By Bruce Rolfe

Galesburg-Augusta boys varsity basketball coach Brian Dolph was anxious to see how his team would respond to a two-game losing streak entering a January 17 Snowcoming contest against Delton-Kellogg.

He not only got the response he was hoping for, but he got a glimpse how his team answers in game challenges in a 58-45 win over the Panthers.

G-A, now 6-4, was coming off a 70-35 loss to Parchment and a 70-41 loss to Hackett.

“We talked to the guys that the next game is the most important game of your life because it’s the next game. I was really proud of them for coming back, resetting. Playing a really tough Delton team. Physically, we got after them. I thought we did a good job, great energy. I just thought the guys did a really nice job of bouncing back,” said Dolph.

The Rams took what appeared to be a commanding 32-21 lead into halftime and even bumped the lead to 34-21 when Jeremiah Mann scored the first basket of the third quarter.

However Delton-Kellogg scored the next 12 points including two straight triples to pull to within 34-33 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.

Instead of getting rattled, G-A answered with a quarter ending 11-0 run on a three-point basket by Hayden Pritchard, a basked by Ethan Gibson, one free throw by Pritchard, a basket by C.J. Benard off an offensive rebound and another triple by Giovonni Evans to take a 45-33 lead into the fourth quarter.

While Delton-Kellogg pulled to within 47-40 with 5:30 left in the game, the Rams closed the quarter with an 11-5 run to secure the win.

“It was nice because it was our second group that was in there. Normally, in the rotations a lot of times you get some of your first group back in there. But the second group was playing so well and really kind of took it on the chin and then bounced back and we got a few buckets. I think we finished the quarters off really well. I know we finished the second quarter off really well, the third quarter to kind of get some separation and even there in the fourth, taking care of the ball. So I was really proud of the way we finished the quarters off and I was proud of that second group for coming in there and giving us a spark,” continued the G-A coach.

G-A got off to a 6-0 start and held the visitors without a point until Delton-Kellogg’s Grant McArthur sank two free throws with 3:35 left.

G-A took a 14-10 lead into the second quarter.

G-A’s pressure defense led to numerous fast break opportunities in the second quarter and the Rams enjoyed some separation at halftime 32-21.

G-A shot 39 percent (22-56) overall from the floor including a 4-for-12 mark from the three-point line.

Giovonni Evans led G-A in scoring with 15 points to go with six rebounds. Jeremiah Mann and Hayden Pritchard, who had three offensive rebounds and three blocked shots, each added nine points.
Delton-Kellogg       10 11 12 12 - 45
Galesburg-Augusta  14 18 13 13 - 58
Jeremiah Mann 9, Ethan Thomas 8, C.J. Benard 4, Ethan Gibson 7, Giovonni Evans 15, Ethan Metty 2, Nolan Brewer 2, Jordan Anakin 2, Hayden Pritchard 9
Free throws: G-A 10-15/Delton-Kellogg 9-12
3-point baskets: G-A 4 (Hayden Pritchard 2, Giovonni Evans 1, Ethan Gibson 1)/Delton-Kellogg 4 (Tyler Howland 2, Keegan Hill 1, Grady Matteson 1
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: C.J. Benard 9, Giovonni Evans 6, Nolan Brewer 6, Hayden Pritchard 4, Anakin Jordan 3, Ethan Thomas 3
Assists: C.J. Benard 5, Nolan Brewer 2, Ethan Gibson 2
Blocked shots: Hayden Pritchard 3, Ethan Thomas 2
Steals: Ethan Thomas 2, Ethan Gibson 2, Nolan Brewer 2

The Rams couldn’t overcome a slow start and cold shooting in a 70-35 loss to Parchment January 14 on the road.

G-A shot a chilly 22 percent overall from the floor (13-57), including just one three-point make on 13 attempts. The Rams were only 8-20 from the free throw line as well.

G-A watched the home team get off to an 18-7 lead after one quarter and found itself trailing by a 38-18 count at halftime.

G-A’s frustrations at the offensive end continued in the third quarter when the Rams were outscored 13-7 and faced a 51-25 deficit after three quarters.

