NORTH MUSKEGON – The Fruitport girls basketball team has its share of challenges this season, even with standout sophomore Izzy Hanson-Wilbur in the lineup.

When Hanson-Wilbur is injured, the situation can get very tough indeed.

That was obvious on Saturday, when the Trojans traveled to North Muskegon in search of their first victory of the season.

Hanson-Wilbur had just scored four points late in the first quarter, and seemed to be warming up, when she lunged to steal the ball, lost her balance, slid several feet across the court and cut her chin open.

Fruitport’s Izzy Hanson-Wilbur battles through traffic toward the basket. Photo/Jeremy Clark

She had to go in for stitches and missed the rest of the game, and things went badly for Fruitport after that.

After playing to a tie in the first quarter, the Trojans only managed three points in the second and seven in the third and ended up losing 43-26 to the Norse.

Fruitport is now 0-6 on the season.

The outcome was frustrating for the Trojans, who came very close to getting their first win last week against Western Michigan Christian, only losing by three points.

But the team doesn’t have much varsity experience, and without Hanson-Wilbur, there isn’t a big scoring threat on the court.

Fruitport’s Ava Powell protects the ball after snagging a rebound. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“She’s a tough kid and she will probably be back tomorrow,” Fruitport Coach Brian Packard said about Hanson-Wilbur. “We rely on her a lot. She’s fast and athletic and tough for other teams to guard. But we’ve played without her before, and we’ve played well, but we didn’t do that today. We played a pretty bad game overall, and we’ve got to get better quick.”

Even with Hanson-Wilbur, the Trojans had trouble executing their offensive plan on Saturday.

They turned the ball over 28 times, including eight times in both the second and third quarters.

They also had trouble converting when they got a shot off, making only 6 of 35 attempts from the floor. Three of the field goals came in the first quarter, including two by Hanson-Wilbur before she left the game.

Fruitport’s Kenzie Pate lets a shot fly. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“We struggle with that always,” Packard said about turnovers. “We work on it every day in practice for two hours, but it has not translated to the court. They are capable (of playing better). I think a lot of it is between their ears. But we’re getting there. It’s a weird situation we’re in, but I think we’re getting closer.”

Both teams were sluggish in the first quarter and the game was tied 6-6 at the first buzzer.

The Norse had a 12-3 advantage in the second quarter and led 18-9 at halftime, and a 15-7 edge in the third to take a 33-16 lead in the fourth.

The teams each scored 10 points in the final quarter.

Fruitport’s Alexa Sweet (11), who was one of two players to score seven points for the Trojans. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Kenzie Pate and Alexa Sweet each scored 10 points for Fruitport.

Delaney Young paced North Muskegon with 14 points.

The Trojans will now turn their attention to conference play, opening their first season in the O-K Silver next Friday at Comstock Park.

“A think lot of the teams in our league are similar to the teams we are playing now,” Packard said. “If we can put some stuff together we will be all right.”storageeddieminith brands

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