COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports, last night in boys and girls Basketball Interstate Eight Conference varsity action, Coldwater was able to hold on for a pair of 3-point victories over Jackson Lumen Christi and in the boys game at Jackson, the Cardinals downed the Titans 45-42. Coldwater had a 12-point lead in the third quarter before the Lumen Christi rally came up short and the Cardinals were able to bounce back from their only league loss last Friday at Harper Creek.
Brady Beckhusen had a game-high 16 points along with 8 rebounds and was our McDonald’s Player of the Game for Coldwater. Chipping in with 9 points apiece were Colin Warner and Nate Waterbury. The Cardinals improved to 4-1 in the I-8 and 6-2 overall while the Titans slipped to 1-7 and 1-4 in the conference. Coldwater’s next game is Friday at home against Charlotte.
There was a split in last night’s boys reserve games at Lumen Christi. The Titans took the JV contest, winning 52-32. Logan Fee had 11 points in the loss. The Coldwater freshman beat Lumen Christi 35-31 with 11 points for Austin Roby.
In the girls varsity game at Coldwater, it was an all-around low scoring cold shooting night and the Lady Cardinals were somehow able to pull out a 24-21 victory. The two teams combined to make only 14.7% of their shots, including 7-for-52 from the field for Coldwater but they went on win, thanks to a 7-0 run to end the game. Malorie Rzepka had 8 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lady Cardinals improve to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Interstate Eight.
Coldwater also won the JV game, beating the Titans 48-31. Samantha Rodesiler had 18 points and 12 rebounds while Carly Duke added 14 points. Coldwater played Chelsea in the freshman game, and Chelsea was the winner 28-23. Kelsi Herlan led the way in the loss with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
The rest of the games for county teams last night were boys only matchups and Quincy picked up a victory at Jonesville 56-35. The Orioles were ahead 49-22 at the end of the third quarter and easily locked up the win to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Brandon Gary had 18 points while Quinn Eifrid and Kalen Stahl had 11 points apiece for Quincy.
Also in the Big 8, Union City was a winner at home over Reading 49-35. Jalen Boes had a team-high 15 points for the Chargers, who are now 3-1 in the league and 5-2 overall. Union City also won the JV game 43-35 with 12 points apiece for Josh Watson and Blade Gordon.
Tekonsha lost at home to Pittsford 68-43. Connor Jenkins had 13 points in defeat for the Indians while Anthony Layne and Everett Lewis-Lanphar each had 10 points.
Yesterday in bowling, Coldwater swept to victory at home over Jackson Lumen Christi at Midway Lanes. The Cardinals won the boys match 24-6 to improve to 5-0. Shawn Johnson rolled the high scores for Coldwater with a 223 and 209. The girls needed a 165-139 win in a third baker game to beat the Titans and boost their record to 4-1. High scores were posted by Cassidy Wolff with a 217 and Alysia Vanwormer with a 204.
The JV girls team also defeated Lumen Christi with a 160 for Sabrina VanAuker. There was no boys JV match.
Tonight in high school sports, in wrestling, Coldwater is at home for an Interstate Eight Quad with the Cardinals hosting Marshall, Charlotte, and Jackson Northwest. In Big Eight wrestling, it’s Quincy at Reading and Union City at Jonesville while Bronson competes in a BCS Quad at Mendon. In Boys basketball, Bronson plays at home against Prairie Heights while in Girls hoops, in a makeup game from last week, Union City is at Springport. And in gymnastics, it’s a home meet for Coldwater against Mason beginning at 6 p.m.
In middle school girls basketball, Coldwater opened their season by taking on Harper Creek and the Cardinals’ 8th grade A team lost on the road with Harper Creek winning 47-35. Carlee Crabtree and Olivia Foley had 13 points apiece with 10 rebounds for Crabtree. There was a split in the 7th grade action in Coldwater. The A team lost to Harper Creek 35-31 with 14 points for Madison Beckhusen and 10 for Mia Rzepka. The Coldwater B team beat the Beavers 26-8 with 6 points each for Joselyn Salto and Lacy Janusz.
Also last night, Bronson’s 7th grade team was a winner at home 30-0 over White Pigeon with 12 points for Meagan Lasky and 10 steals for Brooke Washburn.


