C-S cross country runners end season with
personal record times at regionals
Climax-Scotts sophomore Zachree Roebuck and freshman Dalyn Bogard both set personal records at the Division 4 cross country regional meet at Portage Central High School October 26.
Roebuck eclipsed his previous best time by more then 1:40 (26:22.2), running the course in 24:41.41. He finished in 65th place.
Kalamazoo Hackett placed first with 45 points.
Bogard was the only C-S runner to compete in the girls race, posting a personal record time of 24:48.37 in 25th place. She improved on her previous best time (25:47.8) by just over one minute.
Kalamazoo Hackett were regional champions with 25 points.
Division 4 Regionals at Portage Central High School
Boys
C-S Results
65-Zachree Roebuck, 24:41.41
Girls
25-Dalyn Bogard, 24:48.37
C-S and Mendon are familiar with each other
Panthers host Hornets Friday in playoff opener
By Bruce Rolfe
After facing each other in a classic regular season game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds October 18, Climax-Scotts and Mendon will square off again in the 8-man Division 1 playoff opener Friday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at C-S High School.
The winner of the regional semifinal game will advance to play the winner of the Martin (7-1) Gobles (9-0) game in the regional championship game November 8 or 9.
The playoff opener at C-S is expected to be another close battle, with Mendon looking to answer a 46-44 loss to C-S October 18 in a game that determined the SCAA West Division championship for C-S.
The October 18 loss to C-S was Mendon’s only loss this season and the outcome wasn’t determined until the final seconds.
Mendon moved in front in that game 44-38 with 4:30 left in the game.
However the Panthers, fueled by a big fourth down conversion play on a reverse Chase VanMiddlesworth ran for a first down, came back to tie the game and score the crucial two-point conversion with 55.3 seconds left.
Mendon moved to its own 45-yard line, but C-S held off the visitors and ran out the clock for the win.
C-S coach Tyler Langs said avoiding turnovers and making the big play will be two keys in the rematch on a bigger stage Friday.
“We’ve got to get some stops. The last time we played them we had one defensive stop. Their drives were 13, 14 plays long. We didn’t make any big plays so we’ve got to get some stops. Make some big plays. Offensively, we made some big plays, defensively we’ve got to make some of those big plays. If we can take care of the football and make a few big plays, if that’s our recipe, we can hang with them,” adds the C-S coach.
There’s a long regular season and playoff history between the two former SJV rivals, with Mendon enjoying most of the success until recently.
An 8-6 pre-district playoff win the 2015 Panther team registered over Mendon ended nearly 38 years of frustration and 30 straight losses to Mendon including seven consecutive playoff losses.
C-S also defeated Mendon in 2023 (58-28), in the only other 8-man regular season clash between the schools before this season’s Panther win.
Mendon defeated C-S in the playoffs in 1992 (33-14), 2003 (28-22), 2005 (22-0), 2011 (35-10), 2012 (28-6), 2013 (13-0), and 2014 (35-8) before C-S ended the drought in the 2015 playoffs. C-S also defeated Mendon in the second round of the playoffs in 2016 (28-14), lost to the Hornets in 2017 (14-6) and lost to Mendon in the 2022 8-man playoff opener (44-18).
Both schools also have significant playoff experience.
Friday’s playoff opener will be C-S’ 22nd straight playoff appearance. Overall, C-S has qualified for the playoffs 25 years. C-S’ lone State Championship was in 2004.
Mendon is enjoying an 18th straight year qualifying for the playoffs, however the Hornets have had many years of playoff success.
The Hornets have qualified for the playoffs 39 years, winning the state title 11 times and settling for the runnerup trophy two times.
“We know each other. We know exactly what to expect. It’s going to be a hard football game. The nice thing is it will be Friday at 7 at our place. That’s obviously an advantage against a really good team like Mendon. The boys are excited. For us, the concentration today (Sunday) is film and then Friday’s game home against Mendon,” said Langs.
