BATTLE CREEK, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports, it was a tough night in varsity boys and girls basketball with losses in all five of the games involving county teams. That includes Coldwater for their Interstate Eight Conference action at Harper Creek in the doubleheader we had on the radio. Coldwater dropped the Boys game 49-43. The Cardinals were ice cold from the field, shooting only 27% and just 3 for 19 from three point territory. The Beavers didn’t fare much better but they were able to hold on for the victory despite making only 31% of their shots. Colin Warner had a team-high 15 points for the Cardinals while Zach Murphy added 9 points and he was our McDonald’s Player of the Game for Coldwater. Harper Creek’s Jeremiah Davis had no trouble finding the range Friday evening, pouring in 29 points to pace the Beavers, who improved to 3-1 in the conference and 4-3 overall. The Cardinals suffered their first league setback of the season and slip to 3-1 in the I-8 and 5-2 overall. Coldwater’s next game is Tuesday at Jackson Lumen Christi.
In the Girls’ contest last night at Harper Creek, the host Beavers pulled away in the middle two quarters and beat Coldwater 56-46. The Lady Cardinals trailed 13-10 at the end of the opening period and then Harper Creek took a 31-19 lead into the break, thanks in part to a 19-0 run in the first half. By the end of the third quarter, the Beavers were ahead 45-31 before Coldwater cut the final deficit to 10 points. Malorie Rzepka had a team-high 13 points, Jamie Wellet had a game-high 11 rebounds, and our Girls’ McDonald’s Players of the Game for Coldwater was Megan Hoath, who finished with 6 points and 5 rebounds. The Lady Cardinals are now 4-4 with their conference mark at 1-3.
Also last night in Girls hoops, Quincy stayed winless on the season, falling 59-31 at Springport. Zoe Aseltine had 10 points while it was 8 points apiece for Katie Spalding and Payton Hines as the Orioles slipped to 0-8 and 0-4 in the conference play.
Also in the Big 8, Union City lost at home to Jonesville 77-19. Makenna Bartlett had 11 points and 5 rebounds in the defeat as the Chargers drop to 1-3 in the league and 2-7 overall. And Tekonsha lost at home to Battle Creek St. Philip 55-12.
In a Boys only game last night, Bronson fell at home to Centreville 60-54. Branson Thenen had 16 points in the loss with 12 for Noah Roberts and 10 for Jonah Klingler. The Vikings are 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the BCS East.
Today in high school sports, in wrestling, Coldwater is at the Three River Super Dual, Bronson is at the Goshen Invitational, and Union City is at the Western Invitational. And in Boys Swimming and Diving, Coldwater is at the Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Invitational.
