The Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball team struggled offensively most of the night in a 68-30 loss to Schoolcraft in the opening round of the district tournament at G-A High School February 23.

The Rams complete the season with an 11-10 overall record.

Schoolcraft took a 12-10 record into the district semifinal game against Comstock February 25.

Kalamazoo Phoenix defeated Kalamazoo Christian 66-54 in the earlier first round game February 23.

The district championship game at G-A is February 27 at 6 p.m.

G-A was held to 26.1 percent shooting overall from the floor (12-46). That included a 3-for-25 effort (12 percent) from the three-point line and 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) from two-point range.

The Eagles enjoyed their biggest quarter of the game in the opening frame when the visitors took a 22-4 lead after one quarter. G-A managed just one basket from Giovanni Evans and two free throws by Dontrell Bowden in the first quarter.

Behind four three-point baskets, Schoolcraft continued to pour it on offensively in the second quarter while holding the Rams to seven points for a 43-11 lead at halftime.

The Rams were outscored 18-10 in the third quarter and faced a 61-21 deficit entering the fourth quarter.

Giovanni Evans’ 10 points and four rebounds led G-A.

Schoolcraft enjoyed four players scoring in double digits, with Jimmy Miller’s 21 points leading the way.

Schoolcraft               22 21 18 7 - 68
Galesburg-Augusta     4  7 10 9 - 30
Gavin Lock 2, Jayden Roe 2, Ethan Metty 2, Dontrell Bowden 6, Giovanni Evans 10, Zane Lenz 3, Jerome Bailey 2, Patrick Armock 3
Free throws: G-A 3-10/Schoolcraft 10-12
3-point baskets: G-A 3 (Giovonni Evans 2, Zane Lenz 1)/Schoolcraft 8 (Kodee Bienz 3, Ty Goodard 3, Bryce Lambe 2
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Giovanni Evans 4, Dontrell Bowden 3
Steals: Dontrell Bowden 2
Blocked shots: Hunter Pritchard 1, Hayden Pritchard 1

A 65-40 win over Delton-Kellogg February 19 in the season finale at Delton gave the Galesburg-Augusta boys JV basketball team a 20-1 record for the season.

Jerome Bailey scored 17 points for G-A, Connor Welker added 16 and Cayden Allie contributed 13 points in the win.

G-A finishes regular season over .500

Three wins to end the regular season sent the Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball team into the district tournament with a 11-9 record.

A variety of offensive weapons in the fourth quarter helped the Rams to a 59-53 win over Delton-Kellogg February 20 at G-A High School.

The win gave the Rams a second place tie in the SAC Central Division with Delton-Kellogg with a 7-3 Division record.

G-A led by a 39-34 margin entering the fourth quarter but Ethan Metty dropped in two three-point baskets, Dontrell Bowden scored a basket and two free throws, Giovonni Evans was 3-for-4 from the line and scored one basket, Patrick Armock sank a free throw and Hayden Pritchard scored two baskets in the final frame.

G-A,13-of-23 from the free throw line, was 6-for-11 in the final quarter.

Evans scored 10 of his team high 22 points in the third quarter.

Dontrell Bowden also reached double figures with 10 points and Hayden Pritchard added nine points.

Delton-Kellogg       4 17 13 19 - 53
Galesburg-Augusta 7 17 15 20 - 59
Jayden Roe 2, Ethan Metty 6, C.J. Benard 2, Dontrell Bowden 10, Giovonni Evans 22, Patrick Armock 1, Hunter Pritchard 7, Hayden Pritchard 9
Free throws: G-A 13-23/Delton-Kellogg 8-14
3-point baskets G-A 6 (Dontrell Bowden 2, Ethan Metty 2, Hunter Pritchard 1, Hayden Pritchard 1)/Delton-Kellogg 5 (Grady Matteson 3, Tyler Howland 2)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Dontrell Bowden 8, Patrick Armock 8, Giovonni Evans 5, Hayden Pritchard 4
Assists: Giovonni Evans 3
Steals: Dontrell Bowden 6, Hunter Pritchard 2

Defense Strong for Rams in Win over Saugatuck

A strong defensive effort helped the Rams to a 60-36 win over Saugatuck February 19 at Saugatuck.

Giovonni Evans scored 10 points, Dontrell Bowden added seven points and Hunter Pritchard dropped in two three-point baskets in the first quarter, helping the Rams to a 23-9 advantage entering the second quarter.

G-A held Saugatuck to seven points in the second quarter and took a 36-16 lead into halftime.

Evans led a trio of Rams in double figure scoring with 20 points. Bowden added 11 points and nine rebounds and Ethan Metty contributed 10 points.

