COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports, the second season began Monday night for girls basketball players around the state, and Coldwater won its District opener while Quincy saw its season end.
In the opening game of the Class B District hosted by the Lady Cards that we had on the radio, Coldwater came from behind to defeat Paw Paw 62-51. Poor shooting and defensive lapses in the first half led to a 13-11 deficit after one and a 22-18 shortfall at halftime. The Cardinals came roaring back in the second half, scoring the first 13 points of the third quarter and outscoring the Redskins 19-8 in the third quarter and 25-21 in the final frame to take the 11-point victory. Kendall Galloway led all scorers with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals en route to being named our McDonald’s Player of the Game. Jamie Wellet added 14 points and 8 boards, and Malorie Rzepka had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as Coldwater improves to 13-8 on the season. Next up for the Cardinals: A District Semifinal matchup with Three Rivers Wednesday night at around 7:45, right after Edwardsburg faces Vicksburg in the opener of the night’s twinbill at Coldwater.
Over at the Class C District at Quincy, the host Orioles fell to Big 8 champion Homer 51-21 as the Trojans led at the half 26-6. Zoe Aseltine led the Orioles with 8 points and 4 steals, while Katie Spalding had 6 points and 6 rebounds. Quincy ends its season at 2-19; Homer, which improves to 18-3, will next face Bronson Wednesday night at 5:30 in the first game of a District Semifinal doubleheader at Quincy. In the nightcap, it’s Reading vs. Union City.
In another District game of note Monday night, Miss Basketball candidate Kysre Gondrezick set a new MHSAA record for most points in a girls basketball game, scoring 72 points, including the game-winning bucket with 6 seconds left in the second overtime, to lift Benton Harbor past Buchanan 80-78 in the opening round of the Class B Dowagiac District.
The 43rd Annual Al Clyne Coldwater Exchange Club Freshman Boys Basketball began with two games Monday night at Legg Middle School that saw Jackson High beat Hillsdale 83-21 and Loy Norrix defeat Lumen Christi 49-26. Two more games are set for Tueday night, including the host Cardinals facing Schoolcraft at around 7. Tuesday’s first game between Marshall and Sturgis will tip off at 5:30.
Also on Tuesday’s schedule, in varsity and JV boys basketball, Bronson is at Colon, Quincy plays at Reading, and Union City hosts Concord.
From over the weekend, three bowlers from Branch County will compete in this weekend’s MHSAA State Finals following top-10 finishes in Saturday’s Singles Regionals. In Division 2 at Kalamazoo’s Continental Lanes, Coldwater’s Shawn Johnson finished 3rd with a six-game total of 1260, while Collin Outwater was 10th with 1187. They will next see action Saturday in the Division 2 Singles Finals at Super Bowl in Canton. In Division 4 at Pinz in Kalamazoo, Bronson’s Brandon Hyska claimed the Regional championship with a total pinfall of 1188. He will represent the Vikings Saturday in the Division 4 Singles Finals at Royal Scot in Lansing. Coldwater’s boys team will also compete in the Division 2 Team Finals this Friday at Super Bowl following their second straight Regional title.
