BATTLE CREEK ― Here are scouting reports for all the key prep basketball games in the Battle Creek readership area coming up between Feb. 6-10. (Records after Tuesday night games).
Boys Basketball
Battle Creek Central (8-7)
Next: vs. Portage Northern, Friday, Feb. 6; at Portage Central, Tuesday, Feb. 10
Scouting Report: Battle Creek Central is coming off a Tuesday home against Stevensville-Lakeshore where the Bearcats fell short in a low-scoring game, 45-37. BCC trailed 15-12 at halftime. Stevensville-Lakeshore was playing on back-to-back days after beating Lakeview on Monday. Battle Creek Central’s young team, after an impressive first half of the season, is fighting to stay in the top half of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference as the Bearcats head down the stretch. In the next two games, BCC will be facing teams that are trying to do the same thing with Portage Northern on Friday and Portage Central on Tuesday. Portage Northern is in third place in the league at 11-4 overall after beating Loy Norrix on Tuesday. Portage Central is in the middle of the pack in the league at 8-6 overall after beating Mattawan on Tuesday.
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Lakeview (5-11)
Next: vs. Portage Central, Friday, Feb. 6; at Portage Northern, Tuesday, Feb. 10
Scouting Report: Lakeview faced one of the top teams in the state on Tuesday and lost 89-56 to Kalamazoo Central. It doesn’t get any easier for the Spartans moving forward. Lakeview will next see two teams that they lost to by double digits already this year. Portage Central will come to Lakeview on Friday after being the Spartans 75-44 in December. Lakeview will go to Portage Northern next Tuesday after losing 60-48 to the Huskies in early January. The Spartans might be able to match up a bit better with those two teams this time around as Lakeview has 6-foot, 4-inch center Josiah Wanzer on the roster now. He was on the junior varsity in those first two meetings.
Harper Creek (6-10)
Next: at Coldwater, Friday, Feb. 6; vs. Eaton Rapids, Wednesday, Feb. 11
Scouting Report: Harper Creek hosted a Plainwell team on Tuesday that came in with 10 wins as the Beavers earned a 52-51 overtime upset win. Harper Creek’s Logan Converse hit the game-tying basket, plus game-winning free throw on a three-point play with :09 seconds left. Maddox McCarty and Dylan Eversole each had 17 points to lead the Beavers. Harper Creek will get back into Interstate 8 Conference play with a trip down to Coldwater on Friday. Coldwater has won three of its last four league games and is fighting to get to .500 after opening the season at 2-6. The Cardinals faced Parchment in non-conference action on Tuesday and won 65-39.
Pennfield (13-3)
Next: at Marshall, Friday, Feb. 6; at Coldwater, Tuesday, Feb. 10
Scouting Report: Pennfield has a chance to clinch a share of the Interstate 8 Conference title when the Panthers travel to Marshall on Friday. Still undefeated in league play, Pennfield has a two game lead on second-place Marshall. If the Panthers get their second win against Marshall on the season, Pennfield will have a three-game lead on the rest of the conference with three I-8 games left to play. Pennfield and Marshall shared the league title a year ago, along with Harper Creek. The Panthers won their fourth straight game on Tuesday in a non-conference battle with Vicksburg. Pennfield trailed by double digits early and rallied for a 73-68 win over Vicksburg. Johnny Lake had 34 points, 13 rebounds and three assists to lead Pennfield. Peyton Merlington added 14 points and six rebounds with Calvin Paesens coming up with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
St. Philip (8-4)
Next: vs. Climax-Scotts (late Wednesday); at Mendon, Friday, Feb. 6
Scouting Report: St. Philip was scheduled to face rival Climax-Scotts at home on Wednesday. Results were not available for this edition. The Tigers, who won the Southern Central Athletic Association West Division last year, will next face the team that is in position to win the league this year. Mendon is undefeated in division play, including a 70-69 win over St. Philip in December. If the Tigers want to repeat as champs, they will need to beat Mendon and then get some help along the way in the final weeks of the season.
Girls Basketball
Battle Creek Central (9-4)
Next: vs. Portage Northern, Friday, Feb. 6; at Harper Creek, Monday, Feb. 9
Scouting Report: Battle Creek Central won a marathon game on Tuesday, beating Stevensville-Lakeshore on the road 71-69 in four overtimes. Stevensville-Lakeshore is 1-10 on the year. The Bearcats will host Portage Northern next, which comes into Battle Creek at 4-9 overall after coming up with a 48-35 win over Loy Norrix on Tuesday. BCC will turn around and see city rival Harper Creek on Monday.
Lakeview (5-8)
Next: vs. Portage Central, Friday, Feb. 6; vs. Portage Northern, Tuesday, Feb. 10
Scouting Report: Lakeview struggled shooting the ball in a 47-39 loss to Kalamazoo Central on Tuesday. The Maroon Giants are 7-4 on the season. The Spartans had a makeup game on Wednesday against Stevensville-Lakeshore. Going into Friday’s game against Portage Central, Lakeview will be playing three games in the matter of four days.
Harper Creek (4-9)
Next: at Coldwater, Friday, Feb. 6; vs. Battle Creek Central, Monday, Feb. 9
Scouting Report: Harper Creek won two straight going into a Wednesday makeup game against Kalamazoo Christian. The Beavers will next face Coldwater on Friday as the Cardinals are still fighting to stay in the race in the Interstate 8 Conference race. Coldwater is two games behind first-place Parma Western. Coldwater defeated Harper Creek 55-21 in the first meeting in early January.
Pennfield (2-9)
Next: at Marshall, Friday, Feb. 6; vs. Charlotte, Saturday, Feb. 7
Scouting Report: Pennfield has lost five straight going into a road game against league-rival Marshall. The Redhawks had a makeup game against St. Johns on Wednesday, with back-to-back games following a matchup with Otsego on Tuesday. Marshall, at 8-5 overall, will be playing its third game in four days when facing Pennfield.
St. Philip (8-5)
Next: vs. Climax-Scotts (late Wednesday); at Mendon, Friday, Feb. 6
Scouting Report: St. Philip took a three-game winning streak into a rivalry game against Climax-Scotts on Wednesday. The Tigers will next see first-place Mendon on Friday as the Hornets are undefeated in the Southern Central Athletic Association West Division. Mendon beat St. Philip 42-38 in the first matchup in December.
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Pennfield vs. Marshall leads weekend high school basketball schedule
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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