Ethan Thomas’ eight points led G-A in scoring.
Galesburg-Augusta   7 11   7 10 - 35
Parchment               18 20 13 19 - 70
Levi Born 4, Jeremiah Mann 7, Ethan Thomas 8, C.J. Benard 2, Giovonni Evans 1, Aidan Moses 2, Anakin Jordan 7, Landen Bouchard 2, Hayden Pritchard 2
Free throws: G-A 8-20/Parchment 10-12
3-point baskets: G-A 1 (Anakin Jordan 1)/Parchment 6 (Don’jae Gilmore-Slater 5, Jalen Kampen 1
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Jeremiah Mann 7, Anakin Jordan 6, Ethan Thomas 5, C.J. Benard 5, Nolan Brewer 4
Assists: Ethan Gibson 2
Blocked shots: Jeremiah Mann 3
Steals: Jeremiah Mann 2

By Dale Martin

On January 17th, the Lady Rams hosted Delton-Kellogg on a night celebrating Snow Coming and Hall of Fame night with a 63-31 win.

The win sent Galesburg-Augusta into a January 21 game at Coloma with a 7-2 overall record.

After Galesburg-Augusta jumped out to a 7-0 lead the two teams played even up ball until the final three minutes when the Rams scored the final 9 points to build a 22-13 first quarter lead.

The second quarter featured a 7-2 run by G-A followed by a 12-2 run to end the half with a 41-17 advantage. Jaidyn Klimp scored 18 of her game high 28 points. Nine different Rams scored points in the half.

G-A outscored Delton (1-9) 22-14 in the second half securing their seventh win of the season against just two losses.

Hailee Themins scored a season high 9 points for G-A. Grace Gibson tallied 7 points with Jenisyn Klimp  and Rhyann Wilson chipping in with 6 and 4 points respectively.

Klimp pulled down 12 rebounds, Gibson had 9 and Ellesa Callender grabbed 7 contributing to a team total of 48 rebounds.

Klimp entered the Coloma game needing 43 points to reach 1000 career points.

The Rams will host Saugatuck January 24 in a key conference game.
Delton-Kellogg       13 4 8 6 - 31
Galesburg-Augusta 22 19 12 10 - 63
Grace Gibson 7, Hailee Themins 9, Lilli Thompson 2, Holley Coburn 3, Jaidyn Klimp 28, Jeni Klimp 6, Ellesa Callender 2, Brooklyn James 2, Rhyann Wilson 4
Free throws: G-A 6-18/Delton-Kellogg 5-11
3-point baskets: G-A 3 (Grace Gibson 1, Hailee Themins 1, Holley Coburn 1)/Delton-Kellogg 2 (Izzie Wendland 2)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Jaidyn Klimp 12, Grace Gibson 9, Ellesa Callender 6, Breanne Keene 5, Hailee Themins 4, Jenny Klimp 4
Assists: Grace Gibson 3, Ellesa Callender 3
Steals: Jaidyn Klimp 5, Lillian Thompson 3, Grace Gibson 3

By Dale Martin

On Tuesday, January 14th the Galesburg-Augusta ladies basketball team picked up their sixth win of the season, 51-36 over the Parchment Panthers.

The Rams, now 6-2 on the season,  jumped out to an 18-8 first quarter lead. The defense forced 8 turnovers which led to six baskets inside the paint with Jaidyn Klimp scoring three times, Grace Gibson twice and Rhyann Wilson once. G-A went to the free throw line fourteen times in the opening frame. Klimp made 4, Gibson and Lili Thompson one each. Parchment kept it close with two three pointers.

The Panthers opened the second quarter with two quick baskets cutting the lead to 18-12. The Rams countered with the next five points, extending their lead to 23-12. The Panthers scored a basket and a free throw with 1:19 to play only to see the Rams score the final six points, giving them a 29-15 halftime lead.

G-A’s offense was guilty of turning over the ball 11 times in the third period but still managed to extend their lead to 38-22 going into the final quarter.

Parchment, now 4-7 on the season, hit four three pointers in the fourth quarter but sent the Rams to the free throw line 14 times. Ellesa Callender converted three of her four attempts and Klimp, Gibson and Wilson each made one. For the game the Rams made 18 of 41 free throw attempts.

Parchment was 3-for-8 at the free throw line.

Klimp led all scorers with 17. Gibson had her best night scoring with a 14-point effort. Thompson added 6 points and Wilson finished with 5. Ella Covell led the Panther’s scoring nine points.  Klimp also hauled down 15 rebounds and Gibson was close behind with 13.
Parchment                8  7 7 14 - 36
Galesburg-Augusta 18 11 9 13 - 51
Grace Gibson 14, Lilli Thompson 6, Holley Coburn 3, Jaidyn Klimp 17, Ellesa Callendar 3, Brooklyn James 3, Rhyanna Wilson 5
Free throws: G-A 18-41/Parchment 3-8
3-point baskets: G-A 2 (Brooklyn James 1, Holley Coburn 1)/Parchment 7 (Kailionna Jackson 3, Amiyah Jackson 2, Kionna Jackson 1, Elizabeth Milliman 1)
G-A Stat Leaders
Rebounds: Jaidyn Klimp 15, Grace Gibson 13, Rhyann Wilson 5, Brooklyn James 5, Ellesa Callender 5, Jenny Klimp 4
Steals: Jaidyn Klimp 6, Rhyann Wilson 4, Brooklyn James 2, Ellesa Callender 2, Lillian Thompson 2, Grace Gibson 2

Galesburg-Augusta had 12 members from the wrestling team participate in the Hesperia Friday Night Fights event January 17 in Hesperia.

