By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
KALAMAZOO—It was a busy week for the Otsego girls basketball team.
The Bulldogs played three games in a five-day span, beginning with a 48-44 win over Portage Central on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and culminating with a 43-33 loss to Forest Hills Northern on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Otsego also defeated Niles 59-27 on Friday, Dec. 9.
The victory over Portage Central was the first of the season for the Bulldogs, who dropped their first two games.
Otsego jumped out to a 12-1 lead in that game and held off Portage Central the rest of the way, leading 26-14 at halftime and 38-31 after three quarters.
“We really came out with an urgency after starting 0-2 and were able to jump out to a quick lead,” Otsego coach Tony Koshar said. “Portage Central made some nice adjustments in the second half and made a run at us, but we were able to hold them off.
“It was a huge confidence boost for us and a much-need win.”
Hannah Fitzpatrick scored a game-best 16 points to lead the Bulldogs. She also dished out five assists and had five rebounds.
Aly Aldrich added nine points, with Haley Geurrant and Tessa Prough each pulling down seven rebounds.
Against Niles, Otsego used a 20-2 second quarter to go up 30-8 at halftime. A 24-9 edge in the third quarter upped the Bulldogs’ lead to 54-17.
“Unlike Tuesday (against Portage Central), we got off to a little slower start against a very young Niles team,” Koshar said. “But we scored 44 points in the middle two quarters to win comfortably.
“I didn’t feel like we were as sharp as Tuesday overall defensively, but we were aggressive and forced 32 turnovers.”
Prough and Maddie Elkins each scored nine points in the win, followed by Audrey Lingbeek with eight and Fitzpatrick with seven. Fitzpatrick added five rebounds and five assists, both of which led the team.
Otsego took an 11-7 lead after one quarter against Forest Hills Northern, eventually pushing the advantage to 15-7. But Northern closed the half on a 13-1 run to go up 20-16 at halftime.
FHN also scored the first four points of the third quarter.
Aldrich was the lone Bulldog to score in double figures with 10 points. Jenna Ballman added eight and Fitzpatrick had seven to go with 12 rebounds.