The semifinals are November 15 or 16 and the 8-Player Finals will take place Nov. 23 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette.
By Bruce Rolfe
After facing each other in a classic regular season game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds October 18, Climax-Scotts and Mendon will square off again in the 8-man Division 1 playoff opener Friday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at C-S High School.
The winner of the regional semifinal game will advance to play the winner of the Martin (7-1) Gobles (9-0) game in the regional championship game November 8 or 9.
The playoff opener at C-S is expected to be another close battle, with Mendon looking to answer a 46-44 loss to C-S October 18 in a game that determined the SCAA West Division championship for C-S.
The October 18 loss to C-S was Mendon’s only loss this season and the outcome wasn’t determined until the final seconds.
Mendon moved in front in that game 44-38 with 4:30 left in the game.
However the Panthers, fueled by a big fourth down conversion play on a reverse Chase VanMiddlesworth ran for a first down, came back to tie the game and score the crucial two-point conversion with 55.3 seconds left.
Mendon moved to its own 45-yard line, but C-S held off the visitors and ran out the clock for the win.
C-S coach Tyler Langs said avoiding turnovers and making the big play will be two keys in the rematch on a bigger stage Friday.
“We’ve got to get some stops. The last time we played them we had one defensive stop. Their drives were 13, 14 plays long. We didn’t make any big plays so we’ve got to get some stops. Make some big plays. Offensively, we made some big plays, defensively we’ve got to make some of those big plays. If we can take care of the football and make a few big plays, if that’s our recipe, we can hang with them,” adds the C-S coach.
There’s a long regular season and playoff history between the two former SJV rivals, with Mendon enjoying most of the success until recently.
An 8-6 pre-district playoff win the 2015 Panther team registered over Mendon ended nearly 38 years of frustration and 30 straight losses to Mendon including seven consecutive playoff losses.
C-S also defeated Mendon in 2023 (58-28), in the only other 8-man regular season clash between the schools before this season’s Panther win.
Mendon defeated C-S in the playoffs in 1992 (33-14), 2003 (28-22), 2005 (22-0), 2011 (35-10), 2012 (28-6), 2013 (13-0), and 2014 (35-8) before C-S ended the drought in the 2015 playoffs. C-S also defeated Mendon in the second round of the playoffs in 2016 (28-14), lost to the Hornets in 2017 (14-6) and lost to Mendon in the 2022 8-man playoff opener (44-18).
Both schools also have significant playoff experience.
Friday’s playoff opener will be C-S’ 22nd straight playoff appearance. Overall, C-S has qualified for the playoffs 25 years. C-S’ lone State Championship was in 2004.
Mendon is enjoying an 18th straight year qualifying for the playoffs, however the Hornets have had many years of playoff success.
The Hornets have qualified for the playoffs 39 years, winning the state title 11 times and settling for the runnerup trophy two times.
“We know each other. We know exactly what to expect. It’s going to be a hard football game. The nice thing is it will be Friday at 7 at our place. That’s obviously an advantage against a really good team like Mendon. The boys are excited. For us, the concentration today (Sunday) is film and then Friday’s game home against Mendon,” said Langs.
The semifinals are November 15 or 16 and the 8-Player Finals will take place Nov. 23 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette.
C-S senior Luke Lawrence set a new school record in 8-man football last
Friday by rushing for 339 yards. Chad Borden also rushed for 339 yards
in 11-man football in a 1990 game for C-S.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
Record setting night for Luke Lawrence
Panther senior’s 339 yards rushing sets school record in
8-man football; scores 5 touchdowns in 63-14 win over Pittsford
8-man football; scores 5 touchdowns in 63-14 win over Pittsford
By Bruce Rolfe
Last Friday’s 63-14 win over Pittsford at Climax-Scotts Jr./Sr. High School on senior-parent night not only gave the Climax-Scotts varsity football team a satisfying 8-1 regular season finish, but it turned out to be a historic night as well.