Kameron Prince (285-pound weight class), led G-A with three wins, all by pins.

Lincoln Hawes (120-126), won four matches, all by pins in the B tournament and Zachary Herring (120-126), also in the B Tournament, won three matches, all by pins.

Hesperia Friday Night Fights January 17

G-A Results
106: Round 1 - Robert Belinger (Whitehall HS) over Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TB-1 3-0); Round 2 - Elijah Troost (Sparta HS) over Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:30); Round 3 - Carter Fuentes (Hesperia Community HS) over Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:00); Round 4 - Uriah Troost (Sparta HS) over Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 23-4 0:00); Round 5 - Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Issac O`Boyle (Whitehall HS) (For.) 113: Round 1 - Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Johnathon Dagen (Hesperia Community HS) (TF 19-2 0:00); Round 2 - Joe DeKorne (Sparta HS) over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:30); Round 3 - Brody Ashley (Coloma HS) over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:26); Round 4 - Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Brennan Williams (Sparta HS) (Fall 3:40); Round 5 - Blake Wallace (Whitehall HS) over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:16); 120: Round 1 - Hunter Kendall (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Hugo Rash (Whitehall HS) (Fall 2:44); Round 2 - Steven Schmid (Sparta HS) over Hunter Kendall (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:30); Round 3 - Matt Martel (Coloma HS) over Hunter Kendall (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:54); Round 4 - Hunter Kendall (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 5 - Hunter Kendall (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Paul Barkfelt (Hesperia Community HS) (Inj. [time]); 126: Round 1 - LUCADIS FONCESCA (Coloma HS) over Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (MD 15-2); Round 2 - Zach DeKorne (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 18-1 1:42); Round 3 - Xavier Marroquin (West Catholic HS) over Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:38); Round 4 - Aiden Smith (Hesperia Community HS) over Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:42); Round 5 - Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; 132: Round 1 - Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Dain Kraus (Hesperia Community HS) (TF 17-1 5:11); Round 2 - Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 3 - Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 4 - Mason Hendrick (Sparta HS) over Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 16-0 2:12); Round 5 - Jason Sheaffer (Whitehall HS) over Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 3:10); 138: Round 1 - Javin Antley (Whitehall HS) over Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 3:46); Round 2 - Andrew Laperna (West Catholic HS) over Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:55); Round 3 - Jay Christe (Coloma HS) over Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 5:53); Round 4 - Dominick Smith (Hesperia Community HS) over Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:45); Round 5 - Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; 144: Round 1 - Kameron Kequom (Whitehall HS) over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:15); Round 2 - Nolan Larson (Sparta HS) over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:39); Round 3 - Skyler Stalbaum (Hesperia Community HS) over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 19-3 1:57); Round 4 - Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Aiden Miron (West Catholic HS) (Fall 2:26); Round 5 - Brody Winnell (Coloma HS) over Jaxsen Ray (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (For.); 175: Round 1 - Noah Peterson (Whitehall HS) over Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:56); Round 2 - Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 3 - Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 4 - Zacorious Tanner (Coloma HS) over Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:23); Round 5 - Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; 285: Round 1 - Jace Gimenes (Whitehall HS) over Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:27); Round 2 - Noah Walker (Hesperia Community HS) over Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:26); Round 3 - Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:14); Round 4 - Coben Boehnlein (Sparta HS) over Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:48); Round 5 - Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; 285: Round 1 - Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Coben Boehnlein (Sparta HS) (Fall 0:29); Round 2 - Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 3 - Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Brady Towery (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:14); Round 4 - Noah Walker (Hesperia Community HS) over Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:26); Round 5 - Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Jace Gimenes (Whitehall HS) (Fall 2:51); 120-126B: Round 1 - Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Zachary Herring (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 3:32); Round 2 - Gabriel Maki (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 5:45); Round 3 - Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Lailah Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 2:52); Round 4 - Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye; Round 5 - Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over August Evans (Hesperia Community HS) (Fall 0:29); Round 1 - Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Zachary Herring (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 3:32); 120-126B: Round 2 - Zachary Herring (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Lailah Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 2:53); Round 3 - Zachary Herring (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over August Evans (Hesperia Community HS) (Fall 0:52); Round 4 - Zachary Herring (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Gabriel Maki (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:36); Round 5 - Zachary Herring 

(Galesburg-Augusta HS) received a bye

G-A Falls Short at Mendon

The Rams suffered a 39-30 setback at the Mendon Duals January 13.

