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With the help of Kendal Stout’s hot shooting, the Montcalm Community College Centurions women’s basketball team handled the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks with a 91-49 win Saturday, Feb. 14.  

Stout (Stanton, Mich.), a freshman forward who has heated up as the regular season winds down, scored a game-high and career-high 35 points to lead the Centurions (6-5 MCCAA Northern, 9-15 overall) to their second consecutive win. Stout tied a school record with seven 3-pointers on the night. 

Stout has seen the changes in her game and her approach mentally since the beginning of the season. 

“I feel like I have been more aggressive and more confident in my shooting. I do think I reached another level,” Stout said. “Although I feel this way, I think my teammates have helped me get there by helping me get those looks for open shots.” 

According to Centurions head coach Scott Pedigo, Stout’s seven 3-pointers tie with freshman teammate Emma Rehkopf (Belding, Mich.), who hit the mark earlier this season, and last year’s scoring leader, Makenna Rautio (Big Rapids, Mich.) did so during the team’s inaugural season. 

Stout’s scoring performance has almost become a staple of the Centurions’ offensive performance this year. Pedigo said he has been impressed with her progress. 

“Kendall did a great job letting the game come to her,” he said. “She made great decisions was very patient.” 

MCC wasted no time taking over the game against the Lumberjacks, establishing a 16-4 lead after Stout hit her second 3-pointer early in the game with 4:41 to go in the first quarter. Stout ended up shooting 3-for-4 from the 3-point line that quarter, scoring 13 points.  

She nailed another trio of threes in the second quarter, leading the Centurions to a strong 36-10 lead going into halftime.  

In the second half, the Lumberjacks (0-11 MCCAA Northern, 4-17 overall) could not get its offense going while MCC continued to pour it on, as the Centurions outscored their opponent 20-12 in the third quarter. Alpena finally was able to win a quarter, outscoring MCC 15-11 in the fourth. 

MCC shot 40.4% (36-of-89) from the field compared to Alpena’s 26.2% (17-of-65). MCC went 13-of-43 from the 3-point line while Alpena shot 4-of-13. 

MCC also won team statistics in rebounding (43-42), assists (19-8), turnovers (9-27), points off turnovers (30-2) and second-chance points (16-6).  

Pedigo was happy with his team’s all-around play, including the offense, which has scored 70 or more points in nine games this season. 

“I was impressed with how we played in transition,” Pedigo said. 

Stout said her team came into this contest aiming to play within their own system and not get roped into what their opponent does. 

“The focus was not to look down on Alpena and play to their level because that can also cause us to play worse,” Stout said. “But this game was also important if we want to stay higher up in the conference.” 

The win gives MCC a one-game lead over Muskegon for fourth place in the MCCAA Northern and the Centurions are one game behind Delta for third place with three games left in the regular season. Both first-place Mid Michigan (11-0 MCCAA Northern) and second-place Bay College (10-1 MCCAA Northern) have clinched a spot in the MCCAA postseason tournament.  

“The win feels good and gives us more confidence for the next game,” Stout said. 

Along with her 35 points, Stout had five rebounds and three blocks. Sophomore teammate Emily Putnam (Sheridan, Mich.) finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals and freshman Karlie Bacon (Stanton, Mich.) had 10 points, eight assists and four steals.  

UP NEXT: The Centurions have three games left in the regular season with the next one being an important one, on the road against Delta College (7-4 MCCAA Northern, 14-11 overall), at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18. MCC won the first match, 80-62, at home, Jan. 28. 

MCC’s last home game of the season will be Saturday, Feb. 21, against North Central Michigan (1-10 MCCAA Northern, 3-20 overall). Game time is 1 p.m. 

The Centurions will finish out the regular season on the road against Kirtland Community College (4-7 MCCAA Northern, 8-15 overall), Tuesday, Feb. 24.