Martin girls’ basketball coach Doug MacVean called Friday night’s 56-18 drubbing of Fennville “Our best team effort yet. Disciplined and lots of energy.”
Indeed, his Lady Clippers had to face an opponent with a 4-2 overall record that had a high-scoring junior point guard in Coryne Howard and without the services of Martin’s top scorer, junior Faith Guritz, nursing a sprained ankle.
No problem.
The Clippers rose to the occasion, defensively holding their opponent scoreless in the first seven minutes, mounting a 13-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, 24-13 at the half and using a stunning 23-3 run the third period to turn the entire affair into an unexpected rout.
The unsung hero in the effort was Jaclyn Hildebrand, who held Howard to just six points, with a little help from teammate Kiaya Warner when she was getting a breather.
It was the sisters Warner, Kiaya and Briana, from the outside, a solid inside game from freshman Gracie Shettler and sophomore Natalie Yowler and the strong rebounding of junior Freddie Elkins. Nine of Martin’s 11 players scored in the game.
Martin has a nary a senior on this year’s outfit.
Kiyana Warner led all scorers with 14 points and was second in rebounding only to Elkins. Shettler came up with nine points, Yowler added eight and Elkins hauled down nine rebounds.
This was supposed to be a real struggle because Fennville sported a winning record and Guritz could only watch her teammates from the sidelines. She promised to be ready to play against Delton Tuesday.
The Lady Clippers now are 6-0, but have been overlooked in the Associated Press statewide Class D poll.
“Perhaps they’ll listen now.” — Don McLean, in the 1972 hit song tribute to Vincent Van Gogh.
COVER PHOTO: Jaclyn Hildebrand (15) had a stellar night on defense and even scored seven points.
