By Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
Paw Paw boys nearly pick up first win on Friday at Allegan.
Paw Paw’s boys basketball team was nearly able to taste victory for the first time this season on Friday in Allegan. The Red Wolves came up just a few baskets short though, losing 67-62.
“The team is continuing to improve and I am seeing the pieces come together,” head coach Paskell Miller said. “Ashton Toliver had an outstanding game and was the leading scorer with 30 points, played great defense, came up with steals, and rebounds.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 11 Paw Paw lost a game at Sturgis, 45-27.
“The team played really hard on defense and are really improving as a team,” Miller said.
Max Crawford led the team with eight points, while Joe Miller, Cullen Sylvester and Dennis Strey netted five points apiece.
Paw Paw (0-8 overall) was at Lakeshore on Tuesday, hosts Otsego on Friday and heads to Dowagiac on Tuesday.
Paw Paw girls play to wins over Allegan, Sturgis
Paw Paw took its best shot from visiting Allegan on Friday. The Lady Red Wolves were able to hold them off though, picking up a 56-42 Wolverine Conference North victory.
“We held off an inspired Allegan team,” head coach Ernie Ramirez said.
Katelyn Baney had a big game with 17 points and 12 rebounds, Grace Mitchell had 13 points and Addison Roy added 12 points and eight rebounds.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11 the Red Wolves topped visiting Sturgis, 47-36. A key to the game was the defense of Paw Paw holding Sturgis to just seven points in the second half.
Baney had a big game with 19 points, eight rebounds and six steals and Taylor Ricki added 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Paw Paw (7-2 overall) hosts Otsego in a key league game on Friday and hosts Dowagiac on Tuesday.
Mattawan girls pick up three wins
The Mattawan girls basketball team put three games in the win column last week. The Lady Wildcats topped Lakeshore 45-38 at home on Friday, defeated Battle Creek Central on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 47-24 and doubled up Loy Norrix 60-30 on the road on Monday, Jan. 10. All doubled as Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference contests.
Against Lakeshore, Yasmin Pirbhai had 14 pinots and 11 rebounds, Adelaide Douglass was good for 13 points and 18 rebounds and Delaney Elsmore had seven points and four assists.
Against Battle Creek Central, Douglass was good for 19 points and 12 rebounds, Elsmore had a well-rounded night with eight points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists and against Loy Norrix it was Douglass with 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, Pirbhai had 17 points and seven rebounds and Elsmore had 10 points, 12 rebounds, six steals and five assists.
“It was a good beginning of the week as we were able to get some big leads to start games and get an opportunity to get all players into the game and get some players some rest at times,” head coach Chad Conklin said. “We have really been working hard on our man-to-man defense and that showed this week in the games. We were led this week by out senior post players Adelaide Douglass and Yasmin Pirbhai. They have done a great job on the boards and defensively inside. On the perimeter we were led by sophomore do-it-all guard Delaney Elsmore. Delaney does a great job of distributing the basketball on the break and getting her teammates involved in the game. She did a nice job against the pressure on Friday night against Lakeshore.”
Mattawan (5-3 overall, 5-3 SWMAC) was at home against St. Joseph on Tuesday, heads to Richland Gull Lake Thursday and on Tuesday hosts Kalamazoo Central.
Lawton boys gets game winner by Rueff in overtime
The Lawton boys basketball team had quite the thrilling night Friday, at home against Fennville in a Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore contest. The Blue Devils fell behind early, but rallied to pull off a 45-43 win in overtime, thanks to a basket moments before the buzzer by Jake Rueff.
Rueff dribbled the ball down the length of the court, drove through the lane and knocked down a contested and off-balanced lay-up. Fennville frantically inbounded the ball, but their desperation full court shot was off the mark, and may not have gotten off in time anyways.
Chase Mitchell led the team with 19 points and Rueff finished with 15 points.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11 Lawton took down host Gobles 45-29.
Rueff led the team with 17 points, Mitchell netted 12 and Cooper Geib was good for another 10 points.
Lawton (6-1 overall, 5-1 SWAC Lakeshore) played a key league game at Watervleit on Tuesday, is at home against Coloma on Friday and stays at home to take on South Haven this coming Tuesday.