Panther senior Luke Lawrence became the school record holder for 8-man football when he ran for an incredible 339 yards on 13 carries while scoring five touchdowns.
Chad Borden is the 11-man school record holder, also with 339 yards. Borden set the record in a 48-20 C-S win over North Adams-Jerome October 19, 1990 when he rushed for 339 yards on 23 carries.
Touchdown runs of 49, 43, 90 and 24 yards, along with a 48-yard run that set up a touchdown, were big contributors to the school record rushing total.
A humble Lawrence was happy to set a school record, but quick to deflect the attention to the offensive line.
“Those yards can’t happen without the corner stone of our offense, the ‘O’ line and coach langs putting their defense in a quandary,” said the C-S running back.
It was the fourth time the Panther offensive juggernaut has scored 60 points or more, and the fourth straight win over the Wildcats in the series.
The Panthers dialed up their game on both sides of the ball last Friday.
C-S marched out to a 22-6 lead after one quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Lawrence following a 48-yard run by the Panther senior on the first play from scrimmage (Lawrence ran in the two-point conversion), a 26-yard pass play from C-S quarterback Logan Gilbert to Hunter LaSala that was set up by a beautiful 42-yard punt return by Chase VanMiddlesworth (Jackson Bagwell ran in the two-point conversion), and a 49-yard touchdown run by Lawrence (the two-point conversion attempt was no good).
Pittsford (7-2) scored its first quarter touchdown when quarterback Jacob Drawe found an open Teagan Williams in the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown strike with 3:56 left in the opening quarter (the two-point conversion was no good).
The pesky Wildcats scored what would be their final points of the game on a two-yard touchdown run by Drawe and two-point conversion on a pass from Drawe to Noah Pann with 10:45 left in the second quarter, reducing C-S’ lead to 22-14.
C-S closed the first half strong when Lawrence scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 43-yard run around the left side with 1:50 left in the second quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, but C-S enjoyed a 28-14 lead at halftime.
While C-S coach Tyler Langs was pleased to have a 28-14 lead, however he turned the lockerroom over to his seniors to discuss the first half at halftime.
“I did something I don’t normally do and had the seniors break us down at halftime. Just talk a little bit to their team. And whatever they said came out and it ends up 63-14. For our seniors, it means a lot. I told them, for some people it’s a sad time, it’s the end of the year. But I said they should be excited because everything you’ve worked for leads up to this right now. So congratulations to our seniors. It will be fun to go into the playoffs,” said the Panther coach.
The halftime talk by the seniors proved to be very inspiring, as the Panthers enjoyed some separation in the third quarter by scoring three touchdowns for a 50-14 lead after three quarters.
With Pittsford threatening, a Chase VanMiddlesworth interception at the C-S 2-yard line started the big quarter for the home team.
Three plays later Lawrence broke loose for a big 90-yard touchdown run with 6:39 left in the third quarter (Gilbert passed to Maddox Wyman on the two-point conversion).
Later in the quarter Gilbert hooked up with VanMiddlesworth for a 82-yard touchdown pass play with 4:15 left in the quarter (Lawrence ran in the two-point conversion), and then Lawrence scored again at the 2:43 mark on a 24-yard burst (there was a fumble on the extra point kick attempt) and the Panthers led by a 50-14 margin entering the fourth quarter.
The C-S offense wasn’t done yet.
With a running clock, Jackson Bagwell scored on a one-yard run with 9:40 left in the game (the extra point kick attempt was no good) and then Dane Sattler scored on a 13-yard run followed by a successful extra point kick by Liam LaSala to close out the scoring.
C-S racked up 423 yards rushing and 532 yards in total offense.
Chase VanMiddlesworth had 139 all purpose yards, and Gilbert completed 2 of 3 passes for 109 yards.
