COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports last night, in varsity boys and girls basketball, it was a sweep for Pennfield over Coldwater and in the boys action in Coldwater that we had on the radio, the Panthers pulled away in the second half for a 77-56 win over the Cardinals. The story of the game was Pennfield’s long range shooting as they were 9-for-19 on three point attempts last night after having made a total of just 11 triples in their first five contests.
Coldwater trailed 31-21 at the break and then Pennfield pushed the lead to 56-39 at the end of the third quarter before putting away the 21-point victory. Collin Warner led the Cardinals in scoring with 16 points while Nate Waterbury added 13 points. Spencer Dudek was our McDonald’s Player of the Game for Coldwater with a game-high 8 rebounds.
The loss dropped the Cardinals Interstate Eight Conference record to 0-3 with their overall mark at 1-5. Pennfield improved to 5-1 and 2-1 in league play. Coldwater’s next game is on the road Friday against Harper Creek.
In last night’s reserve contests, Pennfield won both games. The Panthers beat the Coldwater JV team 42-35 with 8 points apiece for Jaden Coney and Brady Beckhusen. And Pennfield took the freshman game 39-37 with 12 points for Joe Severn.
In last night’s girls varsity game at Pennfield, the Panthers were able to hang on for a 55-52 win over Coldwater. Stacy Guzy’s three point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer as the Lady Cardinal’s comeback fell just short. Coldwater had 4 players in double figures paced by Michaela Gillette’s 15 points along with 5 steals. And then with 10 points apiece were Payton Watson, Kendall Galloway and Haley Reincke. Coldwater slips to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the Interstate Eight.
The Lady Cardinals split their reserve games at Pennfield. They won the JV game 47-28. Megan Lippert had 16 points while Isabella Foley put up 9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The Panthers beat the Coldwater freshmen 38-29 with 12 points for Avery Milnes.
Elsewhere last night, in boys only action, Quincy stayed undefeated by cruising to a non-conference victory at home over Napoleon 70-48. Jake Rider had 23 points with 14 for Quinn Eifrid and 13 for Chase Cook as the Orioles improved to 5-0.
Tekonsha rolled to a 66-38 win at Litchfield. Riley Lloyd had 16 points with 15 for Chyene Wiescholek and 10 for Everett Lewis-Lanphar. The Indians are now 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the SCAA.
In girls only play, Quincy fell at Athens 41-19 with 4 points each for Katie Spalding, Allison Parshall and Cailyn Hines while Spalding added 9 rebounds. Quincy’s record drops to 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the Big Eight. And Union City lost at Concord 63-36 with 11 points for Haley Harty. The defeat leaves their record at 2-5 and 0-and-3 in the Big Eight.
Tonight in high school sports, there’s wrestling with Coldwater in a quad meet at Parma Western, Quincy has a quad at Concord, Bronson is at White Pigeon, and Union City has a quad at Reading.
Today on the Coaches Corner, it’s Bronson girls basketball coach Andy Hatt.
