CUSTER — Walkerville traveled to Custer on Friday for a contest with Mason County Eastern and after falling behind 18-2 in the first quarter, they struggled to the finish line with a 45-12 loss in Western Michigan D League action.
Nine Cardinals scored throughout the evening, with balanced scoring amongst five; Maria Gomez Jimenez led all scorers with nine, Lucy Shoup and Olivia Wing had eight and Janessa Alvesteffer and Deanna Codman had seven. Walkerville had their hands full from the get-go.
Macy Garrett and Heaven Rodriquez led the Wildcats’ offense, each scoring four points.
“We had quite a few people in,” MCE head coach Jake Smith said. “I was a little disappointed in the intensity in the second quarter. I thought we needed to pick it up a little. We are teaching to play 32 minutes a game.”
Friday’s game was the 108th time MCE and Walkerville have played, an all-time series that began in 1973 and one the Cardinals have won 62 times. With the win, Eastern has a grip on a five game win streak.
Mason County Eastern (6-5, 6-3 WMD) tied for the eighth for fewest points allowed in a game, giving up just 12 points to Walkerville (1-9, 1-8 WMD). The record ties with 12 points allowed in a game against Baldwin in 1998 and a game against Hart Lakeshore Academy in 2000. The all-time fewest points allowed in a game is eight, against Buckley in 1998.
Shoup hauled in 11 rebounds and had two steals, Gomez Jimenez had eight rebounds, Alvesteffer had seven and Wing had five. Codman contributed four assists and four steals.
Eastern sophomore Lucy Wilson was playing in her final game of the season as she will travel to France and finish the school year there.
“It will be a big loss for us. She plays with a lot of intensity and doesn’t take many minutes off,” Smith said. “Obviously a great opportunity for her, and we wish her the best over there.”
With the loss, Walkerville fell to 1-9 overall on the season and hasn’t been able to find a win since Dec. 14.