BIG RAPIDS
Coach Jessica Haist’s girls’ basketball team was wrapping up the regular season in fine style with a 12-5 record following a 59-38 win over Manistee February 16. Kendra Enszer remained a force for Big Rapids with 13 points and 11 rebounds. In February, Cameron Baumunk crossed the 1,000-point mark in her career at Big Rapids.
The boys’ basketball team defeated Chippewa Hills February 14. Nick Baldwin scored 23 points, including 12 in the second quarter, to lead the Cardinals to the 70-48 Central State Activities Association win. Jake Daugherty added 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists for Big Rapids, which kept pace with Reed City in the league race by staying at two CSAA losses.
CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL
Sara Schneider netted 16 points for the Eagles in a 38-33 loss to Portland St. Patrick in early February. But the Eagles, with a 13-3 record, have still been having a nice girls’ basketball season.
CEDAR SPRINGS
The Redhawks boys basketball team had a 4-1 run in February to get over the .500 mark at 7-6. In one of those games, the team was spearheaded by Jason Gingrich with 15 points, Trey Reed with 13 points and six rebounds, and Ryan Dines with four assists.
CHIPPEWA HILLS
February was a great month for the Warrior wrestling team. In the individual districts, Chippewa Hills had a record six individual district champions. They also won easily at Clare in the team regionals, 77-6 over Gladwin and 78-6 over Standish-Sterling Central. The Warriors take a 36-4 record into the state finals.
CENTRAL MONTCALM
Tyler James, an offensive lineman from Central Montcalm, signed a letter of intent to play football at Ferris State University. James is the son of Central Montcalm coach Marty James, who noted that he’s had a long-time friendship with new Ferris coach Tony Annese, a former skipper of Muskegon High School and Grand Rapids Community College.
CLARE
The Clare boys basketball team was driving to win its first outright Jack Pine Conference title in 20 years with a 15-1 record. The Pioneers moved up to 16th in the Class C polls after a home victory against McBain, which was ranked fourth in the state and is the reigning Class C state runner up. Shane Adkins, with 23 points in a recent win over Harrison, has been among Clare’s most productive players.
CROSSROADS ACADEMY
Crossroads Academy girls basketball team defeated two state-ranked opponents in mid-February, including No. 7 Bear Lake 51-42. Mallory Carlson netted 14 points for Crossroads.
For the boys’ team, Noah Balanda netted 25 points and fueled a 19-0 run that led the team to a 47-43 victory over Mason County Eastern.
COLEMAN
In boys’ basketball, the Comets played Ashley on February 4 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons. Coleman won 56-34. It was Coleman’s ninth straight season playing a game at The Palace. On February 6, Coleman defeated Harrison 54-47. Ryan Walton led the way with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals. Tylor Rhynard had 12 points, 13 boards, and five assists, while Bell added eight points and five assists, and Tim Anderson put in eight points.
FARWELL
Jake Haring improved to 37-4 after winning a district wrestling title title at 171 pounds at Chippewa Hills. It’s the first district title for the Farwell senior. He pinned Andrew Franks of Oscoda in 3:27 in the title match.
FREELAND
Led by Tori Jankoska, Freeland had visions of a major upset over No. 1-ranked Morley Stanwood in mid-February. Freeland tied the score 29-29 at halftime and led 44-42 going into the final quarter. But the Mohawks outscored the Falcons 20-9 in the final eight minutes to prevail. Jankoska scored 27 points, with five two-pointers, five three-pointers, and two free throws.
LAKEVIEW
The wrestling team season for Lakeview ended in the team regionals at Comstock Park with a 39-25 loss. In the loss, the district champions netted wins from Jax Gambat, Andrew Hall, Terry Greiser, Jordan Betham, Devin Cavendish, Koty Burgess, and Joe Main. Betham was an individual district champion for the Wildcats.
WAVERLY
Waverly earned a hard-fought 51-37 victory over Eaton Rapids to improve its girls’ basketball record to 16-0. Eaton Rapids fell to 15-3. However, in its next game, Waverly fell 56-53 to Inkster.
MORLEY STANWOOD
The Morley Stanwood girls basketball team has been ranked No. 1 in the state in recent weeks. The Mohawks survived perhaps the biggest challenge to a 20-0 regular season record in mid-February with a 62-53 victory over Freeland. Elyse Starck netted a key three-point shot late in the game. Bailey Cairnduff, who’s going to Bowling Green, scored 20 points, while Alex Huntey also had 20 points.
Morley Stanwood quarterback Travis Zajkowski announced that he will be playing for Siena Heights University, which completed its first year of football with an 8-3 record. Running back Tyler Hanks announced he’ll be going to Ferris State University.
PORTLAND
Preston Scheurer, a 6’2″, 330-pound lineman, announced he’ll be pursuing a college football future with Ferris State University and new coach Tony Annese.