Lawrence added five tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Jackson Bagwell had seven tackles including six solo tackles, Maddox Wyman added six tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, and VanMiddlesworth had two interceptions and one forced fumble with two tackles.
Comeback win over G-A sends C-S volleyball
team into regular season finale, districts
with momentum
By Bruce Rolfe
Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball coach Angela Gilbert has seen great potential in her team, however she’s especially eager to see how her team answers challenges.
Her team responded to an early 2-0 deficit and a late seven-point deficit in the third game against Galesburg-Augusta with grittiness, hard work and playing together as a team that led to a win in five games Monday at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
With the district tournaments approaching next week at Climax-Scotts, the Lady Panthers couldn’t have picked a better time to register an emotional comeback win over Galesburg-Augusta Monday on senior-parent night, 12-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-11.
C-S seniors Lylah Parrish and Ashlynn Bradley were recognized with their parents before the game. Parrish was also recognized for reaching 1000 career digs earlier this season.
C-S got off to a rough start in the first set and trailed all the way. The Lady Panthers fell behind 7-0 and the closest the home team got was 9-5 before the Rams pulled away for a 25-12 win.
The second game was much closer. C-S’ largest lead was four points (17-13 and 18-14) while G-A enjoyed two three-point advantages, 23-20 and the final score 25-22.
When G-A pulled in front 21-14 in the third set, the challenge seemed to inspire the Lady Panthers, something Gilbert was pleased to see.
“I told them in that third game, it’s a choice. It’s either fight, or flight. You’re going to either decide to fight for it, and go hard no matter what, or you can just lose. And they chose to fight. It was they were all just together. Together as a team. They back each other up, they don’t get down on themselves. You could see that in the first two games, where they started kind of getting individualized and not working as a team. Come that third (game) and they realized, we’ve got to do it. We just keep chipping. Sometimes when we stay mentally strong we can be impressive,”said the C-S coach.
C-S registered six of the next eight points in the third game to pull to within 23-20, but the Rams came within one point of securing the game and match win on a C-S hitting error that gave the visitors a 24-20 lead.
C-S battled back to tie the score at 24-24 on a hitting error and then secured the 26-24 win by scoring the next two points.
The fourth set was close as well, however C-S led most of the way after breaking a 10-10 tie with four straight points.
The Rams caught C-S and tied the game 21-21, however a kill by Adalynn Reeves gave C-S a 24-22 lead and the home team finished off the win after G-A pulled to 24-23.
G-A took an 11-9 lead in the deciding fifth game, however C-S closed out the game and match by scoring the next six points with Kendal Reitz serving.
The Lady Panthers host the districts next week, facing the winner of the Calhoun Christian-Marcellus district match in the district semifinals November 6 at 7 p.m.
Holly Talbert had seven kills, Ashlynn Gilbert had a team high 28 assists and led the team with 15 digs, Kendal Reitz had three aces, and Mackenzie had two blocks.
C-S Def. G-A12-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-11
C-S Stat Leaders
Total Kills: 31 - Holly Talbert 7, Sophie Braithwaite 6, Mackenzie Vincent 6, Addy Reeves 5, Kendal Reitz 5, Ashlynn Gilbert 2
Total Assists: 30 - Gilbert 28, Lylah Parrish 2
Total Aces: 10 - Kendal Reitz 3, Braithwaite 2, Parrish 2, Vincent 2, Gilbert 1
Total Blocks: 4 - Vincent 2, Braithwaite 1 and 1 assist, Reeves 1 assist
Total Digs: 65 - Gilbert 15, Parrish 14, Holly Talbert 10, Braithwaite 10, Reitz 7, Reeves 5, Jane Carillo 4
Lady Panthers Down North Adams in 3rd Place Division Battle;
Finish 5th Place Overall in SCAA
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team defeated North Adams-Jerome in a crossover match between the third place SCAA East Division and West Division teams October 24 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School, giving C-S an overall finish of fifth place in the league.