Galesburg-Augusta 23 13 14 10 - 60
Saugatuck                 9   7 12   8 - 36
Gavin Lock 6, Ethan Metty 10, Dontrell Bowden 11, Giovonni Evans 20, Zane Lenz 2, Tristan Jackson 2, Patrick Armock 2, Hunter Pritchard 6, Hayden Pritchard 1
Free throws: G-A 13-21/Saugatuck 10-21
3-point baskets: G-A 9 (Giovonni Evans 3, Hunter Pritchard 2, Ethan Metty 2, Gavin Lock 2/Saugatuck 2 (Noah Conklin 1, Samuel Gamboa 1
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Dontrell Bowden 9, Hayden Pritchard 8, Patrick Armock 6, Giovonni Evans 5, Gavin Lock 3, Hunter Pritchard 3, Tristan Jackson 3
Assists: Giovonni Evans 2, Ethan Metty 2
Steals: Dontrell Bowden 2
Blocked Shots: Dontrell Bowden 3

G-A Holds off Constantine

The Rams got off to a strong start but had to hold off a fourth quarter push by Constantine in a 67-59 win over the Falcons February 17 at G-A High School.

G-A took a 17-4 lead after one quarter.

The Falcons came charging back to pull to within 31-22 at halftime, however G-A bumped the lead to 49-35 after three quarters.

Constantine outscored G-A 24-18 in the fourth quarter but fell short.

G-A shot a warm 46.5 percent (20-43) from two-point range and 40.3 percent (25-62) overall.

Giovonni Evans scored 23 points to lead the Rams in scoring and Patrick Armock added 11 points.

Constantine               4 18 13 24 - 59 
Galesburg-Augusta 17 14 18 18 - 67
Jayden Roe 4, Dontrell Bowden 9, Giovonni Evans 23, Zane Lenz 3, Jerome Bailey 2, Patrick Armock 11, Hunter Pritchard 9, Cayden Allie 3, Hayden Pritchard 3
Free throws: G-A 12-27/Constantine 8-17
3-point baskets: G-A 5 (Giovonni Evans 2, Zane Lenz 1, Hunter Pritchard 1, Cayden Allie 1)/Constantine 9 (Braden Bienz 7, Lael Smith 2)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Hayden Pritchard 5, Patrick Armock 5, Giovonni Evans 4, Dontrell Bowden 3
Assists: Giovonni Evans 3, Ethan Metty 2
Steals: Dontrell Bowden 5, Patrick Armock 3, Giovonni Evans 2, Hayden Pritchard 2, J.J. Bailey 2
Blocked shots: Patrick Armock 3, Hayden Pritchard 2

The Galesburg-Augusta girls JV basketball team entered the final week of play with a 7-10 record after the team dropped two games.

G-A dropped a 36-25 decision at Saugatuck February 19.

Jilaya Henry-Phillips scored seven points and Lillian Jones added five points.

The Lady Rams lost to Paw Paw 36-31 February 17.

Individual leaders for G-A were not available.

The Galesburg-Augusta girls varsity basketball team outscored Delton-Kellogg 40-21 in the middle two quarters and went on to post a 58-36 win over the Panthers February 20 at G-A High School.

The win ends a three-game losing streak and sent the Lady Rams into the final week of the regular season with a 12-7 record.

G-A got off to a sluggish start, holding a 9-5 lead after one quarter, but an 11-0 run in the second quarter helped extend G-A’s lead to 27-12 at halftime.

Brooklyn James scored 12 points in the first half, Grace Gibson added seven and Jeni Klimp contributed six points in the first half.

G-A connected on its first seven shots of the third quarter and a 10-0 run stretched the Ram lead to 49-26 after three quarters.

Both teams scored nine points in the fourth quarter.

James finished with 22 points to lead all scorers and Gibson had 19 points.

G-A made 37 percent (20-54) of its two-point attempts and 29 percent (5-17) of its attempts behind the three-point line.

Delton-Kellogg       5  7 14 9 - 36 
Galesburg-Augusta 9 18 22 9 - 58
Grace Gibson 19, Jeni Klimp 8, Brooklyn James 22, Kayla Bortolussi 6, Anni Steigmann 2, Aaralyn Gaines 1
Free throws: G-A  3-16/Delton-Kellogg 7-16
3-point baskets: G-A 5 (Brooklyn James 4, Grace Gibson 1)/Delton-Kellogg 5 (J. Lyons 2, J. Wendland 2, J. Mitchell 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Kayla Bortolussi 9, Brooklyn James 6, Jeni Klimp 5, Grace Gibson 5, Lexi Coburn 4, Anni Steigmann 4, Addison Born 4, Rayonna Alexander 3, Emily Coleman 3, Wende Trines 3
Assists: Grace Gibson 3, Rayonna Alexander 3
Steals: Brooklyn James 3, Kayla Bortolussi 2, Rayonna Alexander 2, Grace Gibson 2
Blocked shots: Jeni Klimp 2

Big Start Helps Saugatuck to Win over G-A

A 9-0 run at the end of the first quarter that extended into the second quarter gave Saugatuck a 16-point first half lead and the home team never looked back in a 59-43 win over the Rams February 19 at Saugatuck.

