by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
Paw Paw gets win over Buchanan
The Paw Paw boys basketball team took on Buchanan on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The Red Wolves were able to pick up a win in the non-conference home game, 73-64.
“(We) came to play and came away with a hard fought win,” head coach Paskell Miller said.
Leading the team was Truman Brennan with 21 points, Aydin Rother put in 15, Joe Miller and Ashton Toliver both had 10 and Troy Vandenberg had nine points.
The Red Wolves also played a league game in Plainwell on Friday, losing that contest 54-44. Further details were not available.
Paw Paw (5-11 overall) was at Niles on Tuesday, hosts Three Rivers on Friday and heads to Parchment on Tuesday.
Lady Red Wolves come up just short against Buchanan
The Paw Paw girls basketball team played a close one with Buchanan on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The Visiting Red Wolves certainly made things interesting, but couldn’t pull off a win, falling by a score of 53-51.
Paw Paw led 16-10 after the first quarter and 20-19 at the half. They also led 36-30 entering the fourth. Grace Mitchell poured in three treys in the final frame, but it wasn’t enough as they came up just short.
Mitchell hit five threes on the night and finished with 16 points, Katelyn Baney put in 15 points, AJ Rickli scored nine, Daisy Herbert put in five, Molly McNitt scored three, Savanna Rickli put in two and adding one was Avery Vogel.
The Red Wolves also played at Plainwell on Friday, losing another close one, 54-51. Further details were not available.
Paw Paw (9-9 overall) hosted Niles on Tuesday, hosts Three Rivers Friday and is at Gull Lake on Tuesday.
Mattawan boys bounce back
After dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season, the Mattawan boys basketball team was able to get back on track on Saturday. The Wildcats were playing Harper Woods in the Wilson Chandler Shootout at Benton Harbor, and were able to pick up a 67-45 victory.
Noah VanLaningham hit six three pointers and finished with 30 points and Connor Walsh filled the nets for 13 points.
Mattawan lost at St. Joseph on Thursday, 50-47, but stats were not available.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7 Mattawan lost 66-59 to host Battle Creek Lakeview.
Vanlaningham had 14 points, Walsh had 11 points, five assists and five steals, Brendan Garza had 11 points, Ryan Kiesling had seven points and three steals and Will Kuiper also had seven points.
Mattawan (14-3 overall) heads to Stevensville Lakeshore on Friday and hosts St. Joseph on Wednesday in a crucial league meeting.
Lawton boys get road win over Vicksburg
The Lawton boys basketball team played at Vicksburg on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The Blue Devils were able to return home with a non-conference win, 63-52.
Luke Leighton was able to score 18 points, Parker VanPeteghem put in 15 and Aiden O’Brien chipped in with 10.
The Blue Devils also lost a nailbiter on Friday, 41-40 to visiting Constantine, however no stats were reported.
Lawton (8-8 overall) was at Galesburg-Augusta on Tuesday, heads to Hackett Prep on Friday and hosts Coloma on Friday.
Lady Blue Devils tame Constantine
Friday was a winning night for the Lawton girls basketball team. The Blue Devils took down visiting Constantine, 55-30.
McKenna Macon led the team with 19 points, 10 steals and four rebounds, Adi Price had 12 points and seven steals, McKenzee Terpstra had 10 points and four steals, Ella Richter had eight points and eight rebounds and Kylee Somers added six points and seven rebounds.
Lawton also lost a game to Vicksburg on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
The host Blue Devils were led by Price with 11 points and three steals, Macon had 10 points and six steals and Terpstra added six points.
Lawton (9-9 overall) was at home against Black River on Tuesday, heads to Hackett Prep on Friday and is in Fennville on Tuesday.
Lawrence outlasts Michigan Lutheran in boys hoops
The Lawrence boys basketball team played at St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran on Monday. The Tigers were able to notch a road win, 63-55.
Lawrence was behind 15-12 after one and 35-28 at the half, but use da big third quarter to take a 48-37 lead entering the fourth.
Tim Coombs led the way with 26 points and six assists, John Schuman had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 11 blocks and four assists, Ben McCaw put in six points and had three assists and three steals, Noel Saldana had four points, Zander Payment netted three and getting two points apiece was Christian Smith and Gabe Gonzalez. Smith was also able to pass for three assists.
On Friday, Lawrence won a road game at Bloomingdale, 69-48.
McCaw led the team in scoring with 19 points, Saldana put in 15 points, Coombs had nine, Schuman was able to score eight, Smith and Gonzalez each had seven and adding one point was Karter Everhart.
Lawrence (9-8 overall) hosts Decatur on Friday and hosts Cassopolis on Tuesday.
Lawrence girls drop close one with Bloomingdale
Friday’s road league game at conference leading Bloomingdale went down to the wire for the Lawrence girls basketball team. The Lady Tigers unfortunately came up a little short however, 54-51.
Kaylee Stroud led the team with 25 points, Carolina Mancera put in 11 points and Shelbi Rindfield added nine points.
Lawrence (11-7 overall) hosted Berrien Springs on Tuesday, hosts Decatur on Friday and is at Cassopolis on Tuesday.
Gobles boys drop pair of games
The Gobles boys basketball team took on Delton Kellogg on Friday. The visiting Tigers weren’t able to pull off a win however, falling 49-28.
“We struggled to put the ball through the hoop and for the majority of the game we reverted to our early season form of timid play,” head coach Scott Sherrod said. “I’m glad we get another chance at them the week after next. Jack Geiger was one bright spot in the game as he led the team in scoring and was one rebound away from a double-double.”
Geiger finished with 13 points and nine rebounds and Tristan Harbaugh was able to track down 10 rebounds.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7 Gobles played at Allegan, in what was a 71-40 setback.
“We played alright offensively tonight when we weren’t hurried by the press that Allegan kept on throughout the entire contest,” Sherrod said. “Both their 2-2-1 and man full court press made us uncomfortable at times.”
Harbaugh had a big game with 20 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists, Aden Newberry was good for seven points and seven rebounds and Tony Lisowski chipped in with seven points.
Gobles girls continue strong season with wins over Delton Kellogg, Coloma
The good times continued for the Gobles girls basketball team on Friday. The Lady Tigers were playing at Delton Kellogg and were able to pick up a well-played 45-23 win.
“Delton Kellogg (was) a very determined team,” head coach Greg Barber said. “We struggled all night scoring the ball but managed to pick up a victory.”
Kennadi Killeen led the team with 14 points, eight rebounds and six steals, Deanna Wood had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists and Charlotte Zantello had six points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7 Gobles had a 44-12 win over visiting Coloma.
“We hosted a very young team and got out to a quick start,” Barber said.
Kaya Huizenga led the way in this one with 13 points, five steals and three rebounds, Kylee Killeen had eight points, three steals and two rebounds, Wood had seven points and Erica Barber had six points and six steals. Zantello also had eight rebounds.
Other scores
Girls Basketball
Feb. 10 St. Joseph 54 Mattawan 50
Feb. 7 Battle Creek Lakeview 46 Mattawan 18