C-S seniors Miles Shannon (23) and Ryan DeHaan (5) play good defense on Mendon’s Ryder Gorham.
By Bruce Rolfe
While the Climax-Scotts boys varsity basketball team slowed down a pattern of falling behind by double digits early in a 48-45 loss to Battle Creek St. Philip February 20 at C-S, the team reverted back to three old bad habits that led to a 43-33 loss to Mendon February 23 on its home court.
Similar to many previous games, the Panthers fell behind by double digits at halftime, struggled with turnovers, and battled through long stretches of cold shooting in the loss to Mendon.
The Panthers, who had 22 turnovers, shot just 33 percent (11-33) from two-point range and dropped in just 2-of-19 three-point attempts (11 percent).
Despite some challenging times, the one positive constant that remains in place is the team continues to give 100 percent and refuses to quit.
C-S took a 5-17 overall record and 2-10 finish in the SCAA West Division into district play this week.
While C-S shot 42 percent (5-12) from two-point range in the first half, Mendon enjoyed a big rebounding advantage (21-11), including a 7-1 advantage under the offensive boards, and 11 C-S turnovers led to nine more attempts from the floor for Mendon. The visitors took advantage of the extra shots, making 50 percent (9-18) of its two-point attempts that helped the visitors race out to a 27-12 lead at halftime.
Similar to previous games when the Panthers fell behind early, there was push back including another exciting fourth quarter when the team fell short.
C-S whittled the deficit down to 33-22 after three quarters and a Chase VanMiddlesworth basket with 4:55 left that pulled C-S to within 36-29 seemed to inject a huge jolt of momentum.
But C-S managed to make just 1-of-12 shot attempts and turned the ball over four times over the final 4:55 and Mendon held on for the win.
Mendon 16 11 6 10 - 43
Climax-Scotts 6 6 10 11 - 33
Chase VanMiddlesworth 6, Tyler Smith 2, Ivan Abad-Reyes 6, Luke Lawrence 2, Gage Champion 4, Miles Shannon 11, Hunter LaSala 2
Free throws: C-S 5-9/Mendon 4-9
3-point baskets: C-S 2 (Ivan Abad-Reyes 2)/Mendon 3 (R. Gorham 2, M. Wikzyrski 1)
C-S Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Miles Shannon 9, Gage Champion 6 Luke Lawrence 6, Chase VanMiddlesworth 4
Steals: Chase VanMiddlesworth 5, Ivan Abad-Reyes 3
Assists: Luke Lawrence 4
Blocked shots: Ivan Abad-Reyes 2
While the Climax-Scotts boys varsity basketball team slowed down a pattern of falling behind by double digits early in a 48-45 loss to Battle Creek St. Philip February 20 at C-S, the team reverted back to three old bad habits that led to a 43-33 loss to Mendon February 23 on its home court.
Similar to many previous games, the Panthers fell behind by double digits at halftime, struggled with turnovers, and battled through long stretches of cold shooting in the loss to Mendon.
The Panthers, who had 22 turnovers, shot just 33 percent (11-33) from two-point range and dropped in just 2-of-19 three-point attempts (11 percent).
Despite some challenging times, the one positive constant that remains in place is the team continues to give 100 percent and refuses to quit.
C-S took a 5-17 overall record and 2-10 finish in the SCAA West Division into district play this week.
While C-S shot 42 percent (5-12) from two-point range in the first half, Mendon enjoyed a big rebounding advantage (21-11), including a 7-1 advantage under the offensive boards, and 11 C-S turnovers led to nine more attempts from the floor for Mendon. The visitors took advantage of the extra shots, making 50 percent (9-18) of its two-point attempts that helped the visitors race out to a 27-12 lead at halftime.
Similar to previous games when the Panthers fell behind early, there was push back including another exciting fourth quarter when the team fell short.
C-S whittled the deficit down to 33-22 after three quarters and a Chase VanMiddlesworth basket with 4:55 left that pulled C-S to within 36-29 seemed to inject a huge jolt of momentum.
But C-S managed to make just 1-of-12 shot attempts and turned the ball over four times over the final 4:55 and Mendon held on for the win.
Mendon 16 11 6 10 - 43
Climax-Scotts 6 6 10 11 - 33
Chase VanMiddlesworth 6, Tyler Smith 2, Ivan Abad-Reyes 6, Luke Lawrence 2, Gage Champion 4, Miles Shannon 11, Hunter LaSala 2
Free throws: C-S 5-9/Mendon 4-9
3-point baskets: C-S 2 (Ivan Abad-Reyes 2)/Mendon 3 (R. Gorham 2, M. Wikzyrski 1)
C-S Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Miles Shannon 9, Gage Champion 6 Luke Lawrence 6, Chase VanMiddlesworth 4
Steals: Chase VanMiddlesworth 5, Ivan Abad-Reyes 3
Assists: Luke Lawrence 4
Blocked shots: Ivan Abad-Reyes 2
4th Quarter Comeback Falls Short Against St. Phil
After struggling in the first quarter, the Panthers enjoyed a strong second quarter and a late fourth quarter flurry but fell short 48-45 to Battle Creek St. Philip February 19 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
C-S, which trailed 39-32 after three quarters, reduced the deficit to 39-38 on a basket by Miles Shannon with 4:08 left after Gage Champion scored a basket earlier and Chase VanMiddlesworth sank two free throws.