G-A was able to cut the deficit to 10 points at halftime (29-19).

The Rams, who cut the Trailblazer lead to eight points, were unable to build on the momentum, as Saugatuck enjoyed an 11-0 run that started late in the third quarter and extended into the fourth quarter.

Saugatuck dropped in six three-point baskets in the second half and finished with nine triples.

Grace Gibson led the Rams with 25 points. She has scored in double digits in 17 of G-A’s 18 games this season.

The Rams had 21 turnovers.

G-A made 42 percent (15-36) two-point attempts and shot 21 percent (3-14) from the three-point line for an overall floor shooting percentage of 36 percent (18-50).

Saugatuck                20 9 15 15 - 59
Galesburg-Augusta  11 8 13 11 - 43
Grace Gibson 25, Rayonna Alexander 10, Brooklyn James 8
Free throws: G-A 4-5/Saugatuck 6-10
3-point baskets: G-A  3 (Grace Gibson 3)/Saugatuck 9 (M. Simpson 4, T. Uskowski 3, Penny Grog 2)
G-A Stat Leaders:
Rebounds: Brooklyn James 12, Lexi Coburn 5, Kayla Bortolussi 4, Grace Gibson 4
Assists: Rayonna Alexander 2, Jeni Klimp 2
Steals: Kayla Bortolussi 4, Emily Coleman 3, Grace Gibson 2, Lexi Coburn 2, Jeni Klimp 2

By Bruce Rolfe

Two members of the Galesburg-Augusta wrestling team qualified for their first individual state finals event with top four finishes at the Division 4 Individual Regionals February 21.

Sophomore Owen Cowles (120-pound weight class) and freshman Jaxsen Kasten (106) both placed fourth at the Division 4 Individual Regionals at Martin.

The two will wrestle at the Division 4 Individual State Finals March 6 & 7 at Ford Field.

Cowles will enter the Individual State Finals with a 33-7 record.

Cowles dropped his first match by a 14-4 major decision but won his second match by a forfeit.

The G-A sophomore won his consolation semifinal match by a pin over Climax-Scotts’ Lincoln Bartholomew by a 17-2 technical fall.

Cowles lost the third place match by a pin in 3:50. 

Kasten started with a bye, but lost the semifinal match by a pin in 42 seconds. The G-A freshman rebounded with a 14-1 major win in the consolation semifinals before dropping the third place match for a fourth place finish after he lost by a pin in 16 seconds.

Kasten will enter the Individual State Finals with a 26-22 record.

Jonah Ranes (165), who won one match by a pin in 1:08 and finished 1-2, Kameron Prince, who lost two matches, and Jaxsen Ray, who won one match by a pin in 5:44 and finished 1-2, also competed for G-A at the individual regionals but did not place.

Regional 16-4 (At Martin)

Galesburg-Augusta Results
120: Quarterfinal - Aiden Muñoz (Bangor) 40-14 won by major decision over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-7 (MD 14-4); Cons. Round 1 - Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-7 won by forfeit over Devon Schaffer (White Pigeon) 23-13 (For.); Cons. Semi - Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-7 won by tech fall over Lincoln Bartholomew (Climax-Scotts) 16-16 (TF-1.5 1:50 (17-2); 3rd Place Match - Aiden Muñoz (Bangor) 40-14 won by fall over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-7 (Fall 3:50)

106: Quarterfinal - Jaxsen Kasten (Galesburg-Augusta) 26-21 received a bye; Semifinal - Colton Cady (Decatur) 37-13 won by fall over Jaxsen Kasten (Galesburg-Augusta) 26-21 (Fall 0:42); Cons. Semi - Jaxsen Kasten (Galesburg-Augusta) 26-21 won by major decision over Bryce Bozell (Schoolcraft) 18-18 (MD 14-1); 3rd Place Match - AJ Terry (Lawton) 35-10 won by fall over Jaxsen Kasten (Galesburg-Augusta) 26-21 (Fall 0:16)

165: Quarterfinal - Jonah Ranes (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-8 won by fall over Aidan Wiggins (Decatur) 43-11 (Fall 1:08); Semifinal - Haylen Buell (Martin) 50-0 won by fall over Jonah Ranes (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-8 (Fall 1:28); Cons. Semi - Jaden Zambrano (White Pigeon) 34-21 won by fall over Jonah Ranes (Galesburg-Augusta) 32-8 (Fall 2:33)
285: Quarterfinal - Brock Woodhouse (Marcellus) 34-4 won by fall over Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta) 38-22 (Fall 0:39); Cons. Round 1 - Luke Cronkright (Union City) 30-15 won by fall over Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta) 38-22 (Fall 1:57).

