Watervliet girls’ basketball wins SAC championship

 The excitement in the Panther gym was palpable Friday, February 24, as Watervliet faced Bangor High School. With a victory, the Lady Panthers would win the Southwestern Athletic Conference – Lakeshore Division championship. And win they did! Watervliet topped Bangor 47-28 to claim the conference title.

PANTHERS PROUD SAC CHAMPIONS… The Watervliet varsity girls’ basketball squad, head coach Jason Forrester and assistant coach Sherron Rimpson pose with the South-western Athletic Conference trophy. The Lady Panthers topped Bangor 47-28 to win the SAC – Lakeshore division crown. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

The score would lead you to believe Watervliet probably had the game in hand early on. That would be an incorrect assumption.

The Lady Panthers struggled through the first half of the game against a very physical and tough Bangor squad.

In the first period, Bangor outscored Watervliet 7-6. Watervliet battled the Vikings in the second period and won that eight minute segment 8-6. At half time, Watervliet led 14-13.

Watervliet head coach Jason Forrester contrasted the Panthers’ first half of play with the second half with one phrase: “Night and day. We got in the locker room… They’re so used to sometimes losing the tight games in the past. I told them they deserve to win this thing but they got to take it. They got to go take it from (Bangor). And then they came out on fire in the third quarter.”

Fire, indeed. Watervliet slammed 21 points on the scoreboard in eight minutes. Defensively, the squad controlled Bangor and allowed only six points. It was quite a third period for the Panthers as they took a 35-19 lead in the third period.

And Watervliet was not done. The team scored another 12 points in the fourth period to put the game to bed. With the 47-28 victory, Watervliet claimed the SAC championship title and trophy.

Watervliet and Gobles both recorded 11-1 records in their division. But, Watervliet won the title outright based on the tie-breaker rules set forth by the conference.

Forrester was happy with the outcome of Friday’s contest, even if it took two periods to adjust.

“We came out tight and made some mistakes we usually don’t make. We tried to force things and just didn’t play the way we know how.”

It was a bruising effort on the part of both teams. There were numerous fouls, elbows being thrown, and players landing hard on the floor. You could definitely say both teams gave as good as they got.

Forrester said, “We expect (the game) to get rough against Bangor. We kept our composure even though we got hit with a couple hard screens.”

The win marks the first title for the first-year varsity basketball coach, and he said, “It feels great! These girls deserve it.”

Logan Mizwicki led Watervliet with 11 points. Katie Schultz scored 10. Casie Gohr and Kara Liles netted six points each. Jaelyn Pitre contributed five points. Zoe Smith added four points. Jade Miller and Ariana Rowe scored two points each, and Taylor Shafer dropped in one.

Congratulations, Watervliet!

District competition begins; Watervliet bows out

 Pre-districts in girls’ varsity basketball began Monday, February 27. Complete details including stats will be available in next week’s TCR.

In Class B District 33 action at Berrien Springs, Coloma topped South Haven 37-35. They moved on and played Buchanan on Wednesday.

Watervliet faced a tough Brandywine squad in Class C District 65 competition. Although they enjoyed a home court advantage, the Lady Panthers’ season ended with a 40-26 loss to the Bobcats.

Hartford moved on in Class C District 79 play to the district semi-finals after they notched an easy 56-14 win over Bloomingdale. The Indians faced Bangor on Wednesday at Kalamazoo Christian.

In Class D District 97 action Grace Christian topped Covert on the road 35-24. Grace Christian tangled with Three Oaks River Valley at host Lake Michigan Catholic Wednesday.

Watervliet beats Bangor

82-50 as Tobar and Cluster post double-doubles

Watervliet put up big numbers and Sheldon Tobar had a performance worthy of the highlight reel Friday, February 24 as the Panthers beat Bangor 82-50 in front of a frenetic hometown crowd.

