Lawton hands Hartford a loss

Hartford’s girls’ varsity basketball team hosted Lawton Tuesday, January 3. Hartford fouls had a hand in the 64-55 Lawton victory.

Angela Saldana, Marissa Beraza, Jessica Cortes, Amara Wesaw, and Mikenzie Chambers started on the floor for the Indians.

Lawton scored the first two points of the game to open the contest. Hartford’s Wesaw responded by dropping a 3-pointer through the net, giving the Indians a 3-2 advantage.

Saldana was fouled in the paint and went to the charity stripe. She converted one of two shots.

Cortes, meanwhile, had a nice blocked shot on defense, grabbed the ball, but was unable to land the bucket.

Beraza hit a 3-point shot to give Hartford a nine to two lead, after scoring nine unanswered points.

The game continued with the teams exchanging shots. Beraza landed her second 3-pointer of the game, and at the end of the first period, Hartford enjoyed a 15-10 lead.

In the second period Cortes and Wesaw both hit 3-pointers and AJ Jackson dropped in a field goal. But, the real story was the 10 team fouls on Hartford in the first half that gave Lawton plenty of scoring opportunities. Additionally, Lawton’s defense picked off two inbound passes, leading to more chances at the bucket for the non-conference foe.

The second period saw Lawton outscore Hartford 14-12. Hartford maintained a 27-24 lead at half-time.

In the third period, Saldana saw plenty of action. She was fouled three times and scored on five of six attempts. She also hit a 3-pointer.

Jackson, too, bore the brunt of scoring for Hartford in the third. She sank four two-point shots and hit one of two from the free throw line for nine points.

But, Lawton’s offense was on overdrive. They scored 25 points to wrest the lead from the Indians, 49-46.

Hartford was limited to nine points in the fourth period, all of them at the free throw line. The squad struggled to find openings in the Lawton offense to make shots from the field. The Indians landed nine of 12 free throws in the fourth period. Lawton scored 13 points to take the 64-55 win.

Jackson and Saldana led Hartford with 13 points each. Jackson earned a double-double as she had 10 rebounds.  Saldana had six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

Cora Wesaw and Cortes scored seven points each, with Cortes contributing three assists and four steals. Beraza scored six points. Madisyn Earls added five points and six rebounds. Chambers tallied two points. Amara Wesaw and Elly Valdes scored one point each.

The Indians shot 53% from the free throw line. The ladies landed 18 of 34 attempts.

Watervliet gets revenge over Gobles

 As any Lady Panther fan knows, varsity basketball games against Gobles are bound to be tough. Gobles, year after year, has one of the best teams around, a bench chock full of experienced, quick shooters.

JADE’S JUMPER… Water-vliet’s Jade Miller shoots a jumper Friday during a game against Gobles. Miller scored two points and had three steals as Watervliet won 42-39. The Lady Panthers are 5-3 overall this season and 4-0 in the SAC – Lakeshore division. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

As a matter of fact, you have to go back to the 2012-13 school year to find a game in which Watervliet topped the Tigers. In January of 2013, the Lady Panthers squeaked by Gobles 41-37, but then lost the second time the teams met that season.

So, you could say the Panthers were due. On Friday, January 6, Watervliet welcomed their Southwestern Athletic Conference – Lakeshore Division rivals to town.

Both teams hit the court a bit tentative in the first period. Watervliet struggled under the basket, and Gobles struggled hitting their shots. At the end of the first period, the teams were knotted up at eight points apiece.

The second period saw a bit tighter action on the part of both squads. Pressure from both teams resulted in more time being taken on the part of the shooters as they approached the basket. Gobles continued to suffer a bunch of missed baskets. Watervliet did a slightly better job keeping their hands on the ball when it was in their possession. The Lady Panthers led 18-17 at intermission.

The pace of the game remained the same in the third period, although the lead switched sides. Gobles was able to score three more points than Watervliet and took a 27-25 lead into the fourth and final period.

The last eight minutes of the game proved to be the most fruitful for Watervliet. After a scoring blitz that included nine points, Watervliet reclaimed the lead.

Gobles added 12 points in the period, but Watervliet’s 17 stole the game from the grasp of the Tigers.

Watervliet coach Jason Forrester stated, “Watervliet turned up the defensive intensity and hung on for a 42-39 win, handing Gobles their first conference loss in four years.”

With the win, Watervliet now sits atop the SAC – Lakeshore division with a 3-0 record. The squad is 4-2 overall.

Katie Schultz led Watervliet with 12 points. Jaelyn Pitre scored 10. Ariana Rowe contributed seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. Logan Mizwicki added seven points, four rebounds, and three steals.

Jade Miller hit two points and stole the ball three times.  Casie Gohr scored two points and had four steals and three assists.