The gritty Rams pushed C-S, but the Lady Panthers won in three games, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23.
C-S junior Sophie Braithwaite had a team high 12 kills, Ashlynn Gilbert led the team with 31 assists and three aces, and sophomore outside hitter Kendal Reitz had a team high 13
digs.
SCAA Crossover Match
C-S Def. North Adams-Jerome, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 5 kills, 1 assist, 9 digs/Sophie Braithwaite - 2 aces, 12 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 6 digs/Lylah Parrish - 1 ace, 1 kill, 8 digs/Kendal Reitz - 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 assist, 13 digs/Jane Carillo - 4 digs/Mackenzie Vincent - 1 ace, 5 kills, 3 digs/Ashlynn Gilbert - 3 aces, 1 kill, 31 assists, 4 digs/Adalynn Reeves - 1 ace, 9 kills, 1 block, 6 digs
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team defeated North Adams-Jerome in a crossover match between the third place SCAA East Division and West Division teams October 24 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School, giving C-S an overall finish of fifth place in the league.
The gritty Rams pushed C-S, but the Lady Panthers won in three games, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23.
C-S junior Sophie Braithwaite had a team high 12 kills, Ashlynn Gilbert led the team with 31 assists and three aces, and sophomore outside hitter Kendal Reitz had a team high 13
digs.
SCAA Crossover Match
C-S Def. North Adams-Jerome, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 5 kills, 1 assist, 9 digs/Sophie Braithwaite - 2 aces, 12 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 6 digs/Lylah Parrish - 1 ace, 1 kill, 8 digs/Kendal Reitz - 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 assist, 13 digs/Jane Carillo - 4 digs/Mackenzie Vincent - 1 ace, 5 kills, 3 digs/Ashlynn Gilbert - 3 aces, 1 kill, 31 assists, 4 digs/Adalynn Reeves - 1 ace, 9 kills, 1 block, 6 digs
C-S Downs Heritage Christian in 3 Games
The Lady Panthers defeated Kalamazoo Heritage Christian in three games October 22 on the road, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17.
Sophie Braithwaite had a team high eight kills to go with 14 digs, Lylah Parrish had a team high 15 digs and led the team with five aces and Ashlynn Gilbert had a team high 27 assists to go with seven digs.
C-S Def. Kalamazoo Heritage Christian, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 1 ace, 6 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs/Sophie Braithwaite - 1 ace, 8 kills, 14 digs/Lylah Parrish - 5 aces, 1 assist, 15 digs/Kendal Reitz - 5 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 7 digs/Mackenzie Vincent - 7 kills, 1 block, 1 dig/ Michaella Carillo - 1 dig/Ashlynn Gilbert - 2 aces, 1 kill, 27 assists, 7 digs/Adalynn Reeves - 6 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 4 digs
The Lady Panthers defeated Kalamazoo Heritage Christian in three games October 22 on the road, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17.
Sophie Braithwaite had a team high eight kills to go with 14 digs, Lylah Parrish had a team high 15 digs and led the team with five aces and Ashlynn Gilbert had a team high 27 assists to go with seven digs.
C-S Def. Kalamazoo Heritage Christian, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17
C-S Stats
Holly Talbert - 1 ace, 6 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs/Sophie Braithwaite - 1 ace, 8 kills, 14 digs/Lylah Parrish - 5 aces, 1 assist, 15 digs/Kendal Reitz - 5 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 7 digs/Mackenzie Vincent - 7 kills, 1 block, 1 dig/ Michaella Carillo - 1 dig/Ashlynn Gilbert - 2 aces, 1 kill, 27 assists, 7 digs/Adalynn Reeves - 6 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 4 digs
C-S seniors and their parents were recognized before Monday’s match against G-A. Pictured left to right is GG Bradley and Matt Bradley, senior Ashlynn Bradley, senior Lylah Parrish and Kristy and Doug Parrish.