SWEET SHOT BY SMITH… Watervliet’s Lamarrius Smith strikes a sweet pose as he shoots a jumper during varsity basketball action Friday against Ban-gor. Smith turned in a full stat line in the 82-50 Panther victory: six points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two deflections. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

Watervliet opened the game with an 18-point first period. A cohesive offensive attack set Bangor scrambling as they tried to cover the Panthers. Bangor scored nine points in the first period.

Watervliet poured in the points in the second period, scoring 26 which, according to head coach Chris Prom “is the highest scoring quarter of the season for the boys.” Bangor made some adjustments to their offense and scored 16 points. At intermission of the Winterfest contest, the hometown Panthers led 44-25.

The flurry of point scoring would continue for the Panthers in the third period. The squad scored 23 points, as Bangor banked 14. At the end of three periods, Watervliet enjoyed a 67-39 lead.

The Panthers sealed the victory with a 15-point fourth quarter to take the 82-50 game-shortened win. (The school’s fire alarm was triggered with three minutes left in the game. Perhaps from the Panthers’ hot shooting?)

Sheldon Tobar led Watervliet with 21 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists. Dan Cluster scored 16 points and grabbed 10 boards; he also had three blocks and two assists.

James Bell scored 10 points and had five rebounds. Ryan Chisek put up eight points, four rebounds, three deflections, and two assists. LA Smith scored six points and contributed five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two deflections.

Watervliet whips Fennville

 The Watervliet girls’ varsity basketball squad traveled to Fennville to take on the Blackhawks Tuesday, February 21. With the Lady Panther defense on overdrive, Watervliet notched the 54-20 victory, their 15th of the season.

The Panthers put together an impressive first period. They scored 18 points and the defense limited Fennville to seven.

In the second period, Watervliet tallied 14 points and the defensive pressure continued as the ‘Hawks were held to just two points. Watervliet held a 32-9 lead at the half way mark.

In the third period, Watervliet scored 16 points, while Fennville netted six. Action in the fourth period followed in much the same vein: Watervliet six, Fennville five. At the bell, Watervliet won 54-20.

Logan Mizwicki led Watervliet with 15 points. Zoe Smith chipped in nine points. Katie Schultz, Casie Gohr, and Taylor Shafer got on the board with seven points apiece.

Kara Liles scored four points, Mikayla Lee had three, and Ariana Rowe rounded out the scoring with two.

Indians send Bangor packing with 74-50 win

 Hartford “shot the lights out” Tuesday, February 21 in their road game against Bangor, according to the Indians head coach John Johnson.

Hartford smoked Bangor for 50 first half points, including 20 in the first period and 30 in the second period. Thirty-six of the first half points were on shots from beyond the arc.

Hartford held a 20-15 lead after the first period and a 50-23 lead at the half.

In the third period, Bangor outscored Hartford 10-8 to close the gap to 58-33.

Both teams turned to their shooting game in the fourth period with Hartford scoring 16 points and Bangor tossing in 17. But, it was not a big enough Bangor effort and the Indians notched the impressive 74-50 win.

Austin Nelson scored 19 points for the Indians. Brandon Galvan dropped in 12 points, all 3-pointers.

Coloma basketball back on track with impressive win over Gobles

Coloma basketball bounced back Tuesday, February 21 with a 63-45 win over a 13-4 visiting Gobles squad.

Coloma opened the game with a 14-11 first period lead and continued to control the ball in the second period. At intermission, the Comets led 29-23.

However, a Comet collapse in the third period allowed Gobles to sneak back into the game. Gobles scored 15 points, while Coloma’s shooting stalled with only 10 points. At the end of the third period, it was a one-point ball game: Coloma 39, Bangor 38.

It took an impressive 24-point fourth period to give Coloma the 63-45 win.

To give you an idea of the physicality of the game, Gobles was whistled for 22 team fouls, while Coloma had 18.

Zach Goodline led Coloma with 37 points. He scored six field goals, five 3-pointers, and was perfect from the charity stripe hitting 10 of 10.

