The Galesburg-Augusta girls JV basketball team bounced back quickly from a 44-10 loss to Vicksburg January 28 the next day with a 48-36 win over Holland Black River at Holland Black River High School.
G-A, now 4-6, was led by Kaylin Wetzel’s 12 points in scoring. Brooklynn Krontz and Claire Callender each added eight points.

The Lady Rams suffered a 44-10 loss to Vicksburg January 28 at G-A High School.

Individual highlights were not available.

The Galesburg-Augusta boys JV basketball team held off a late push by Climax-Scotts to secure a 39-35 win over the Panthers February 2 at G-A High School to remain undefeated.

G-A, now 14-0, led by a 33-27 count entering the fourth quarter but the visitors pulled to within 35-33 with 1:18 left.

G-A’s Vincent Finedell scored a basket and was fouled with 34.3 seconds left. He missed the free throw but the home team led 37-33 and held on for the win.

G-A trailed 12-11 after one quarter, but Connor Welker scored 10 points in the second quarter, helping the Rams move in front 29-19 at halftime.

C-S crept to within 33-28 after three quarters.

Welker finished with 15 points and Jerome Bailey chipped in with 14 points.

Climax-Scotts        12   7  9 7 - 35 
Galesburg-Augusta 11 18 4 6 - 39
Climax-Scotts: Alexander Albarran-Aguilar 11, Dustin Crandall 3, Ashton Heighton 11, Bryce Srackangast 1, Brayden Vick 2, Aaden Krick 7
Galesburg-Augusta: Jerome Bailey 14, Colton Weenick 2, Connor Welker 15, Lucas Broxholm 2, Caden Allie 2, Vincent Finedell 4
Free throws: G-A 8-22
3-point baskets: G-A 1 (Connor Welker 1)

G-A Holds off Holland Black River

The Galesburg-Augusta JV boys basketball team held off Holland Black River 40-32 January 29 at Holland Black River.

Vincent Finedell led G-A in scoring with 12 points.

G-A Defeats Vicksburg

The Galesburg-Augusta boys JV basketball team erased a double figure first half deficit to post a 46-39 win over Vicksburg January 28 at G-A High School.

G-A trailed the Bulldogs by 10 points at halftime but found a way to win.

Vincent Finedell scored 15 points, Jerome Bailey scored 13 points, and Connor Welker added 11 points.

The Galesburg-Augusta wrestling team had five placers at the Tri-County Invite at Plainwell January 31.

Kameron Prince (285-pound weight class) placed fourth, and Jaxsen Ray (138), Jaxsen Kasten (106), Colton Robertson (144) and Breckin Vickery (126) each placed sixth.

Prince won two matches by pins in 3:00 and 1:15 respectively.

Ray won two matches by a technical fall in 2:44 and pin in 1:32. Kasten won two matches by pins in 3:25 and 2:00. Robertson won two matches by pins in 1:49 and 2:23. Vickery won two matches, one by a pin in 57 seconds and the other by a 7-5 decision.

Tri-County Invite At Plainwell

1-Allegan 254.5, 2-Gull Lake 211.5, 3-Plainwell 206.5, 4-Schoolcraft 149, 5-Portage Central 106, 6-Vicksburg 95, 7-Loy Norrix 65.5, 8-Mendon 63.5, 9-G-A 62.5, 10-Comstock 59.6, 11-Kalamazoo Central 57.5, 12-Ada Forest Hills Easter 44, 13-Barry County Christian 20, 14-Martin 14, 15-Hastings 0, 15-Otsego 0

G-A Wins 2 at SAC Double Dual

The Rams were also in action January 28 in a double dual at Parchment and claimed two wins.

G-A defeated Coloma 59-24 and Watervliet, 53-24.

Winning matches for G-A against Coloma was Owen Cowles (126), by a pin in 2:56, Jonah Ranes (175) by a 16-1 technical fall, Lavell Cody (190) by a pin in 1:05, Kameron Prince (185) by a pin in 1:03 and Jaxsen Ray (138), Colton Robertson (144), Lance Shoup (150), Alexis Thomas (157), Caitlyn Valadez (165) and Jaxsen Kasten (106) all won by forfeits.

