COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) -The girls basketball season ended for Branch County teams came to an end Friday night, while at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals, two Bronson wrestlers made it to the final day of competition.
In the championship game of the Class B Girls Basketball District hosted by Coldwater at the Coach Floyd Eby Gymnasium, the Lady Cardinals lost a hard-fought contest to the Edwardsburg Eddies 55-53. Coldwater enjoyed a 15-5 edge after the first quarter, but the Eddies responded by outscoring the Cards 18-7 in the second to take a 23-22 lead into the locker room at the half. Coldwater led midway through the second half 41-36 thanks to a 19-13 third quarter; Edwardsburg answered with a 19-12 fourth for the 2-point win. Payton Watson, our McDonald’s Player of the Game, led her team with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kendall Galloway added 11, Jamie Wellet and Malorie Rzepka had 9 apiece, and Tyler Scheid had 6 points and 7 boards as Coldwater ends its season with a 14-9 record. Edwardsburg, which improves to 15-7, was paced by Savannah Dixon, who led all scorers with 22. The Eddies will take on Otsego Tuesday night in a Regional Semifinal game at Harper Creek. On the other side of that bracket: Interstate 8 champion Marshall, who defeated Harper Creek 42-34 in the finals of the Class B District hosted by the Redhawks. It will be Marshall vs. Stevensville Lakeshore on the other side of the Harper Creek Regional bracket.
Over at the Quincy Class C District, Big 8 champ Homer led Union City 21-5 after 1 and 34-6 at the half as the Trojans cruised to a 69-18 win against the Chargers, whose season ends at 4-18. Homer, who improves to 20-3, will face 21-2 Niles Brandywine Tuesday in the Class C Regional at Constantine.
The second day of the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals wrapped up at the Palace with a pair of wrestlers from Bronson still alive, although David Erwin and Nathan Caudill lost their matches in the championship semifinals last night. They are assured of at least a top-6 All-State finish as they move to the consolation bracket of the double elimination tournament. The remainder of the Branch County contingent were eliminated in yesterday’s action.
At the MHSAA Division 2 Bowling Finals at Super Bowl in Canton, Coldwater’s boys team fell in the Match Play Quarterfinals to St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 1357-1313. Match Play scores consist of 2 Baker games and 1 regular game. The Cardinals advanced to the round of 8 by placing 3rd in the morning qualifying block with a score, from 8 Baker games and 2 regular games, of 3369. Coldwater’s Shawn Johnson and Colin Outwater will compete in the Division 2 Singles Finals today at Super Bowl, while Bronson’s Brandon Hyska will be at the Division 4 Singles Finals at Royal Scot outside of Lansing.
In boys basketball, Bronson won at Colon 62-40 to wrap up its regular season at 4-15. Jonah Klingler had a double-double for the Vikings with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Daniel McMichael added 11.
Night 4 of the 43rd Annual Al Clyne Exchange Club Freshman Boys Basketball Tournament wrapped up with the host Cardinals losing to Marshall 60-42. Bryce Lafferty paced Coldwater with 13 points, and Logan Worley added 11. In the early game last night, Sturgis defeated Schoolcraft 52-40. The tournament concludes today with four games at Legg Middle School, beginning at 2pm with the 7th place game between Hillsdale and Schoolcraft. The 5th place game at 3:45pm features Lumen Christi against Sturgis. At 5:15pm, Coldwater takes on Loy Norrix in the 3rd place game, and in tonight’s championship game at 7:15pm, it’s Jackson High vs. Marshall.
Also on today’s schedule, Coldwater’s gymnastics team is at Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids for the MHSAA Regionals. And in a makeup boys basketball game, Union City hosts newly crowned Big 8 champion Concord.