Hartford hampered in 54-45 loss to Saugatuck

The Hartford girls’ varsity basketball squad traveled to Saugatuck Friday, January 6 for a conference matchup.  Hartford lost 54-45.

Hartford raced out to an early 18-16 lead as Marissa Beraza hit the court hot. She scored two 3-pointers and a field goal for eight of her team’s first period points.

BERAZA’S BALL… Hart-ford’s Marissa Beraza takes a shot during the Tuesday, January 3 game against Lawton. Beraza would score six points during the Indians 64-55 loss. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

In the second period, Saugatuck chipped away at Hartford lead until they led 27-26 at intermission. Jessica Cortes landed a 3-pointer for the Indians, as Amara Wesaw and Madisyn Earls scored two points apiece.

The second half of the game was all Saugatuck and almost all AJ Jackson. Saugatuck scored 11 points in the third period as Hartford was limited to eight. In the fourth period, Saugatuck added another 12 points and Hartford had 11.

Jackson scored 15 of her team’s 19 second-half points, including all 11 fourth-period points. Jackson did a great job keeping Hartford in the contest.

Jackson led Hartford with 15 points and nine rebounds. Beraza scored eight points and had seven rebounds and six steals. Cortes scored six points on two 3-pointers. Mikenzie Chambers added five points to the Indian total.

Amara Wesaw scored four points and had three assists. Earls landed three points, and Elly Valdes had two.

South Haven hammers Watervliet

 The Panther basketball team ran up against a solid, athletic, energized South Haven team on Tuesday, January 3 and was handed a 45-24 loss.

You would not know it by the score but Watervliet played a solid, staunch defensive game in the first half and trailed by only one point at intermission. It was the second half of the ball game that things went south. Like, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico south.

Watervliet’s crisp play in the first period allowed the team to trail by just one point after the first period, 7-6. The Panthers were quick-footed and sure as they broke up South Haven plays.

In the second period, both teams broke out in a rash of scoring. Watervliet posted 10 points on the scoreboard and remained one point behind the Rams, 17-16, at intermission.

The second half proved disastrous for the Panthers. Watervliet mustered one lone point tallied in the third period as they were out rebounded, out shot, and outscored by South Haven. The Panthers added seven points to their total in the fourth period.

BALL HANDLING AT ITS BEST… Junior forward Bryant Kieft led Watervliet with nine points in the team’s 45-24 loss to South Haven on Tuesday, January 3. Here, Kieft makes his way past a South Haven de-fender. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

In the second half of play, Watervliet was outscored 28 points to eight. It was a very discouraging game for Watervliet after they started so strong.

Watervliet head coach Chris Prom said, “First half, I thought we started off pretty good defensively. We held their transition points; we just couldn’t get the offense going.  Their ball pressure was pretty good all night. And in the second half I thought defensively, for the most part, we did a good job holding them to 45 points. They are a pretty good team and a high scoring team, so I was proud of that.  We just gotta figure the offense out, and that will come. It’s a process and it’s a long season.”

Bryant Kieft led Watervliet with nine points. Daniel Cluster scored eight points. Sheldon Tobar banked six points.

Hartford Hoops win one, lose one

 The Indians of Hartford traveled to Lawton on Tuesday, January 3 for a rescheduled contest from December. Hartford won the non-conference game 67-51.

William Martinez was Hartford’s high scorer. He scored a career high 35 points in the contest. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Austin Nelson notched a double-double as he scored 17 points and had 14 assists.

The Indians led 19-4 at the end of the first period. Lawton’s offense rebounded a bit in the second period, as both teams scored 12 points each.

Lawton outscored Hartford 21-19 in the third period but could not close the gap on the Indians.

Fourth period action saw Hartford put up 17 points on the scoreboard, while Lawton added 14.

Coloma Basketball results

 The Coloma boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball squads traveled to Fennville on Friday, January 6 for a little hoops action.

The Comet men lost to the Blackhawks 44-39, while the ladies netted a 39-25 win over their Southwestern Athletic Conference foe.

Gobles gobbles up Panther offense

The Watervliet offense struggled Friday, January 6, as the varsity basketball team hosted Gobles. Gobles rode a high-scoring game to a 61-39 win, handing Watervliet their second loss of the week.

Watervliet opened the first period by scoring eight points. The Panther defense limited Gobles to 10 points.

In the second period, Gobles kicked their offense into overdrive scoring 22 points. The Tigers defense limited Watervliet to just eight points. At the half, Gobles retained a 32-16 lead.

Gobles continued their onslaught of scoring into the second half of the game. The Tigers scored 31 points and held Watervliet to 23 for the easy 61-39 win.

Watervliet coach Chris Prom stated, “The Tigers’ defensive pressure frustrated the Panthers all night.”

