady Clippers took an early lead and managed to stay ahead for the rest of the way.

The Tigers, like everybody else this season, tried to take senior standout Makala Goddard out of the offense and her teammates again rose to the occasion.

Schipper said Avery Jager played a great game being aggressive at the right times on offense, leading Martin with 9 points and being a rim protector on defense, blocking several shots.He said Liz Reinke played tough all night long and finished with 8 points as did Goddard. Macy Thorne and Torryn Harris each added 7 and Alley Bacon chipped in 6 points, going 4-4 from the free throw line.

“Torryn played some really great on-ball defense causing problems for some of Gobles’ perimeter players,” the coach added. “I was very pleased with how some of our less experienced players stepped up tonight. Everyone got on the court and contributed.”

Gobles pressed the Clippers until the buzzer and Martin had four first-year varsity players out there the last minute and 30 seconds, “getting meaningful reps in an intense situation. It was definitely a good growth opportunity for us.”

“It was a close game throughout, and Hastings just made more plays than we did in crunch time,” lamented Hopkins boys’ coach Jake Jewett.  “Hastings also outrebounded us significantly, and that had a big impact on the outcome of the game.”

Indeed, Hastings led by no more than three points in all of the period stops.

Junior Nick Schultz finished with 24 points and freshman Trent Smith, senior Jayden (JT) Reed, and senior Micah Estelle all finished with 8. 

“We learned a lot about ourselves tonight, and when put in a close game again this season, I expect us to be much better.”

The Vikings will be back in action next Tuesday at home vs. West Michigan Aviation Academy.

The Lady Vikings, meanwhile, are 0-4, but have played tough competition, including Forest Hills Northern and Central, Hamilton and Wayland

The same can be said about the Lady Wildcats, who have lost this season to Division 1 Caledonia and Byron Center and to perennial Division 2 powerhouse Grand Rapids West Catholic. Wayland is 1-3.

Byron Center prevailed Friday night, 59-42, as the ‘Cats were plagued by a plethora of turnovers.

Wayland was led by junior Harmony Laker with 19 points, including a couple of threes, Addy Sikorski came up with 11 points and Reece Coughlin seven points.

The Martin boys’ basketball team fell to 0-6 with a 53-14 defeat at the hands of Gobles.