PENNFIELD, MI (WTVB) – After falling behind 17-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Coldwater High School boys varsity basketball team rallied for a 56-52 overtime victory at Pennfield Friday night to take over sole possession of first place in the Interstate 8 Conference.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Cardinals as they fell behind by 11 points and were guilty of eight turnovers in the opening quarter.
Coldwater got their sea legs in the second quarter as they outscored the Panthers 15-9 to cut the Panther lead to 26-21 at the half.
Pennfield led 36-32 after the third quarter and scored the first four points of the fourth to stretch their lead to 40-32.
But Coldwater outscored the Panthers 14-6 for the rest of regulation to send the game into overtime tied at 46-46. Spencer Rodesiler’s rebound bucket with 25 seconds left tied the contest and the Cardinals then got a defensive stop before the final buzzer for regulation sounded.
Pennfield was down two in the final seconds of overtime and was working for a final shot when Austin Santure got a steal. The ball found its way downcourt to Brandon Downs who delivered the dagger with a layup.
Santure grabbed 15 rebounds for Coldwater. He was also among five Cardinals who finished in double figures. Rodesiler led Coldwater with 13 points. Dylan Targgart had 12 points, Downs had 11 points while Ethan Crabtree and Santure each had 10 points.
Coldwater improved to 9-3 in the Interstate 8 and 11-6 overall.
Quincy is still one game behind Reading for first place in the Big 8 Conference after they romped to a 71-46 victory at Concord. The Orioles shot 55 percent from the floor and broke the game open with a 23-4 fourth quarter. Will Dunn led Quincy with 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Kyler Economou had a career-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Evan Coon had four steals. The Orioles are now 14-3 overall and 10-2 in the conference.
Reading took care of business on their home court Friday night as they defeated Bronson 59-45. The Big 8 Conference leading Rangers are 11-1 in league play and 15-3 overall. Reading will host Quincy next Friday in a showdown for first place.
Union City lost at Homer 80-39 while Tekonsha was beaten by Burr Oak 45-37.
In other area boys basketball games on Friday night….
Jonesville 46, Springport 32
Harper Creek 57, Lumen Christi 56
Jackson Northwest 56, Hastings 48
Parma Western 61, Marshall 54 (OT)
Colon 57, Athens 41
Camden-Frontier 90, Jackson Christian 63
Centreville 86, Bangor 51
Kalamazoo Hackett 58, Constantine 57
Erie Mason 74, Hillsdale 50
Will Carleton Academy 69, North Adams-Jerome 38
White Pigeon 56, Mendon 46
Hillsdale Academy 57, Pittsford 32
Three Rivers 50, Dowagiac 48
Litchfield 63, Waldron 41
