BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Cardinals dominated the second half as they defeated the state-ranked Pennfield Panthers 55-43 in an Interstate 8 Conference game at Pennfield.
Pennfield entered the game as the seventh ranked team in Division Two according to this week’s Michigan Associated Press Boys High School Basketball Poll.
Coldwater trailed 25-23 at halftime but turned the game around in the third quarter as they outscored the Panthers 22-11.
The Cardinals were 44 percent from the floor and their defense held Pennfield to 34 percent shooting. Coldwater also enjoyed a 36-24 edge in rebounding.
Ethan Crabtree led the Cardinals with 22 points while Brandon Downs had 14 points and four assists while Lu LeBron added eight points. Donte Work grabbed 10 rebounds. Downs and Crabtree also had three steals.
The Cardinals are now 5-1 in the Interstate 8 and 6-1 overall.
Coldwater won the J.V. game 73-51 as four Cardinals finished in double fugures. Niko Downs led Coldwater with 27 points. Ayden Dirschell had 13 points, Evan Porter scored 12 points and Tyson Roby added 11 points.
The Coldwater Freshmen picked up their second win in a row with a 47-40 victory over Pennfield. Leading scores for Coldwater were Kendall Austin with 12 points and Denver Heator with 10 points.
Elsewhere in the Interstate 8…
Harper Creek 79, Jackson Lumen Christi 64
Jackson Northwest 67, Hastings 26
Marshall 72, Parma Western 57
Meanwhile, the Bronson Vikings lost a non-conference game at Olivet 59-54. The loss dropped the Vikings record to 4-5.
In other area boys basketball games….
Athens 62, Battle Creek Academy 24
Centreville 70, Comstock 50
Three Rivers 54, South Haven 33
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