MUSKEGON — The Whitehall Vikings’ sky-high hopes for the postseason crashed down around them for the second straight season Wednesday night at Orchard View, as perennial nemesis Spring Lake made key play after key play to pull off a 73-61 overtime upset of the #2-ranked Vikings in the district semifinals.
Spring Lake’s success at the free throw line was a huge factor in the game, as were a few key turnovers in transition by the Vikings in the extra period. The Lakers drained 27-of-31 free throws, including 18-of-20 in the overtime alone, as Whitehall desperately tried to extend the game by fouling.
“They made the plays down the stretch that they needed to make, and we didn’t make them,” Whitehall coach Christian Subdon said. “Credit to them. They came out and they played tough. They made some timely steals. (We had) to foul late to put them up four and then we were playing catch-up from there. (They) stepped up and made (their) free throws, so credit to them on that. It’s not easy to do.”
The Lakers did not make any secret of their defensive game plan from the tip-off, often sending two or even three defenders at Whitehall star Camden Thompson to force other Vikings to beat them. To Thompson’s credit, he rarely tried to force his way through the defense, instead passing to open teammates. Kal Koehler was the main beneficiary, delivering some big shots early in both halves. The junior posted a team-best 22 points and displayed great confidence in taking his shots when given the chance.
“Kal is a big-time player and he takes big-time shots and he makes them,” Subdon said. “He was in the gym working this morning and after school he was in there working. He probably got up 300 shots. There’s no question why he’s successful. He’s only going to get better.”
Whitehall got the ball with a minute left in regulation and ran the clock all the way down, as Spring Lake did not attempt to force Thompson to pass. After a timeout, Thompson took the ball into the lane and fired it to DJ Jamison, whose three-pointer rimmed out.
“We told Cam to make the right play,” Subdon said. “We didn’t tell him what to do...I’ll tell you right now, it takes a real man to take that shot. He’s beating himself up in there, but there’s 400 people in that gym that wouldn’t even be man enough to take the shot, and DJ Jamison was.”
Thompson scored to open the overtime, but the Lakers took over from there, grabbing the lead and never letting it go. Thompson tried to keep his team in it and ended up with 18 points total after being held to five in the first three quarters, but the Lakers’ efficiency at the free throw line made the difference.
It was a bitter end to a record-setting season that saw Whitehall win 22 games for the first time ever. Kyle Stratton, Ca’Mar Ready, Trannon Aylor, Jamison and LaVarion Dean each ended their Viking careers.
“There’s nothing you can say to them,” Subdon said. “You wish you’d have done better, as far as the coach goes.
“They’re not going to remember it right now, but when they look back, I hope they remember it fondly. They played in big games, big moments, hit big shots, made big steals. They’ve just got to keep grinding. They’re going to be winners in whatever they do in their life. This game doesn’t define them.”