G-A’s wins in the victory over Watervliet came from Jaxsen Kasten (106), by a pin in 1:46, Owen Cowles (126) by a pin in 8 seconds, Jaxsen Ray (138), by a pin in 32 seconds, Colton Robertson (144), by a pin in 3:14, Lance Shoup (150) by a 16-1 technical fall, Kameron Prince (285) by a pin in 1:03 and Lincoln Hawes (132), Jonah Ranes (165) and Cody Lavel (175) all by forfeits.

G-A 59, Coloma 24
113: BRYCE CARTWRIGHT (COLOMA) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 120: BRODY ASHLEY (COLOMA) over Donaven Tiffany (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:30); 126: Owen Cowles (GALEAUG) over CAIN FONSECA (COLOMA) (Fall 2:56); 132: KOBE TANNER (COLOMA) over Lincoln Hawes (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:07); 138: Jaxsen Ray (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.); 144: Colton Robertson (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.); 150: Lance Shoup (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.); 157: Alexis Thomas (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.); 165: Caitlyn Valadez (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.); 175: Jonah Ranes (GALEAUG) over KALEB ADAMS (COLOMA) (TF 16-1 0:00); 190: Lavell Cody (GALEAUG) over LIAM CONTRERAS (COLOMA) (Fall 1:05); 215: JOE CLAYTON (COLOMA) over Nathaniel Ellis (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:02); 285: Kameron Prince (GALEAUG) over HAYDEN KISER (COLOMA) (Fall 1:03); 106: Jaxsen Kasten (GALEAUG) over (COLOMA) (For.)

G-A 53, Watervliet 24
106: Jaxsen Kasten (GALEAUG) over Blaine Bishop (WTRVLIET) (Fall 1:46); 113: Madalein myers (WTRVLIET) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 120: JT Isbrecht (WTRVLIET) over Donaven Tiffany (GALEAUG) (Fall 2:27); 126: Owen Cowles (GALEAUG) over Evan Owens (WTRVLIET) (Fall 0:08); 132: Lincoln Hawes (GALEAUG) over (WTRVLIET) (For.); 138: Jaxsen Ray (GALEAUG) over Brooklyn Woollett (WTRVLIET) (Fall 0:32); 144: Colton Robertson (GALEAUG) over Ezequiel Cardozo-Avilies (WTRVLIET) (Fall 3:14); 150: Lance Shoup (GALEAUG) over Sam Roland (WTRVLIET) (TF 16-1 0:00); 157: Gavin Leiter (WTRVLIET) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 165: Jonah Ranes (GALEAUG) over (WTRVLIET) (For.); 175: Cody Lavel (GALEAUG) over (WTRVLIET) (For.); 190: Joshua Koch (WTRVLIET) over Nathaniel Ellis (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:26); 215: Double Forfeit; 285: Kameron Prince (GALEAUG) over Donald Milham (WTRVLIET) (Fall 1:03)

By Bruce Rolfe

Galesburg-Augusta girls varsity basketball coach Katlyn Dunithan admits practices and games getting cancelled because of weather, can create segments of sloppy play and bring higher turnover numbers than normal.

But Dunithan was pleased how her team focused on the next play and closed out Holland Black River despite not playing one of its better games in a 51-25 Snowcoming win January 30 at G-A High School.

“I think it’s the consistency of practice, honestly. Being on and off, on and off. All these stinking snow days. We need the consistency to make sure that we don’t make those sloppy mistakes. And we can go after that. They do a great job making sure that they’re resilient and when they do make a mistake, then going next play. Next play coach. Okay, I’ll get it. My bad coach. I get the next play. And just making sure that if they did something bad on offense, then defense they make that up,” points out the Lady Ram coach, who has seen her team get off to an 8-3 start. 

Senior Grace Gibson said when there are segments of a game the team isn’t clicking, the conversation turns to getting better on the next play.

“We always do that, and our coach really makes an emphasis on it. So I think it really makes us feel better,” said the G-A senior.