Brendan Lute scored seven points in the Comet effort.  Robbie Schroeder and Michael Dancer each chipped in five points. Adam Hearn dropped in four points. Kobe Hunter scored three points, and Levi Wilkens had two.

Coloma head coach Paul Marfia commented, “This was a very physical game, and I was proud of how we responded. We still missed too many free throws, but luckily Goodline went on a personal 10-0 run to give us a lead (in the fourth period) that we never gave back.”

Gobles girls frustrate Coloma

 The Coloma girls’ varsity team was frustrated early and often by the visiting Gobles Tigers Tuesday, February 21.  Coloma could not get their offense jumpstarted and Gobles ran roughshod over the Comets, earning a 50-24 victory.

LARSON PLAYS KEEP AWAY… Coloma’s Nicolle Larson keeps the ball away from Constantine Friday. Larson scored two points in the 55-45 Comet loss. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

Trouble for Coloma began in the first period. Gobles scored 16 points and limited Coloma to eight.

The pace of the game evened out in the second period as Coloma shook off early jitters and responded with seven points. The Comet defense was spot on and allowed only six points to be scored by their opponent. At the half, Gobles held a 22-15 lead.

A 28-point second half would lead to Coloma’s downfall. The Comets scored five points in the third period and four in the fourth. Coloma just could not get many shot opportunities and when they did, the ball would not fall true. Gobles got the 50-24 win.

Morgan Wagner was Coloma’s leading scorer; she nailed two 3-pointers and was two for two from the free throw line for a total of eight points.

Hannah Mathis and Kayla Yore scored five points each, and Mya Potter tallied four points.

Grace Christian basketball splits week

 Grace Christian’s girls’ varsity basketball split a two-game home stand last week with a 25-20 victory over Eau Claire and a 53-32 loss to Countryside Academy.

In Tuesday’s game against Eau Claire, Grace Christian opened up a 7-0 first period lead. The squad scored 10 points in the second period and held Eau Claire to just seven points. At the half, Grace Christian enjoyed a 17-7 lead.

In third period action, Grace Christian was outscored 5-4 but held onto a 21-12 lead headed into the fourth period.

Eau Claire scored eight points in the final eight minutes of the game, and the Lady Patriots added four more for the 25-20 win.

Rylie Hess led Grace Christian with a double-double; she scored 17 points, and had seven steals, and 10 rebounds. Lydia Stalcup scored four points and contributed four rebounds and two assists. Grace Stockdale added four points, two steals, and five rebounds for Grace Christian.

Defensively, Paige Massey tallied three steals and three rebounds and Yahjuana Johnson had one steal and 14 rebounds.

On Friday, February 24, Grace Christian welcomed Countryside Academy. It was a rough outing for the Lady Patriots, although the game was close through three periods.

Grace Christian led 8-6 after the first period of play. A 20-point second period by Countryside snatched the lead away from the home team. At the half, Grace Christian trailed 26-18.

Grace Christian added 10 points in the third period but continued to trail 35-28.

JOHNSON’S JUMP SHOT… Grace Christian’s Yahjuana Johnson shows good form dur-ing her jump shot Tuesday as Eau Claire’s Angelisa Morgan tries to get a hand on the ball. Johnson had 14 rebounds in the Lady Patriots’ 25-20 victory. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

A basket-hungry Countryside crew put on a show in the fourth period. They scored 18 points on their way to the 53-32 win over Grace Christian.

Stalcup notched a double-double as she was the high scorer for Grace Christian with 12 points and also had 16 boards. Hess scored 11 points and had six rebounds.

Massey sank five points and added three steals and eight rebounds. Stockdale scored four points and tallied three steals and 10 rebounds.

Hartford bounced past Bangor as Jackson records double-double

 Hartford hosted Bangor on Tuesday, February 21 and marked another “W” in the record book with a 43-35 victory. AJ Jackson led the Indians’ effort after she recorded another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, along with four steals and four blocks.

