The girls basketball team from Mendon found itself in a St. Joseph Valley League fight on the road Monday but pulled out a 47-40 victory over Bronson.
With senior Brooke Howard, the team’s leading scorer, back in the lineup after missing several games with a sprained ankle, the Hornets pieced together a 17-8 advantage after the first eight minutes of play. They inflated the cushion to 12 by halftime.
Brooke Howard
But the Vikings came out strong after the break, outscoring Mendon 12-7.
“We came out a little flat in the third quarter and Bronson scrapped until the end,” Mendon coach Leasa Griffith said. “You can bet we will be working on free throws.”
Mendon shot just 15-for-28 (53.6 percent) from the stripe, but Howard’s 24-point performance, including a 10-for-12 effort at the line, was enough to overcome a cold night of freebies.
Jenna Griffith added 10 points, seven assists and four boards to the cause, and Alexis Russell posted five points and team-high nine boards for Mendon, which improved to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference.
Grace Leighton pitched in four points and two rebounds, Rachel Frisbie added two points, Jackie Friel posted two points and Cierra Furlong finished with two rebounds and a steal.