Mattawan had to work for their 10th win of the season Monday evening, battling Gull Lake in Richland to a 56-50 victory. It’s Mattawan’s first time to double-digit wins since the 2008-09 campaign. It was also Gull Lake’s 10th loss this season and like many of the others, the Blue Devils kept the game close the entire way.
The Wildcats were ahead for nearly the entire first half, although the advantage didn’t grow beyond seven points. Mattawan was up 17-13 at the end the first quarter and stayed up until the final moments of the second. Ryan McMullen made two free throws within the final five seconds to cap a 13-8 second quarter and deliver a 26-25 Gull Lake halftime lead.
There were three more lead changes in the third quarter, before Ryan Dorff put Mattawan ahead for good on a three around the midway point. Dorff scored all nine of his points in the third quarter, including a triple at the buzzer for a 43-38 lead entering the fourth.
The Blue Devils tied the game with a 5-0 run beginning the fourth, but couldn’t get back ahead. Mattawan answered with a 5-0 run of their own and remained ahead by two possessions until the end. The Wildcats left the door open with free throw struggles, but used their size advantage to prevent second chance opportunities on Gull Lake misses.
Jaden Mabin topped Mattawan with 12 points, followed by 10 from BJ Saunders. Gull Lake’s Dominik Mastromatteo led all scorers with 16. Fellow Blue Devil Jacob Louden had 10.
Mattawan moves to 10-2 on the victory, 5-1 in the SMAC East. They make the trip to Stevensville to play Lakeshore Tuesday, then play at Loy Norrix Friday.
Gull Lake falls to 3-10, 1-4 in the SMAC East. They also head west Tuesday, facing Niles. After that, they go east to Battle Creek Central Friday.
Listen back to Monday’s game here.
MATTAWAN SCORING: Jaden Mabin 12, BJ Saunders 10, Nolan Foster 9, Ryan Dorff 9, Jalen Jones 5, Chris Becker 5, Matthew Pelak 4, Kelby Mabin 2.
GULL LAKE SCORING: Dominik Mastromatteo 16, Jacob Louden 10, Ryan McMullen 9, Jacob Gleason 3, Alton Dillon 3, Brandon Lee 3, Ravelle Johnson 2, Devon Prather 2, Tyler Crippen 2