Lawton boys get game winner by Rueff in overtime
Lawton girls make quick work of Fennville
The Lawton girls basketball team had no problem with visiting Fennville Friday night. The Lady Blue Devils kept their SWAC Lakeshore opponents from getting a field-goal all night as they played to a convincing 46-2 victory.
“All 14 girls played good minutes tonight,” head coach Jeremy Macon said.
Sarah DeKoning only played eight minutes but had 10 points and three steals, Reese Olson only saw eight minutes as well but still had eight points and eight rebounds while Lily Grear and Kylee Somers netted six points apiece.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11 Lawton topped visiting Gobles in another league game, 41-30.
“Huge win for the program,” Macon said.
Reese Olson led the way with a career high 25 points and she also tracked down 11 rebounds. Sarah DeKoning also had 10 points and four steals.
Lawton (5-2 overall, 5-2 SWAC Lakeshore) played at Watervleit on Tuesday, hosts Coloma on Friday and hosts Holland Black River on Monday.
Lawrence boys drop close one with Eau Claire
Lawrence played with host Eau Claire for the duration of the two’s BCS-White game on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The Tigers couldn’t quite tame their undefeated foes however, coming up just short, 51-49.
The game was tied 14-all after the first, with Eau Claire leading 22-21 at the half and it led 40-29 entering the fourth, where it held off a late Lawrence rally.
The Tigers were led by Donovan Sikes with 16 points, Bol Bak had 13 points, Mauricio Mancera and John Schuman had six points apiece, Christian Smith scored five and Mason Leighton added three points.
Lawrence (2-4 overall, 1-4 BCS White) was at home against New Buffalo on Tuesday, makes the trip to Holland Black River on Friday and returns home to play St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran on Monday.
Gobles boys can’t hold lead against Martin
The Gobles boys basketball team held an early double digit lead against visiting SWAC Lakeshore opponent Martin on Friday. The lead didn’t stick however, as Martin stormed back to win 50-42.
“We jumped out to a 16-2 lead early in the game and everything was clicking offensively,” head coach Scott Sherrod said. “The third quarter was our downfall. We could not buy a basket and the one point third couldn’t be overcome despite out best efforts in the fourth. Drew Thorpe played his best game as a varsity player and fought for every rebound. We have a lot of good to take from and it is just unfortunate we didn’t come out on top.”
Nick Lopez led the Tigers with 14 points and Thorpe was able to net eight points.
Gobles also came up short against visiting league foe Lawton on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 45-29.
Lopez was able to net 18 points in this one.
“We played well defensively and did a better job limiting our turnovers,” Sherrod said. “We’ll need to find a way to generate more offense moving forward, but we’re growing each week.”
Gobles (1-6 overall, 1-5 SWAC Lakeshore) played at home against Coloma on Tuesday, stays at home to take on Galesburg-Augusta on Friday and takes on visiting Constantine on Monday.
Gobles girls splits games
The Gobles girls basketball team was able to tame visiting Martin on Friday, picking up a SWAC Lakeshore win, 51-29.
“The girls got off to a quick start,” head coach Greg Barber said.
Leading the way for the Lady Tigers was Amanda Barber with 17 points and seven assists, Kennadi Killeen had 16 points, McKenzie Lisowski added five points and six rebounds and Emily Baxter tracked down five rebounds.
On Tuesday, Jan. 111 Gobles lost a league game at Lawton, 41-30.
Killeen had 14 points, Baxter was able to track down nine rebounds and Deanna Wood had six rebounds.
Gobles (3-5 overall, 3-4 SWAC Lakeshore) played at Coloma on Tuesday, takes on Galesburg-Augusta at home on Friday and hosts Constantine on Monday.
Lawrence girls take care of Bangor
The Lawrence girls basketball team served as hosts to Bangor in a non-league game Monday night. The Lady Tigers were able to claim their sixth victory of the season, claiming it by the score of 52-37.
Savannah Peek led the team with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Kaylee Stroud was able to put in 17 points.
Lawrence (6-3 overall) heads to Bridgman Thursday and hosts Galesburg-Augusta Tuesday.