Dan Cluster was the high scorer for Watervliet with 14 points. Bryant Kieft chipped in seven points. Sheldon Tobar and Ryan Chisek got on the board with six points each.

Watervliet is 0-3 in the SAC – Lakeshore division this season and 0-4 overall.

Saugatuck squeaks by Hartford

 Hartford continued scoring points from beyond the arc Friday, January 6. The team traveled to Saugatuck and lost a tough road match, 75-70.

Hartford led a high-scoring first half battle. The Indians put 22 points on the board in the first period and 17 in the second to take a 39-34 lead at intermission.

Saugatuck sharpened both their offense and defense in the second half. They scored 24 points in the third period while holding Hartford to 19. That left the game tied heading into the fourth period, 58-58.

A big 17-point fourth period gave Saugatuck the win. Hartford was limited to 12 points and just could not overtake Saugatuck.

William Martinez led Hartford with 25 points. Austin Nelson scored 25 points, including seven 3-pointers.

A race Frosty would be proud of

It was a chilly 14 degrees the morning of Saturday, January 7. Hale and hardy souls huddled near the start line at North Elementary School in Watervliet for the annual Run, Frosty, Run event.

The 5k walk, 5k run, and 10k walk saw a decreased number of participants than in years past, which can be attributed to the cold weather and falling snow.

Saturday’s running, sponsored by SWMI Racers and benefitting the Watervliet Athletic Boosters, was a “predict your time” race. Each participant had to predict how long the race would take them. The persons closest with the actual finish time matching the predicted time won in all three race events.

North Elementary Principal Joe Allen, who participated in the race, said the course had just enough fresh snow on the ground to keep it from being too slippery. Allen was just 13 seconds off his predicted finish time.

Complete results were unavailable at press time.

AQB WRAP UP

Shocking last second Clemson TD sends Alabama reeling, not rolling; Armchair QB Hildebrand records perfect 5-0 week

By Kristy Noack

Tim Hildebrand had the magic touch this week in the Tri-City Record Armchair Quarterback contest. He rolled to a perfect 5-0 record, while Alabama rolled to a stunning 35-31 defeat in the college national championship game at the hands of a last second Clemson touchdown.

Each week six local superstar football fans compete in a friendly contest of predicting the winners of gridiron games. The person with the best record following the final Super Bowl pick is declared the winner.

Any time two or more AQBs predict their way to the same record, a tie-breaker game comes into play. One contest is specially selected each week to act as the tie-breaker. Contestants must determine how many total points will be scored in that game. The person closest to the actual points total wins the higher spot in the standings.

This week Tim Hildebrand stood alone at the top of the leaderboard. He predicted his way to a perfect 5-0 record.

RoxAnn Rodney-Isbrecht, Greg Krell, and Rodney Lynch posted 4-1 records, so their place in the standings came down to the Alabama versus Clemson game. The 66 point total in that matchup gave Rodney-Isbrecht second place, as she predicted 52 points would be scored.  Krell finished third for the week with his 47 point guess, and Lynch landed in fourth place as he predicted 45 points would be scored.

Chris Leach and Tom Gear finished fifth and sixth, respectively. They both ended the week 3-2, and their place was based on the tie-breaker game as well. Leach determined 60 points would be scored, closer to the 66 point total than Gear’s 49 points guess.

The only movement on the board this week was Hildebrand. He scooted one game closer to Krell and Rodney-Isbrecht.

Rodney-Isbrecht continues to lead the TCR AQB league. She holds a 116-41 record. Krell remains in second place. He did not gain any ground last week, but he did not lose any either. His record is 110-47.

Hildebrand is in third place with a 109-48 record. He is now one game away from Krell and seven games out of first place.

Lynch held onto fourth place; he posts a 107-50 record. He fell one game away from Hildebrand and is now two games behind third place.

Gear maintained a two-game lead over Leach. Gear is in fifth place with a 94-63 record. Leach’s 92-65 record puts her in sixth place.

College football is officially complete for the season, and pro football games are in playoff mode. We have only four games on tap for week 21:

Seattle @ Atlanta

Houston @ New England

Pittsburgh @ Kansas City

Green Bay @ Dallas

With four great games on the docket, it was hard to pick a tie-breaker. A case could be made for each contest. Seattle beat Detroit, so we could use the Seahawks versus the Falcons. Or, how about hoping Houston knocks off New England (sorry, Patriot fans). But, Joe Montana used to play for Kansas City, so we could go with that game. And, Dallas just might get Green Bay’s goat. Decisions, decisions.

In the end, the tie-breaker game this week will be the Steelers versus Chiefs. Maybe Montana will pay a visit to his former team and give them a bit of his magic. You never know!