COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County girls basketball Monday night, county rivals Coldwater and Bronson faced off in Coldwater, where the Cardinals beat the visiting Vikings 52-31.
Bronson got the early jump on the Cardinals, with the Vikings leading 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.The score was 15-15 with about two minutes remaining in the half when Coldwater went on an 11-0 run to take a 26-15 lead at the break. The Cardinals continued to pull away, going up 40-16 in the third period on their way to the 21-point victory.
Malorie Rzepka had a game-high 12 points in the win while fellow freshman Tyler Scheid was our McDonald’s Player of the Game for Coldwater with 8 points, all in the first half, and she also pulled down 6 rebounds.
Bronson sophomores Payton Robinson and Adyson Lasky had nine points apiece and Robinson was our Player of the Game for the Vikings. The non-conference loss dropped Bronson’s record to 7-8 while the Cardinals improved to 9-6. Coldwater returns to Interstate Eight Conference play on Friday at home against Jackson Northwest while the Vikings have a BCS East game at home Thursday with Mendon.
The Cardinals beat Bronson in last night’s junior varsity game 60-25 with 20 points in the win for Deirdre Reed and 10 for Avery Milnes.
There was no freshman contest in Coldwater while the Cardinals’ freshman team had their game on the road last night cancelled because of a power outage at Comstock.
Yesterday in boys bowling, Bronson fell at home to Comstock with the Vikings losing 23-7 at the Strike Zone. Bronson split the baker games and won totals with the high score for the Vikings rolled by Brandon Hyska with a 190. Bronson is in third place in the KVS league and will be on the road tomorrow to face Parchment at the Eastland Lanes.
Also in bowling, Coldwater has a home match this afternoon against Jackson Northwest at Midway Lanes. Tonight in boys basketball, Quincy hosts Olivet and Tekonsha is at Athens while in girls hoops, it’s Quincy at Reading and Union City hosts Concord. In boys swimming and diving, Coldwater travels to Charlotte for a tri-meet with Harper Creek.
In middle school girls basketball Monday, Coldwater managed a split with Parma Western with the Cardinals winning the 8th grade B and 7th grade A contests while Western took the 8th grade A and 7th grade B games. In the 8th grade action at Parma Western, the Panthers beat the Cardinals A squad 55-34 with 19 points and 9 rebounds for Olivia Foley along with 10 points for Carlee Crabtree. Coldwater won the B game 33-32 with 17 points for Merna Yaldo.
The Cardinals 7th grade A team was a winner at home 35-18 with 17 points for Mia Rzepka. Western won the B game 30-25 with 11 points for Marissa Cox.
Last night, Bronson swept a pair of games at home over Mendon. The Vikings won the 8th grade game 35-11 with 19 points and 11 rebounds for Keona Salesman. Bronson beat Mendon 41-8 in the 7th grade contest with 12 points for Maddy Ratkowski and 11 for Meagan Lasky.
Union City’s 8th grade lost at home to Reading 26-24 with 11 points for Hope Austin.
