Kettering beats up on Brighton and Western squads

Waterford Kettering continued its unbeaten streak this past week by posting two wins with 20-point margins.

The Captains defeated Brighton, 57-24, at home on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in a Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) crossover game, before knocking out Walled Lake Western, 58-24, on the road on Friday, Jan. 28 in a KLAA North Division contest.

Kettering now stands 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the KLAA North, holding a half-game lead over Huron Valley Lakeland (5-1) with four divisional games remaining, including a Feb. 1 game at home against Lakeland.

Against Brighton, Kettering wasted little time by jumping out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter and holding a 29-14 lead at halftime. The Captains then went on a 23-8 run in the third quarter.

“Defensively we were able to contain the inside game of Brighton and limit good looks from the three-point line,” said Kettering Head Coach Scott Woodhull.

Junior guard Hannah Huff led Kettering with 10 points, while three others tied with 9 points each as the Captains shot 10-of-17 from the 3-point line.

Sophomore Shelby Watts also had 8 rebounds for Kettering.

The Captains then traveled to Walled Lake Western on Friday, Jan. 28 and dominated the last-place Warriors by jumping out to a 24-12 halftime lead and then outscoring Western 34-12 in the second half.

“We pulled away from a young, hard-working Warriors team. Our pressure wore down Western,” Woodhull said.

The Captains were led by junior guard Allison Bicknell with 16 points, while sophomore guard Taylor Steinhelper scored 7 dished out 5 assists.

The Warriors were led by Shelby Turnquist with 8 points.

Kettering now has four games remaining to run the table and complete a perfect record in the KLAA North, with the first game on Feb. 1 against Lakeland after press time.

The Captains will next host rival Waterford Mott on Friday, Feb. 4 before traveling to Walled Lake Northern on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and finishing the division schedule at home against Walled Lake Central on Friday, Feb. 11.