Lincoln Hawes (120-pound weight class), by a pin in 1:42 and Kameron Prince (285), by a pin in 1:46, won head to head bouts, while Tyler Evans (106), Colton Robertson (132), and Nathaniel Ellis (175) all won by forfeits.
Mendon 39, G-A 30
106: Tyler Evans (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Unknown (For.); 113: Ash Staffen (Mendon HS) over Owen Cowles (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (MD 14-2); 120: Lincoln Hawes (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Keagon Huff (Mendon HS) (Fall 1:42); 126: Keaton Weeks (Mendon HS) over Aaron Wiliks-millard (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 17-2 0:00); 132: Colton Robertson (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Unknown (For.); 138: Xavior Zinsmaster (Mendon HS) over Robert Cain (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:30); 144: Damean Muncy (Mendon HS) over Unknown (For.); 150: Double Forfeit; 157: Zak Iobe (Mendon HS) over Unknown (For.); 165: Double Forfeit; 175: Nathaniel Ellis (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Unknown (For.); 190: James Lux (Mendon HS) over Ayden Maine (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:26); 215: Phoenix Dunson (Mendon HS) over Unknown (For.); 285: Kameron Prince (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Kyson Keller (Mendon HS) (Fall 1:46)

G-A’s Caitlyn Valadez places 2nd
at girls wrestling tournament

Congratulations to Galesburg-Augusta High School’s Caitlyn Valadez who earned a second place finish at the Ron Russo Classic girls wrestling tournament at Kalamazoo Central January 18.

Valadez, wrestling at the 190-pound weight class, defeated her opening round opponent by a pin in 1:27, advanced to the championship match by pinning her second opponent in 31 seconds before falling to Loy Norrix’ Heaven Cole by a pin in 1:29 in the championship round.

Alyson Wessel (110) and Alexis Thomas (140), also participated for G-A and won one match each.

The G-A girls wrestling team will participate in a tournament at Hastings January 25 at 9:30 a.m.

Ron Russo Classic At Kalamazoo Central

G-A Results
110: Quarterfinals - Aubreonna Armstrong (Harper Creek HS) over Alyson Wessel (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:42); Cons. Round 1 - Alyson Wessel (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Mia Gosselin, (Thornapple Kellogg HS) (TF 17-0 3:00);  Cons. Semis - Sophia Fonseca (Paw Paw HS) over Alyson Wessel (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:21); 140: Round 1 - Alexis Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Nadia Hanson (Comstock HS) (Fall 3:26); Round 2 - Alexis Hozeska (Wayland Union HS) over Alexis Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (TF 15-0 1:23); 140: Round 3 - Aubrey Sines (Thornapple Kellogg HS) over Alexis Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Dec 9-5); Round 4 - Rylee Alberts (Thornapple Kellogg HS) over Alexis Thomas (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 0:34); 190: Round 1 - Caitlyn Valadez (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Liliana Hernandez (Otsego HS) (Fall 1:27); Round 2 - Caitlyn Valadez (Galesburg-Augusta HS) over Alyssia Juarez (Harper Creek HS) (Fall 0:31); Round 3 - Heaven Cole (Loy Norrix HS) over Caitlyn Valadez (Galesburg-Augusta HS) (Fall 1:29)

JV girls basketball team
continues impressive play

The Galesburg-Augusta girls JV basketball team continued its positive play with a 36-27 win over Parchment January 14.

The win gives G-A a 6-1 record entering a January 21 game at Coloma.

Kayla Bortolussi scored 12 points, Jilaya Henry-Phillips scored six points and Emily Coleman and Lexi Coburn each chipped in with five points.

G-A coach Dontrell Bowden emphasized the entire team played hard and together to secure the win.

G-A’s scheduled January 16 game against Delton-Kellogg was cancelled due to a lack of participation numbers at Delton-Kellogg.

JV boys basketball team enters
halfway point undefeated

The Galesburg-Augusta JV boys basketball team reached the halfway point of the schedule undefeated by defeating Delton-Kellogg 49-29 January 16 at Delton.

G-A, now 10-0, received 15 points from Hunter Pritchard and 13 points from Patrick Armock.

G-A Downs Parchment

The Rams held on for a 46-42 win over Parchment January 14.

Hunter Pritchard scored 24 points to lead the Rams.

__________________________________________________

headlines The Climax Crescent

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