Basketball Roundup: Harper Creek explodes for 33-point quarter in win over Pennfield
BATTLE CREEK - Harper Creek coach Matt Bowling hasn't seen too many 33-point quarters during his 20-plus years of coaching the Beavers. But when he has, it usually comes with a win.
That was the case, as the Beavers broke out for 33 points in the third quarter as Harper Creek beat Pennfield, 62-49, in this Interstate 8 Conference boys basketball game at Harper Creek High School on Tuesday.
"I knew it was an explosion. I didn't know how many. It has been a long time since we've had a quarter like that, it feels good," Bowling said.
Brayden Bess got the third quarter rolling for Harper Creek with eight straight points for his team as the Beavers enjoyed their first double-digit lead at 39-28. Another 3-pointer by Bess had Harper Creek on an 18-5 run with a 42-28 lead with 3:23 left in the period.
Bess would finish with a team-high 20 points, including 14 points in the third quarter alone.
"We got a few turnovers, a few loose balls, the kids hit some shots and once they saw some fall, it became contagious," Bowling said. "Bess got hot and we realized that and fed him. Ran some sets for him because he was feeling good, and give the kids credit, they were also looking for him, which was good to see."
With a breakaway layup at the buzzer by Harper Creek's Dylan Eversole, the Beavers ended the third quarter with a 57-34 lead.
It had been a tight game at halftime with Harper Creek up just one at 24-23. But the 33 points in a quarter for Harper Creek, and just 34 points for Pennfield total through the first three quarters combined, said it all, according to Panther coach Nate Burns.
"That was just unfathomable," Burns said. "After the way we played in the first half, thought we played well in the first half. Then to come out and play that way in the third quarter....it is just mind boggling."
Bess led Harper Creek with 20 with Eversole adding 10 and Brady Vette getting 10 as the Beavers improve to 7-12, winning four of their last five games.
Johnathan Lake had 12 points and six rebounds and Calvin Paesens added eight points and eight rebounds for Pennfield, which lost for a second time this year to Harper Creek and is now 6-12.
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More Boys Basketball
Schoolcraft 64, Lakeview 38
Schoolcraft, which is getting votes in the Associated Press state rankings in Division 3, improved to 16-3 with the non-conference win over Lakeview as Shane Rykse had 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Lucas Dzwik had 10 points to lead Lakeview in only its second double-digit defeat of the year as the Spartans fall to 12-7.
Marshall 48, Haslett 48
Marshall ended a four-game losing skid with a road victory in non-conference action against Haslett (3-15). Marshall improves to 8-11 with Ty Keeler leading the way with 20 points and three assists with Zavion Russ adding 13 points and four steals.
St. Philip 79, Battle Creek Academy 24
St. Philip won its third game in the last four outings to improve to 11-4. Colt Myers had 19 points with Sawyer Weiss getting 16 and Jackson Dzwik adding 14. Battle Creek Academy fell to 13-5 with Nathan Thomson getting 10 points.
Bronson 64, Quincy 53
Bronson led early 19-9 and came away with the win to improve to 12-6. Grant Carter had 12 points and seven rebounds for Quincy, which is 8-11.
Martin 67, Athens 51
Martin earned its first win of the season and goes to 1-17 with the victory over winless Athens. Silas Hall had 16 points for Athens with Kale Kiefer adding 11.
Galesburg-Augusta 57, Lawton 56
Down 44-40 to start the fourth, Galesburg-Augusta rallied for the win. John Klimp had 15 points to lead the Rams with Levi Born adding 10 as G-A goes to 13-4.
Olivet 49, Eaton Rapids 35
Bo Lincoln had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists as Olivet improves to 14-5 overall and 8-3 in the CAAC White Division.
Girls Basketball
Harper Creek 37, Pennfield 32
Harper Creek led 23-15 at halftime and went on to complete a season sweep over Pennfield and improved to 8-10. Kennedy Halverson led the Beavers with 16 points with Ella Chantrenne and Taegen Anderson each adding nine. Pennfield falls to 4-13 overall as Julia Perez De Doria led the Panthers with nine points and 12 rebounds. Emilee Klacking had nine points and eight rebounds for Pennfield as Natalie Hensel added eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Lakeview 44, Loy Norrix 33
Lakeview earned its first Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division win and goes to 5-12 overall with the victory over Loy Norrix (6-12). Camille Oxley had 14 points to lead the Spartans.
St. Philip 45, Battle Creek Academy 29
St. Philip goes to 7-9 with the win over BCA (10-6). Addi Dzwik had 22 points with Miriam Hibbard adding 11.
Olivet 45, Eaton Rapids 32
Olivet improves to 10-8 as Emmalie Letts had 17 points, six rebounds and five steals for the Eagles. Kara Priddy added 13 points and six rebounds.
Monday's Boys Basketball
St. Philip 64, Climax-Scotts 40
St. Philip outscored Climax-Scotts 17-6 in the second quarter to lead 27-19 at halftime and never trailed again. Carter Dzwik had 21 points with Lincoln Dzwik adding 19 and Colt Myers getting 14. Miles Shannon had 18 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks for Climax-Scotts, which is now 5-13.
Jonesville 55, Homer 32
Homer is now 4-15 after this conference loss. Logan Nelson had eight points for the Trojans with Tyson Garrett chipping in seven points, three assists and three steals.
Monday's Girls Basketball
Climax-Scotts 54, St. Philip 33
Climax-Scotts goes to 11-4 with the league win over St. Philip. Holly Talbert had 20 points for C-S with Jaise Lane adding 11. The Tigers were led by Addi Dzwik, getting 19 points in the loss.
Quincy 52, Athens 34
Quincy earned its fourth win in the last five games and improves to 5-11 overall. Athens falls to 6-8 with Kami Parlin leading the Indians with 14 points.
Colon 77, Jackson Christian 32
Colon outscored Jackson Christian 35-4 in the second half as the No. 2-ranked Magi improve to 15-1. Reese Williams had 34 points and nine steals for Colon with Raegan Thaxton adding 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Hoop Roundup: Harper Creek boys top Pennfield; Lakeview girls win
