PARMA, MI (WTVB) – Last night in high school basketball, Coldwater and Bronson both picked losses for the boys and wins for the girls, while Quincy and Union City picked up crucial wins in the Big 8 boys basketball race.
At Western High School in Parma, Coldwater was handed its third straight boys basketball loss as the host Panthers held off the Cardinals 52-50. Coldwater led 11-7 after 1, but Western took a 25-24 halftime lead by outscoring the Cardinals 18-13. The Panthers had a 16-12 edge in the third before Coldwater outscored Western in the fourth 14-11 for the 2-point Panther win. Collin Warner had a team-high 11 points en route to being named McDonald’s Player of the Game. Brady Beckhusen added 10, and Brendan Spangler had a team-high 6 rebounds as the Cardinals drop to 5th place in the Interstate 8 with a 5-4 league mark, 8-6 overall. They’re now off until Friday, when they host Northwest.
Bronson lost a 58-46 decision at New Buffalo to drop the Vikings to 1-6 in the BCS East, 2-9 overall. Noah Roberts and Branson Thenen each had 12 points to lead Bronson, while Thenen added 9 rebounds and Jonah Klingler had a game-high 10 boards.
Oriole Week at Quincy High School wrapped up with the home team beating Big 8 rival Jonesville 56-35 to improve to 5-3 in the Big 8, 7-5 overall. Nathan Karney led the Orioles with 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Ryan Gibson added 11 points and Bryce Ruhl had a team-high 8 rebounds.
Union City picked up a 76-33 win at Reading to improve to 7-1 in the Big 8, a game behind league-leading Concord, and 10-2 overall. Jalen Boes had a big night for the Chargers with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals, and Elijah Harris added 18 points and a team-high 8 boards.
Tekonsha lost to Waldron 67-38 to drop to 1-13 on the season. Everett Lewis-Lanphar had 13 points to pace the Indians.
In girls basketball, Coldwater defeated Western 54-46 in the opener of a doubleheader we had on the radio last night. Coldwater led 18-9 after 1, 28-12 at half, and 40-16 after 3 before the Panthers won the fourth quarter 30-14 against the Lady Cards’ bench players. Our McDonald’s Player of the Game, senior guard Kendall Galloway, led her team with 15 points and 4 steals, while Malorie Rzepka added 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 steals, and Jamie Wellet had a team-high 5 rebounds to go along with 6 points as Coldwater improves to 5-4 in the Interstate 8, 8-6 overall. The Cardinals will host Bronson Monday night.
The Lady Vikings picked up a 50-30 home win against New Buffalo to improve to 4-3 in the BCS East, 5-7 overall. Payton Robinson led Bronson with 17 points, while Alexa Ratkowski and Kelsey Robinson had 8 apiece and Jackie Rangel had a team-high 7 rebounds.
Conference wrestling meets are on tap today as the postseason begins next week. Coldwater will compete at the Interstate 8 meet at Harper Creek, Bronson travels to Niles Brandywine for the BCS meet, and Quincy and Union City go to Reading for the Big 8 meet. Also on today’s schedule: in gymnastics, Coldwater is at the Plymouth Canton Invitational, and Bronson hosts a competitive cheer inviational, with Union City among the participating squads.
