Saugatuck boys run winning streak to seven

By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Based on the first quarter, it appeared as though the boys basketball game between Saugatuck and visiting Delton on Thursday, Jan. 11, was destined to be a back-and-forth battle throughout.
But as is so often the case, appearances were deceiving.
The Trailblazers used a 19-4 edge in the second stanza to take command and rolled to the 62-32 victory.
With the win, Saugatuck ran its winning streak to seven and upped its overall record to 7-3.
Two days earlier, the Trailblazers bested Wyoming Potter’s House 67-58. Saugatuck led that game by 18 points at 51-33 through three quarters before Potter’s House used a 25-16 scoring advantage in the final frame to narrow the gap to single digits.
Saugatuck coach Brian Ward credited his team’s defensive effort in the second quarter as the key to its success against Delton.
“A defensive adjustment coming out of the quarter was just what we needed as we blew open the quarter,” he said. “We also learned our lesson from Tuesday night and did a much better job closing out the game, taking time off the clock and continuing to be aggressive and get buckets at the rim.”
Saugatuck used a balanced scoring effort in the Delton game, as three Trailblazers scored in double figures.
Senior Russell VandePoel led the way with 14 points. Classmate Jack McCoy and junior Cass Stanberry were close behind with 13 points each.
McCoy was the offensive star against Potter’s House. He finished with 20 points.
“Jack had a monster game for us,” Ward said.
Fellow senior Matt Hartgerink was next with 16 points. Six of those came in the fourth quarter to help ward off the comeback bid by Potter’s House.
VandePoel chipped in with 13 points.
Saugatuck had a strong start to the game, leading 23-11 after one quarter. VandePoel and McCoy each had seven points in the stanza.
The lead reached 20 points in the third quarter before Potter’s House made its fourth-quarter run.
“It seemed like the we would be able to put the game on cruise control after three quarters, but Potter’s House started to hit 3-point shot after 3-point shot to make it a little closer than we thought it would be,” Ward said. “Fortunately, we were able to do just enough to hold onto the game and walk away with the victory.”