BEAVERTON — With the weather keeping schools shuttered for a good week or so, the Houghton Lake girls basketball team came into the game against Beaverton on Thursday, Jan. 19 having been idle since playing Clare three weeks ago so you might expect to see a little rust from all the time off.
That was far from the case, however, as the Bobcats were exceptionally prepared and keyed up for their game with the undefeated Lady Beavers despite the game being played in the Lady Beavers’ gym.
Perhaps feeding off the foreign crowd rooting on the home team, the Bobcats crashed the Lady Beavers’ party in the Jack Pine Conference and dealt them a stunning blow with a 43-35 victory to end their unbeaten streak.
“It was a huge win for the kids and the program,” Houghton Lake coach Greg Kauffman said. “It’s probably the toughest place to win in the league. They just don’t lose at home. They don’t give games away.
“You have to go in there and win it, and our kids did. Our kids played unbelievable. It was the best defensive effort of the season by far. Our defense was just crazy, crazy good. We held their best scorer (Ali Aldrich) to 10 points. She’s a 20-point scorer and a beast inside. We even double and tripled her at times just to get the ball out of her hands. We were going to make somebody else beat us and it worked out.”
To show how impressive Houghton Lake’s defensive job on Aldrich was six of her points came at the free throw line. Kelli Ignat, Taylor Nutt and Logan Ordiway combined to shut Aldrich down. Overall the Lady Beavers had to earn all of their points as the Bobcats gave them no easy baskets.
Kauffman added that the Bobcats’ depth was a factor as well.
Souder led the way for the Bobcats with 11 points, four rebounds and three steals. Bridget Ripke had eight points, five rebounds and four steals. Blanchard added six points, three rebounds, three assists and two teals. Logan Ordiway contributed four points and five rebounds, Nutt added four points, three rebounds and Sara Barnes finished with three points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Beaverton had entered the game with a mention in the latest Michigan Girls Basketball Coaches Association rankings.
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