Jack Scheske fires a 3-pointer
(Photo by Lesli Stewart)
For the second straight outing to start the season Sturgis’ boys basketball team only produced three scorers. Despite junior Jack Scheske and senior Chance Stewart combining for 43 points, the Trojans lost Friday’s home game to Gull Lake 57-49.
The Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West Division opener saw the Blue Devils gain the upper hand early with a 13-6 lead heading into the second quarter. Sturgis whittled the deficit to five points after three, but Gull Lake outscored the home team 23-20 in the final frame.
Scheske led all scorers with 24 points, burying 6 of 8 3-point attempts and finishing 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) from the field to go along with five rebounds. Stewart made 12 of 15 free throws for 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and five steals.
Core Baldwin
“Again, growing pains tonight,” Stewart said. “We’ll learn and get better. Jack was phenomenal tonight. Once we get our defense figured out and Jack has those nights we’re going to win the majority of our games. We’re letting people get in the lane way to easy. We have to get better with help side.”
Senior point guard Core Baldwin, making his Sturgis debut after missing the opener against Three Rivers due to illness, scored four points and finished with four assists.
The team finished 12-for-37 (32.4 percent) from the field and 17-for-22 from the stripe, while trimming their turnover total from the opener (15) down to 13.
A big Blue Devils (2-0) lineup shot 47.6 percent from the floor and hit 14 of 20 foul shots in the win.
Odell Miller registered 23 points, followed by Jeremiah Mansfield (nine) and Joey Stap (nine).