FRUITPORT — Whitehall knew it would need a fast start for a chance at an upset of Spring Lake Wednesday in the district finals. The Vikings got the exact opposite in a 54-22 defeat.
The district favorite Lakers raced out to a 12-0 lead in barely two minutes, utilizing speed, athleticism and tenacity to grab control of the game right after tip-off. Whitehall briefly stemmed the tide and got back to 14-5 by the end of the first quarter, but that was about where the highlights ended for the Vikes.
“The game was a little fast for us because they’re fast,” Whitehall coach Brian Milliron said. “They’re a very good basketball team...They attacked. They play in a good conference and that’s what they do. Ella Andree is a fantastic basketball player and she’s an even better soccer player. She’s better than her mom, Julie Murray. Her and I went to college together.”
Andree indeed spearheaded things early for the Lakers, drilling a trio of three-pointers. She had 13 first-half points as Spring Lake took a 30-7 lead into halftime. There just wasn’t much Whitehall could do from there. Milliron said he should have tried to mimic the Lakers’ speed better in practice, but mostly credited his four seniors - Kendall Osborne, Taylor Ottinger, Allie Van Antwerp and Lucy Zamojcin - for helping the team have a double-digit win season.
“Allie coming back from two ACL injuries, she came back and played the full 24 games this year,” Milliron said. “Kendall recovering from her ACL, she played too many minutes. I didn’t want her to play that much. Lucy Zamojcin and Taylor Ottinger, with all her concussions and the physical stuff she’s dealt with, I couldn’t be happier with that senior group. I’m very sad to lose them.”