138: Quarterfinal - Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta) 43-12 won by fall over Aiden Bussell (Saranac) 40-10 (Fall 5:44); Semifinal - Rockne Hamilton (Centreville) 48-8 won by decision over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta) 43-12 (Dec 13-9); Cons. Semi - Xavior Zinsmaster (Mendon) 34-13 won by fall over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta) 43-12 (Fall 4:12)

By Bruce Rolfe

While the Galesburg-Augusta wrestling team suffered a 67-12 loss to Union City in the Team District semifinal match at Schoolcraft February 18, G-A wrestling coach Sam Blyveis and his wrestlers are taking the loss as a learning experience and a program builder.

The Rams captured G-A’s first Team District championship trophy since 2001 a week earlier.

The team was very competitive this year, finishing 18-9 in dual meets, brought home three team trophies (1 first place and two 2nd place), plus the Team District Championship trophy. 

Union City went on to capture the regional team championship with a 46-33 win over Schoolcraft in the Team District championship match and moved on to the Division 4 State Quarterfinals where the Chargers will met Decatur.

“I think getting to that next level, we’re over hauling the mentality and the work ethic and taking away the excuses. Success breeds success, so the next step is getting more kids to come out and just continue to establish the expectation of what commitment is. When you’re voiding three weight classes, it’s tough to be competitive,” explained the first year head coach.

Sophomore Owen Cowles said he hopes the returners will use the team district championship win and loss in the regional semifinal match as motivators get better heading into next season.

“I’ve realized that we worked hard, but we need to work harder next year in order to accomplish a regional championship, so we can go on to State as a team. We came out there cold and we should have had a harder warm up and should have been ready to wrestle,” said Cowles.

The G-A sophomore said based on the returners coming back and a group coming up from the Jr. High program, he’s optimistic G-A can get back to the team regionals and hopefully the next level.

“We’ve got some eighth graders coming up that are going to be some pretty solid wrestlers. Next year we’ve just got to up the practice level in the room and work harder,” said Cowles.

G-A lost four matches by first period pins, two by second period pins, another by a third period pin, a third period technical fall loss, and two forfeits to fall behind 59-0 before Kameron Prince captured G-A’s first points by a forfeit at the 215-pound weight class.

Owen Cowles (120) secured the other points for G-A by a forfeit.

The Rams lost three matches by forfeits.

G-A had a half day of school before the match and looking back, Blyveis said if he had to do it over again, he would have called a mini practice in the early afternoon instead of allowing the wrestlers to go home and sit and wait for the competition.

“We had some really quality kids look really flat today. There were about four or five of those matches that we really got handled in, that we were capable of winning,” said Blyveis.

Cowles said the team was disappointed in the score and not winning more matches. But he said looking back on the season there was a lot to be proud of.

“I would say that we had to work really hard for that district championship and I think it’s a good accomplishment. We haven’t won one in 25 years and that’s a good accomplishment for us. Obviously, we came out a little short then what we expected but that’s just how it ended,” the Ram sophomore.

Union City 67, G-A 12
126: Westin Connell (UNIONCTY) over Breckin Vickery (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:40); 132: Kaden Russell (UNIONCTY) over Zachary Herring (GALEAUG) (Fall 0:56); 138: Gabe Mowry (UNIONCTY) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 144: Blayne Crance (UNIONCTY) over Jaxsen Ray (GALEAUG) (TF 18-3 5:00); 150: Mitchell Graham (UNIONCTY) over Colton Robertson (GALEAUG) (Fall 4:49); 157: Kelub Miller (UNIONCTY) over Lance Shoup (GALEAUG) (Fall 1:29); 165: Isaiah Waidelich (UNIONCTY) over Lavell Cody (GALEAUG) (Fall 2:44); 175: John Olmsted (UNIONCTY) over Jonah Ranes (GALEAUG) (Fall 3:44); 190: Carson Danke (UNIONCTY) over Nathaniel Ellis (GALEAUG) (Fall 0:47); 215: William Thompson (UNIONCTY) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 285: Kameron Prince (GALEAUG) over (UNIONCTY) (For.); 106: Onalee Taylor (UNIONCTY) over Jaxsen Kasten (GALEAUG) (Fall 3:55); 113: Madalynne Hawthorne (UNIONCTY) over (GALEAUG) (For.); 120: Owen Cowles (GALEAUG) over (UNIONCTY) (For.)

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