The game was evenly matched through the first half. Hartford held a one-point edge after the first period, 9-8. A resurging Bangor squad scored 12 points in the second period to steal the lead from Hartford 20-19.

It was all Hartford hands on deck in the third period as the team rocked the Vikings for 14 points. The Indians defense held strong and allowed only five points. At the end of three, Hartford reclaimed the lead 32-25.

Fourth period action saw Hartford score 11 points and Bangor netted 10. It was Hartford with the 43-35 victory.

Marissa Beraza, Megan Nelson, and Jessica Cortes scored five points apiece for Hartford.

Defensively, Amara Wesaw pulled down seven rebounds and Cortes notched four steals.

Watervliet falls to Fennville 63-47

 Watervliet hit the road Tuesday, February 21 and faced Fennville. The game was closer than the 63-47 score indicated; Fennville did not put up a comfortable lead until the fourth period.

Early on, Fennville scored 19 points in the first period. Watervliet exchanged basket for basket but only scored 12 points.

In the second period, Watervliet outscored Fennville 10-8 to cut into the Blackhawks lead. At intermission, Watervliet trailed 27-22.

The two teams were neck and neck through the third period, but Fennville added an additional two points to their lead after they scored 15 points to Watervliet’s 13.

It was a blowout fourth period for Fennville as they scored 21 points and held Watervliet to 12. Fennville got the 63-47 win over the Panthers.

Mark Myers led Watervliet with 11 points. Dan Cluster and Sheldon Tobar scored nine points apiece.

Hartford gets second win of week; foils Fennville

Hartford welcomed Fennville to town on Friday, February 24 for girls’ varsity basketball action. Hartford foiled Fennville’s attempt at a win by clipping the Blackhawks 57-38.

Hartford was on fire early and the Indian defense played one of its strongest games of the season. Hartford scored 15 points in the first period and 14 in the second. The squad held Fennville to seven first-period points and five in the second period. At halftime, Hartford led 29-12.

The Indians continued their assault in the third period by notching 12 points. Fennville scored nine as Hartford lead widened to 41-21.

Hartford added on 16 additional points in the fourth period but was outscored by Fennville’s 17. Hartford walked away with the 57-38 win.

AJ Jackson recorded her second double-double of the week as she scored a team-high 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals.

Cora Wesaw scored six points. Madisyn Earls grabbed nine boards, Marissa Beraza stole the ball four times, and Amara Wesaw contributed seven assists.

Coloma clips Constantine as Goodline records his 973rd career point

 Coloma earned their 10th win this season as they outscored Constantine 64-52 Friday, February 24.

Coloma struggled early but held a 13-10 lead after the first period.  Constantine responded in the second period with 14 points and smothered Coloma’s offense. The Comets scored seven points and trailed 24-20 at half-time.

In the third period, Coloma scored 15 points and limited Constantine to 11. But, it was an impressive 29-point fourth period that sealed the 64-52 Comet victory.

Coloma racked up 20 team fouls in the contest, which slightly topped Constantine’s 18.

Zach Goodline led Coloma with 30 points including one 3-pointer and another perfect free throw shooting game, hitting nine of nine. He also recorded his 973rd career point, according to Coloma head coach Paul Marfia. What an accomplishment for the sophomore!

Calvin Starnes turned in an impressive performance as well. He scored 12 points. Levi Wilkens had eight points, and Robbie Schroeder scored four. Tevon Blazier and Adam Hearn scored three points apiece, and Kobe Hunter and Michael Dancer each had a field goal.

Coloma shot 84% from the free throw line, making 21 of 25 attempts.

Coloma drops close contest to Constantine as Wagner scores 25 of team’s 45 points

 Coloma’s Morgan Wagner was certainly on her game Friday, February 24. She scored 25 points as the Lady Comets fell to Constantine.

The game was give and take through periods one, three, and four but it was a brutal two-point second period that sent Coloma reeling.

Constantine jumped out to an early 12-10 lead after the first period. In the second period they scored 16 points while Coloma only scored two. The Comets just could not get the offense moving and nothing seemed to work.