St. Phil answered with two baskets, however VanMiddlesworth scored with 2:43 left to pull C-S to within three points (43-40).
The Tigers were able to widen the lead to six points with three free throws, however Tyler Smith’s three-point basket with 30.6 seconds left pulled C-S back to within three (45-43).
Carter Dzwik split a pair of free throws to give the Tigers a 47-43 lead with 21.3 seconds left.
A Miles Shannon basket with 3.1 seconds left gave C-S one a glimmer of hope, but the Tigers got the ball in bounds, were fouled and Jackson Dzwik secured the win with a free throw followed by a long missed shot by the Panters at the horn.
Nine turnovers and just 1-for-7 shooting from two-point range led to a 9-3 deficit after one quarter.
C-S’ shooting picked up considerably in the second quarter when the team dropped in 63 percent (5-of-8) of its two-point attempts, however St. Philip had an even hotter shooting quarter (67 percent), resulting in a 28-23 Tiger lead at halftime.
While C-S held the visitors to just one two-point basket in the third quarter, the Tigers dropped in two triples and made two more free throws to expand the lead to 39-32 entering the fourth quarter.
C-S finished shooting 50 percent (14-28) from two-point range and made just 2-of-15 three-point attempts. The Panthers committed 23 turnovers.
St. Philip made 43 percent of its two-point attempts (13-30) but were accurate on 4-of-16 three-point attempts.
Battle Creek St. Phil 9 19 11 9 - 48
Climax-Scotts 3 20 9 13 - 45
Chase VanMiddlesworth 6, Tyler Smith 4, Ivan Abad-Reyes 3, Gage Champion 11, Miles Shannon 21
Free throws: C-S 11-22/Battle Creek St. Phil 10-18
3-point baskets: C-S 2 (Tyler Smith 1, Ivan Abad-Reyes 1/B.C. St. Phil 4 (Jackson Dzwik 4)
C-S Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Miles Shannon 13, Chase VanMiddlesworth 6
Steals: Ivan Abad-Reyes 3
Assists: Miles Shannon 2
C-S, which trailed 39-32 after three quarters, reduced the deficit to 39-38 on a basket by Miles Shannon with 4:08 left after Gage Champion scored a basket earlier and Chase VanMiddlesworth sank two free throws.
St. Phil answered with two baskets, however VanMiddlesworth scored with 2:43 left to pull C-S to within three points (43-40).
The Tigers were able to widen the lead to six points with three free throws, however Tyler Smith’s three-point basket with 30.6 seconds left pulled C-S back to within three (45-43).
Carter Dzwik split a pair of free throws to give the Tigers a 47-43 lead with 21.3 seconds left.
A Miles Shannon basket with 3.1 seconds left gave C-S one a glimmer of hope, but the Tigers got the ball in bounds, were fouled and Jackson Dzwik secured the win with a free throw followed by a long missed shot by the Panters at the horn.
Nine turnovers and just 1-for-7 shooting from two-point range led to a 9-3 deficit after one quarter.
C-S’ shooting picked up considerably in the second quarter when the team dropped in 63 percent (5-of-8) of its two-point attempts, however St. Philip had an even hotter shooting quarter (67 percent), resulting in a 28-23 Tiger lead at halftime.
While C-S held the visitors to just one two-point basket in the third quarter, the Tigers dropped in two triples and made two more free throws to expand the lead to 39-32 entering the fourth quarter.
C-S finished shooting 50 percent (14-28) from two-point range and made just 2-of-15 three-point attempts. The Panthers committed 23 turnovers.
St. Philip made 43 percent of its two-point attempts (13-30) but were accurate on 4-of-16 three-point attempts.
Battle Creek St. Phil 9 19 11 9 - 48
Climax-Scotts 3 20 9 13 - 45
Chase VanMiddlesworth 6, Tyler Smith 4, Ivan Abad-Reyes 3, Gage Champion 11, Miles Shannon 21
Free throws: C-S 11-22/Battle Creek St. Phil 10-18
3-point baskets: C-S 2 (Tyler Smith 1, Ivan Abad-Reyes 1/B.C. St. Phil 4 (Jackson Dzwik 4)
C-S Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Miles Shannon 13, Chase VanMiddlesworth 6
Steals: Ivan Abad-Reyes 3
Assists: Miles Shannon 2
