By Travis Smola
The Vicksburg girls’ basketball team got through one of the toughest stretches of the season with a 5-1 record and stands with a 15-2 record overall for the year.
The Bulldogs first defeated Paw Paw 53-49 in one of their most challenging games of the year. The team then took down Niles Brandywine, Three Rivers, Plainwell, and Sturgis. While Vicksburg never trailed against the Wildcats, Three Rivers managed to keep things interesting in the first half of the game. The Bulldogs’ lead was 11 at halftime.
“They (Three Rivers) played really hard in the first half, and they made some shots here to keep it close,” Head Coach Tim Kirby said. “I kind of challenged my girls earlier to pick it up on the defensive end.”
The team did that, only allowing nine points in the second half total. The Bulldogs only gave up two in the third period. Kirby said the team didn’t make a ton of adjustments defensively, although he did talk to the team about getting out to their shooters and getting hands in front of those players. At the same time, Vicksburg attacked the basket better in the second half. Nearly every girl on the team scored.
“When we play defense like that, it really gets our offense going as well,” Kirby said.
Emma Steele and Makayla Allen led the scoring charge for the Bulldogs. Both put up 14 points in the contest. Brooklynn Ringler was right behind them with 13 points of her own, one of her best games of the year.
Kendra Cooley and Maddi Diekman both had nine points in the game. Scarlett Hosner added six more for the Bulldogs. Hannah DeVries, Ella Mann, and Alexis Bennett each had a field goal.
For Kirby, the Three Rivers game came at an opportune time after the Bulldogs soldiered through an incredibly tough part of their schedule. The Bulldogs were able to rest their starters a little in the second half. And just as importantly, they got some playing time for girls who hadn’t seen the court much in the previous six contests.
“That kind of kills you as a coach when you don’t get to play kids as much,” Kirby said. “So, it was good to be able to get everybody some significant playing time tonight, and they all contributed.”
Vicksburg had big wins in their next two matchups against Plainwell, 59-21, and Sturgis, 57-24. The team will have another big test against Stevensville Lakeshore in its final regular season game of the season.