While Gibson finished with a career high 21 points, Dunithan was pleased there were other contributors throughout the lineup. She said every player scored except three, adding little contributions can play important roles in a win.

“Jeni Klimp, we kind of switched her to go down low for us to get some rebounds, because she’s so great at getting high off the floor with her jump. She contributed a lot to the game. We’re working on it still,” said Dunithan. 

Gibson, who scored six straight points in the third quarter to help G-A pull away, said she feels much more confident on the floor this year.

“Definitely, 100 percent. Since my freshman year, I probably didn’t shoot the ball very much,” said the G-A senior.

G-A began the game with an 11-0 run behind Gibson’s eight points. Four more points from Jeni Klimp and Brooklyn James, two from Emily Coleman and Alexander gave G-A a 20-7 lead after one quarter.

G-A’s offense cooled slightly in the second quarter and the home team settled for a 28-14 lead at halftime.

Gibson got hot in the third quarter, scoring six straight points, and Rayonna Alexander added seven, helping the Rams build a 41-19 lead after three quarters.

The Ram defense was strong as well, holding Black River scoreless over a six-minute period extending into the fourth quarter while scoring 16 unanswered points to build the lead to 46-19.

Gibson added five more points in the fourth quarter.

The Rams connected on 33.3 percent (20-60) of their floor shots overall, including a 4-for-10 effort from three-point range.

Alexander added 9 points and Klimp and James each finished with 7 points.

Klimp pulled down nine rebounds and Kayla Bortolussi and Emily Coleman each had seven boards.

Dale Martin contributed to this report.

Holland Black River 7 7  5  6 - 25
Galesburg-Augusta 20 8 13 10 - 51
Grace Gibson 21, Jilaya Henry-Phillips 1, Rayonna Alexander 9, Lexi Coburn 1, Jeni Klimp 7, Emily Coleman 2, Brooklyn James 7, Kayla Bortolussi 2, Wende Trines 1
Free throws: G-A 7-16/Holland Black River 1-6
3-point baskets: G-A 4 (Grace Gibson 2, Rayonna Alexander 1, Brooklyn James 1)/Holland Black River 2 (Meghan Davis 2)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Jeni Klimp 9, Emily Coleman 7, Kayla Bortolussi 7, Brooklyn James 6, Lexi Coburn 5, Grace Gibson 4
Assists: Grace Gibson 3, Rayonna Alexander 3, Brooklyn James 2
Steals: Brooklyn James 3, Wende Trines 2, Emily coleman 2, Jeni Klimp 2, Lexi Coburn 2, Rayonna Alexander 2, Jilaya Henry-Phillips 2, Grace Gibson 2

Vicksburg Holds off G-A

By Dale Martin

While the Galesburg-Augusta girls varsity basketball team remained close with a strong effort in all four quarters, Vicksburg was able to hold off the Rams 44-34 January 28 at G-A High School in a non-league game.

 Vicksburg outscored G-A in every quarter, 10-8, 11-8, 13-9 and 10-9. 

Grace Gibson’s six first quarter points kept the Rams close.

G-A trailed 5-1 early, however a 7-0 run gave the Rams their only lead of the game 8-6 with 1 minute to play in  the first quarter.

The two teams traded short runs in the second quarter. All but two second quarter points came from the free throw line. G-A’s Rayonna Alexander hit 3 of 4 free throws, Gibson was 2-for-2 and Jenisyn Klimp was 1-of-2.

Gibson, G-A’s leading scorer, was whistled for her second foul of the first half and sat most of the second quarter.

Vicksburg took a 21-16 lead into halftime.

Vicksburg extended the lead to 28-18 midway through the third quarter, however a 5-0 run by G-A closed the gap to 23-28. A 4-0  run by the Bulldogs extended their lead to 9 points at the end of the period, 34-25.

The visitors enjoyed an 11-point lead, their biggest lead of the game, early in the fourth quarter.

 The Rams cut the lead to five points 38-33 with three minutes to play, however the home team managed to score only a free throw the rest of the way and Vicksburg ended the game with a basket, a three pointer and a free throw to close out the score, 44-34.

