By Travis Smola
The Vicksburg varsity girls’ basketball team gave the undefeated Schoolcraft Eagles a real scare in a showdown between the two South County teams.
The Lady Bulldogs and Eagles traded the lead back and forth multiple times throughout the game before Schoolcraft ultimately pulled away to victory by a score of 43-33. It didn’t accurately reflect how close the game was.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. I can’t fault my girls’ effort,” Head Coach Tim Kirby said. “I told them tonight was an effort game and they really gave it their all.
Hannah Vallier led the scoring charge with 11 points. Kelsey Diekman had eight points and Madeline Geiger put up six. Brady Brown had four points and Nicola Hosner and Mia Mulhearn added two of their own.
Ultimately the Eagles were able to pull away on the strength of their free throws down the stretch. “Schoolcraft is a really good team. They’ve got a couple of really good players and they’re undefeated for a reason,” Kirby said. “Tonight’s a tough one. We really wanted to win this one.”
Even the team’s losses against the likes of Plainwell, Comstock and Otsego have been pretty competitive games. The team had a recent blowout loss, 58-28 against undefeated conference foe Edwardsburg. But the team is still greatly improved from last season.
Right before winter break, the Lady Bulldogs won three contests in a row against Allegan, Portage Northern and Sturgis. In one of the last games of January, the Lady Bulldogs trounced the Allegan Tigers 51-37 to put the team in good position as the season goes into the final stretch with a 6-5 record, 2-1 in conference.
The team has some tough tests in that stretch including Three Rivers and Edwardsburg again. But so far, Kirby likes what he is seeing this season.
“We’re winning the games we feel like we should win and competing in the games we know should be close, if that makes sense,” Kirby said.