Following Coloma head coach Fred Paulsen’s pep talk at halftime – at which Coloma trailed 28-12 – the Lady Comets were back in charge on the court.

Coloma scored 15 points while limiting Constantine to 12. The Comets outscored Constantine again in the fourth period 18-15 but it was not enough to overcome a disastrous second period. Constantine tallied the 55-45 win.

Wagner led Coloma in scoring. Kayla Yore added nine points, and Hannah Mathis scored seven points. Nicolle Larson and Jenna Walter had two points apiece.

Hartford hit with 57-51 loss to Fennville

 Hartford celebrated Senior Night Friday, February 24 and came up short in their bid for a win. The Indians lost 57-51 despite “storming back from a 15-point halftime deficit to the game in the fourth (period),” commented Hartford head coach John Johnson.

Hartford trailed 8-6 after the first period of play. Fennville posted a strong second period by scoring 21 points and limiting Hartford to just eight. At halftime, Hartford trailed 29-14.

The Indians began cutting into Fennville’s lead in the third period. They outscored the Blackhawks 16-10 and were behind 39-30 at the end of three.

A superb 21-point fourth quarter rally by Hartford was hampered by Fennville’s 18-point attack. As the game closed out, Hartford lost 57-51.

Austin Nelson drilled seven 3-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 23 points.  Brandon Galvan scored 12 points in the form of four 3-pointers.

Districts begin Monday for boys’ basketball

 Basketball districts begin Monday for area boys’ varsity teams.

Coloma will host Class B District 33 competition. The Comets nabbed the early game, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, against Buchanan. On the evening card will be Lakeshore taking on Berrien Springs. With a Coloma win, the Comets would move on to play Benton Harbor, who received a first round bye, Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Finals will be held Friday at 7:00 p.m.

Hartford faces Kalamazoo Christian Monday at 5:30 p.m. at host Bloomingdale in the Class C District 79 tourney. The winner will meet up against Kalamazoo Hackett in semi-final action Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The championship game will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Watervliet will square off against Eau Claire Monday at Bridgman in the 5:30 p.m. contest.  The winner of that game will meet Cassopolis in the semi-finals Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Title game will be held Friday at 7:00 p.m.

Good luck to our area teams as they begin their title runs!

Kurt Busch wins Daytona 500

 Kurt Busch won the first NASCAR race of the 2017 season by taking the checkered flag in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Busch, who started in eighth place, led only one lap during Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race but it was the most important one: the final lap.  Busch charged to the lead as many of his fellow competitors ran out of gas – literally – on the final turn.

The win gave Busch his first Daytona 500 victory and 29th of his career.

Ryan Blaney had a nice afternoon. He began the race in the 36th position, led two laps during the contest, and ended the day in second place. AJ Allmendinger, who started further behind Blaney in the 38th position, took third place; he led two laps.

Aric Almirola led two laps enroute to his fourth place finish, and Paul Menard rounded out the top five.

Fifteen of the original 40 drivers who began the race finished the 200-lap, 500-mile event on the lead lap.  There were eight caution periods.

All in all, it was a great race with plenty of action. Also leading laps on Sunday were: Joey Logano (16), Kasey Kahne (7), Kyle Larson (16), Martin Truex Jr. (2), Chase Elliott (39), Cole Whitt (3), Austin Dillon (7), Elliott Sadler (5), Kevin Harvick (50), Brad Keselowski (2), Jamie McMurray (13), Jimmie Johnson (7), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (18).

Earnhardt Jr. started the race on the outside of the front row. However, Earnhardt Jr., back in the driver’s seat since being sidelined mid-season last year with a concussion, got tangled up in an accident. He would head to the garage on lap 106 and finished 37th overall.

Polesitter Chase Elliott finished 14th.

The teams have packed up and headed north for Sunday’s Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson won last year’s go-round and will certainly be hoping he can do it again.

NASCAR season is here, baby! Start your engines and get ready for a wild ride!