by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
Paw Paw girls bounce back with wins over Allegan, Three Rivers
The Paw Paw girls basketball team had little trouble with visiting Allegan on Friday. The Lady Red Wolves won the Wolverine Conference North game handily, 59-28.
Paw Paw led the game 18-2 after the first quarter and 33-10 and 50-19 after the other quarter breaks.
Katelyn Baney had another big game with 20 points, Grace Mitchell scored 13 and, Taylor Rickli netted 12 and Addison Roy scored eight.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8 Paw Paw won a non-league game at Three Rivers, 54-41.
Baney hit 12-of-13 from the free throw line and finished with 19 points and 19 rebounds.
Paw Paw (12-3 overall, 6-1 Wolverine North) played at Charlotte on Tuesday, heads to Otsego for a conference championship deciding game on Friday and hosts Benton Harbor on Tuesday.
Paw Paw boys earn 70-61 victory over Allegan
The Paw Paw boys basketball team was able to pick up their second win of the season Friday night, topping visiting Allegan, 70-61 in Wolverine Conference North action.
“(We) played a hard-fought game and came out victorious,” head coach Paskell Miller said. “Nice game gentlemen.”
Ashton Tolliver led the way with 27 points, Cullen Sylvester scored 11 and Joe Miller chipped in with 10.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8 the Red Wolves lost a non-league game with visiting Three Rivers, 51-44.
“The team continues to get better each game,” Miller said.
Tolliver was able to put in 13 points to lead the way in this one and Sylvester was able to net 12 points.
Paw Paw (2-14 overall, 2-5 Wolverine North) hosted Charlotte on Tuesday and heads to Otsego on Friday.
Mattawan boys pick up pair of wins
The Mattawan boys basketball team took down visiting St. Joseph in a home SWMAC West game on Thursday, 62-52.
“We had a lot of momentum from Tuesday’s win and it really carried into this game,” head coach Josh Brown said. “It was our first home game in a month as we played the last seven on the road.”
The Wildcats lost to St. Joe by three earlier in the season, but managed to get revenge in this one. Thanks in large part to going eight-of-eight from the free throw line in the fourth.
“This game was our best team performance of the season and will hopefully push us to a run in the playoffs,” Brown said.
On Tuesday Feb. 8 Mattawan won a thrilling non-league game at Battle Creek Lakeview, 51-49.
“I was really proud of the team as we found a way to win a close game finally,” Brown said. “We knew as a young team that it would take time to learn how to win games when it came down to the wire. To go on the road vs a very good opponent and find a way to win was a huge confidence boost for us.”
Brown pointed out a key late three by Noah Vanlaningham that tied the game at 47-all and a Ryan VanLiere bucket made it 49-47. Connor Walsh also had a big defensive rebound.
VanLiere also hit two free throws to give them the final edge.
Mattawan (7-9 overall, 3-4 SWMAC West) hosted Sturgis on Tuesday, hosts Stevensville Lakeshore on Friday and heads to Buchanan on Tuesday.
Lawton drops key league game at Fennville
The Lawton boys basketball team dropped a must-win game in Fennville Friday night, 54-38. The loss makes a three way tie in the SAC Lakeshore, with Lawton, Fennville and Watervliet each carrying two league losses.
Luke Leighton led the team with 13 points and Cooper Geib netted 11.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8 Lawton won a home league game over Gobles, 49-29.
Leighton was able to put in 20 points and Chase Mitchell put in 10.
Lawton (12-3 overall, 8-2 SAC Lakeshore) was at home against Watervliet on Tuesday, heads to Coloma on Friday and plays at Niles Brandywine on Monday.
Lawton girls pick up win at Fennville
The Lawton girls basketball team made the trip to Fennville on Friday, for a SAC Lakeshore contest, and were able to return home with a 47-18 victory.
Reese Olson led the way with 15 points and five rebounds, Sarah DeKoning had 10 points and four steals, Ella Richter netted seven points and Addi Price added six points, five steals and five rebounds.
Lawton (9-6 overall, 6-4 SAC Lakeshore) hosted Watervliet on Tuesday, heads to Coloma on Friday and plays at Niles Brandywine on Tuesday.
Lawrence boys get win at Michigan Lutheran
The Lawrence boys basketball team played at St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran on Monday, and were able to pick up their first BCS White victory, 59-52.
The Tigers led 21-12 after the first quarter and played their way to a 34-17 lead at the half. The game was tied up 41-all entering the fourth, but Lawrence was able to out score Michigan Lutheran 59-52 in the fourth.
Bol Bak poured in 14 points to lead the Tigers, Mauricio Mancera scored 11, Masen Leighton and John Schuman put in 10 points each, Donovan Sikes scored nine, Tim Coombs put in three and Andy Bowen scored two.
Lawrence (7-7 overall, 1-5 BCS White) heads to New Buffalo on Friday and hosts Kalamazoo Heritage Christian on Monday.
Martin takes down Gobles in SAC Lakeshore action
Foul trouble doomed the Gobles boys basketball team in Martin Friday night. The Tigers lost the game 44-30as the fouls racked up.
“This is a tough one to swallow, the game was full of action and bodies were colliding all game,” head coach Scott Sherrod said. “We missed a number of close buckets throughout the game especially in the first half and were unable to take control of a low scoring game and went into the half down 21-17. Three of our starters ended up fouling out before the game ended. As always, we’ll keep our heads up and keep working to peak at districts.”
Pepe Martin led the team with 13 points and Nick Lopez put in 10.
Gobles (1-14 overall) played at Coloma on Tuesday, heads to Kalamazoo Hackett Prep on Friday and hosts Black River on Monday.
Lady Tigers get wins over Martin, Lawton
The Gobles girls basketball team took care of business at Martin in a SAC Lakeshore game Friday, coming away with a 50-29 victory.
“We found our offense early and our defense kept up the pressure all night,” head coach Greg Barber said. “We never gave martin any room on the floor.”
Gobles was led by McKenzie Lisowski with 12 points, Emily Baxter had nine points and eight rebounds, Kennadi Killeen put in eight and Madison Brady scored six and Amanda Barber added five. Killeen also tracked down 10 rebounds, Emily Baxter had eight rebounds and Lisowski had four assists.
On Tuesday, Feb. 8 Gobles won a league game over visiting Lawton, 21-18.
Baxter led the charge with nine points and Barber chipped in with five.
Gobles (10-7 overall, 7-4 SAC Lakeshore) was at home against Coloma on Tuesday, heads to Kalamazoo Hackett Prep on Friday and plays in Black River on Monday.
