The Martin girls’ varsity basketball team had no trouble subduing hapless Fennville Friday evening, 58-7, with a score that looked more like a football blowout.
The Lady Clippers improved their overall season record to 6-5, but the Martin boys meanwhile slipped to 5-6 with a 49-40 loss to the Blackhawks.
“I am very happy with the way we played tonight,” said girls’ coach Ben Schipper. “I felt as a whole team, we executed many different aspects of the game we have tirelessly been working on.
“Our ball movement was much improved. Our perimeter players and posts were moving without the ball with much more purpose. Finally, we found a tenacity for rebounding that we’ve been trying to come up with all season long.”
Gracie Shettler and Bri Warner led the scoring parade with 20 and 13 points, respectively, while sitting out much of the second half during the running clock. Shettler nailed three threes.
“They both had great court vision and were in attack mode all night long,” Schipper added. “We had good contributions from every player on our team tonight.”
Collin Coburn netted 18 point and grabbed 8 rebounds and Mitchell Jager scored 12 points, Charley Martin gathered 5 rebounds, but the Clippers fell to a quality Blackhawks outfit.
Coach Brad Moelker said his team played with Fennville in the first quarter, but “got stagnant” in the second period.
“They used some great ball movement to take a nice lead,” the coach said of the Blackhawks. “That was compounded by some early foul trouble with Mitchell. I was not upset at all with the fouls as they were on effort plays where he was going all out. We just know he is an extremely important piece of what we try to do.”
The game actually game was not as close as the final score indicated, “but I am extremely proud of the way we continued to battle,” Moelker said. “The fourth quarter we started to execute the way we should. We cut the lead down to nine, but that was with about 40 seconds left.
“Teams definitely know we are not a team that ever gives up on a game, but I wish we had those same mindset during the second and third quarter.”
The coach added, “We were able to get some great looks attacking the rim throughout this game, we just really struggled to finish in the paint. Partially because they are a little bigger than us but we also tried to avoid contact instead of going for it. I think if we are a little more physical we are right in that game the entire time.
“On the scoring end, though Collin and Mitchell were the only two in double figures, I like seeing how the others are attacking at times. They were getting great looks, shots just weren’t falling tonight for them. Cole Altman had some of his best attacks of the year that just barely missed. Brayden (Eckman) and Gabe (Meyers) combined to shoot 75% from the field, we really need both of them to take a couple more shots and be a little selfish.”
Both Martin teams will play Watervliet Tuesday evening.
COVER PHOTO: Seniors Natalie Yowler (50) and Bri Warner (5) were among those honored for Parents’ Night at Martin.