Gibson scored 11 points and had four steals and Rayonna Alexander also scored 11 points to go with two assists and three steals to lead G-A.

G-A made just 2-of-11 three-point attempts and was 7-for-44 (16 percent) from two-point range.

Vicksburg               10 11 13 19 - 44
Galesburg-Augusta   8  8   9   9 - 34
Grace Gibson 11, Rayonna Alexander 11, Jeni Klimp 8, Brooklyn James 2, Kayla Bortolussi 2
Free throws: G-A 14-19/Vicksburg 12-20
3-point baskets: G-A 2 (Grace Gibson 1, Rayonna Alexander 1)/Vicksburg 4 (C. Rosier 2, R. Caswell 1, E. Lincoln 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Brooklyn James 7, Emily Coleman 7, Jenisyn Klimp 6, Lexi Coburn 4
Assists: Emily Coleman 2, Rayonna Alexander 2
Steals: Emily Coleman 5, Grace Gibson 4, Rayonna Alexander 3
Blocked shots: Brooklyn James 2, Kayla Bortolussi 1

By Bruce Rolfe

As the season gets deeper into the second half, Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball coach Brian Dolph is looking for consistent, positive patterns.

It’s been a season of inconsistencies so far for G-A, but the Rams enjoyed a positive stretch recently by recording wins over Holland Black River January 30 and Climax-Scotts February 2 to move to 6-7.

While G-A struggled offensively at times, the Rams enjoyed a strong rebounding night and closed out the pesky Panthers with a solid defensive effort in the fourth quarter February 2 in a very physical game.

“I think we played hard. I think we gave a great effort. I think we just have a lot of things that we need to clean up in order to be consistent,” points out Dolph.

With the exception of one time in the second quarter at the 2:52 mark when C-S took an 18-17 lead, the Rams led the entire game.

G-A took a 31-28 lead into the fourth quarter and led by just one point early when C-S’ Dane Sattler scored four seconds into the final quarter.

However G-A’s defense and rebounding took over.

G-A held the Panthers without a point for the next 4:25 and the Rams took a 38-30 lead with 4:02 left on a fast break basket by Hunter Pritchard.

C-S pulled to within 38-32 on Dane Sattler’s basket with 3:31 left, however G-A’s defense held C-S without a point again for the next 3:11 and the offense tacked on nine more points to open up a 47-32 advantage with 45.4 seconds left in the game.

G-A led by a 15-7 margin after one quarter but C-S came storming back to tie the game 19-19 at halftime.

Giovanni Evans scored 16 points to go with nine rebounds and four steals to lead the Rams.

Patrick Armock pulled down 11 rebounds.

Tye Chambers’ 12 points and seven rebounds led C-S.

G-A enjoyed a strong rebounding night, outrebounding C-S 51-34, including a 19-12 upper hand under the offensive glass.

G-A connected on 35.1 percent (20-57) of its attempts from the floor overall, including a 2-for-19 mark (10.5 percent) from long distance. G-A shot much better from two-point range, making 47.4 percent (18-38) of its attempts.

Climax-Scotts          7 12  9   6 - 34
Galesburg-Augusta 15 4 12 18  - 49

CLIMAX-SCOTTS: Dane Sattler 9, Blake Wechsler 1, Tye Chambers 12, Liam LaSala 9, Nyle Sattler 3
Free throws: 4-14
3-point baskets: 2 (Dane Sattler 1, Nyle Sattler 1)
C-S Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Tye Chambers 7, Liam LaSala 6, Maddox Wyman 6, Dane Sattler 5
Steals: Liam LaSala 4, Nyle Sattler 3
Assists: Dane Sattler 2, Blake Wechsler 2, Tye Chambers 2
Blocked shots: Dane Sattler 2, Tye Chambers 2

GALESBURG-AUGUSTA: Gavin Lock 2, Ethan Metty 3, Dontrell Bowden 7, Gio Evans 16, Patrick Armock 4, Hunter Pritchard 9, Hayden Pritchard 8
Free throws: 7-18
3-point baskets: 2 (Hayden Pritchard 1, Ethan Metty 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Patrick Armock 11, Giovanni Evans 9, Dontrell Bowden 6, Hunter Pritchard 5
Assists: Hunter Pritchard 2, Dontrell Bowden 2
Steals: Giovanni Evans 4
Blocked shots: Patrick Armock 2

G-A Snaps 3-Game Skid

A strong effort under the boards and a balanced scoring attack helped the Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball team to a 64-45 win over Holland Black River January 30 at G-A High School on Snowcoming.

