By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
SAUGATUCK—A win over visiting Martin on Tuesday, Feb. 15, would not only give the Saugatuck boys basketball team a measure of revenge for an earlier loss to the Clippers, but it was also mark the Trailblazers’ their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Russell VandePoel did his part to ensure his team would, in fact, secure that victory.
VandePoel scored a career-best 21 points to lead Saugatuck to the 57-46 win as the Trailblazers upped their record to 5-10.
John Hartgerink and John Roberts added 14 and 11 respective points for Saugatuck, giving the Trailblazers a trio of double-digit scorers.
“John Hartgerink had a monster game in the post for us,” Saugatuck coach Brian Ward said.
Carter Miller added seven points to Saugatuck’s cause.
After a slow start by both teams, the Trailblazers used an 8-0 scoring run to open a 16-4 lead. Martin answered with a 14-6 run to close the stanza, narrowing Saugatuck’s lead to 22-18 at the intermission.
The Trailblazers maintained a four-point edge late in the third quarter when a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Miller extended their cushion to seven at 40-33.
VandePoel scored nine points in the third frame.
Saugatuck closed out with a solid showing at the free throw line, going 8-of-10 at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