The win ended a three-game losing skid.

Holland Black River trailed by a 26-23 margin at halftime, but a strong defensive effort and G-A’s biggest offensive output of the game in the third quarter helped G-A pull away.

The Rams took a 46-31 lead into the fourth quarter. 

G-A enjoyed a big night under the boards, pulling down 42, including 19 under the offensive glass where G-A enjoyed many baskets in close.

Three Rams scored in double figures, with Giovanni Evans’ 21 points leading the way. Dontrell Bowden added 12 points and Hayden Pritchard added 10 points.

G-A knocked down 40.8 percent (29-71) of its floor attempts overall, including a 4-for-17 mark from the three-point line.

Patrick Armock, who pulled down four offensive boards, finished with nine rebounds. Bowden, who had five offensive rebounds, and Evans each snagged eight rebounds.

Holland Black River    9  14 8 14 - 45
Galesburg-Augusta    14 12 20 18 - 64
Gavin Lock 5, Ethan Metty 5, Dontrell Bowden 12, Gio Evans 21, Michael Abuga 2, Patrick Armock 6, Hunter Pritchard 3, Hayden Pritchard 10
Free throws: G-A 2-7/Holland Black River 14-22
3-point baskets: G-A 4 (Gavin Lock 1, Ethan Metty 1, Hunter Pritchard 1, Hayden Pritchard 1)/Holland Black River 1 (Jamison Huizenga 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Patrick Armock 9, Giovanni Evans 8, Dontrell Bowden 8, Hunter Pritchard 4
Assists: Dontrell Bowden 3
Steals: Dontrell Bowden 2
Blocked shots: Patrick Armock 3, Hayden Pritchard 3, Dontrell Bowden 3

Fast Start Helps Vicksburg to Win Over G-A

Vicksburg enjoyed a double digit lead after one quarter and never looked back in a 81-57 win over the Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball team January 28 at Vicksburg High School.

G-A fell behind by a 25-14 count after one quarter.

G-A senior Dontrell Bowden exploded for 11 points in the second quarter but the Rams trailed the Bulldogs 46-34 at halftime.

G-A, behind eight points including a pair of three-point baskets by Hunter Pritchard, outscored Vicksburg 15-13 in the third quarter to pull to within 59-49 after three quarters.

Bowden finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Gio Evans scored 11 points and added two assists and two steals.

G-A shot 39.6 percent (21-53) from the floor overall. The Rams knocked down 38.7 percent two-point attempts and were 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) from distance.

Vicksburg               25 21 13 22 - 81
Galesburg-Augusta 14 20 15  8 - 57
Jayden Roe 2, Ethan Metty 6, Dontrell Bowden 18, Gio Evans 11, Tristan Jackson 2, Hunter Pritchard 8, Hayden Pritchard 7
Free throws: G-A 6-14/Vicksburg 11-18
3-point baskets: G-A 9 (Dontrell Bowden 3, Ethan Metty 2, Hunter Pritchard 2, Gio Evans 1, Hayden Pritchard 1)/Vicksburg 10 (Nathan Vallier 4, Mitchell Beyer 3, Anthony Marchesea 2, Peyton Hudgins 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Dontrell Bowden 8, Adan Moses 5, Patrick Armock 3, Hayden Pritchard 3, Hunter Pritchard 3
Assists: Giovanni Evans 2, Jayden Roe 2
Steals: Giovanni Evans 2
Blocked shots: Hayden Pritchard 2, Patrick Armock 1

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