Week 8 Top Performers: Seniors step up for their teams in big games and tournaments
HILLSDALE COUNTY — When it is homecoming week, or a team needs a win before the end of January, teams lean on their senior leadership to get the job done.
Several seniors and many other athletes had highlight moments to close out the final full week of January winter prep sports.
More: Hillsdale wrestlers John and Stephen Petersen take first place at Grass Lake Invitational
Hillsdale senior Stephen Petersen takes first with brother John at Grass Lake Invitational
Headlining the wrestling results from Week 8 was the efforts of two Hornet brothers who participated in the Grass Lake Invitational.
Senior Stephen Petersen, alongside his brother John Petersen, took first place in their respective weight classes at the Grass Lake Invitational. Stephen Petersen won his way to first via pinfall throughout the entire tournament, including a win just 20 seconds into his quarterfinal round. This included a win over the D3 No. 3 ranked 190-pound wrestler Jack Reid of Grass Lake.
John Petersen, a junior, stayed undefeated after winning the 215-weight class. Wrestler Wyatt Wahtola took third at 285. Ethan Wolf took fifth at 132.
Pittsford senior Halle Clark scores 20 in girls prep hoops win over North Adams
Pittsford senior Halle Clark is one of Pittsford's three senior athletes that make up the core of a currently 10-2 Pittsford girls basketball team. Clark helped lead the Wildcats to two double-digit wins in Week 8, a 40-23 win over Litchfield and a 68-16 win over North Adams-Jerome.
More: Roundup: Pittsford boys and girls basketball teams defeat Litchfield in home-and-home
Against North Adams-Jerome, Clark had 20 points, 10 in each half. She was joined by junior teammate Ava Mallar who had 20 points in the game as well. Mallar also had 16 against Litchfield. Riley McCumber added 16 to the points total against North Adams.
Kurtz and Burk lead Waldron girls basketball past Tekonsha
The Waldron varsity girls basketball team bounced back from a loss to Hillsdale Academy with a resounding 53-24 win over Tekonsha.
The team was led by Morgan Burks who had a triple double of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steal. The team was also led by Kailee Kurtz who had 17 points, five steals and five assists.
WCA senior Tyler Barnes has double-double in win over Marshall Academy
As the wins stack up for Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy boys basketball, so does the impressive performances the team has on the court. This included four Cougars scoring double-digits in their 83-53 win over Marshall Academy to earn their seventh win in a row.
Senior Tyler Barnes led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in one of his best games so far this season. Junior Thomas Maier had 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals. Tyler Slade had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Caleb Daniels had 11 points.
Senior Isaac Shively takes fourth for Jonesville wrestling
It was a competitive day for Jonesville varsity boys wrestling in Week 8. The Comets traveled to Leslie for the annual Blackhawk Invitational. In the 190-pound flight, Comet senior Isaac Shively would lead his team with a fourth-place podium finish.
Shievely would earn a pinfall and two decision wins on his way to the fourth-place finish. Shively had a 7-3 decision victory over the D3 No. 9 ranked 190 wrestler Ben Kelenske of Olivet.
Joining Shively at the podium for the Comets was senior Jordan VanSickle, who took fifth in the 175-weight class flight. Comet junior Carson Playford would earn fifth in the 132-weight class.
Jonesville senior Gavin Van Kampen earns double-double on homecoming night
The Jonesville boys basketball team improved their overall record to 11-4 on the season after defeating Vandercook Lake 60-40. One senior would win his final homecoming game of his career with a double-double performance to lead the team.
Gavin Van Kampen finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Joining him was senior Warrick Elder, who led the team in total points for the week with 29 points.
Comet senior Lyra Nichols nearly earns double-double on homecoming night
Before the boys basketball team took the court on homecoming night, the Jonesville girls basketball team defeated Quincy in a 36-30 final.
Leading the way in the doubleheader homecoming event was Lyra Nichols, who had 12 points, nine rebounds, five steals and two assists to lead the Comet girls prep hoops team to their eighth win.
More: Weekend Hoops: Comets enjoy homecoming sweep; other teams celebrate winter homecoming
Junior Comet Haley Mach had nine points and three steals. Senior Gracen Hager had six points and three rebounds and was named Homecoming Queen.
Hillsdale Academy seniors score double digits in Week 8 games
The Hillsdale Academy boys and girls basketball teams swept their way through Week 8 with two wins each.
More: Basketball Roundup: Hillsdale Academy and Pittsford boys hoops teams continue win steaks
For the boys hoops team, senior Jay Jenkins had 14 points to lead the team to a win over Waldron. Senior Dominic Scharer had 23 points to lead the team to a win over Camden-Frontier. Scharer led the team with 33 points for the week.
For the girls hoops team, senior Ava King led the team in both wins. The senior had 12 points and nine rebounds against Waldron and a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds against Camden-Frontier. Senior Iris Millies had nine points against Waldron. Senior Angela Alvarez had six points against Camden-Frontier.
Reading freshman Reid Westfall leads team with third-place finish at Leslie
The Rangers battled at the Leslie Invitational event on Saturday. Leading the team results was 106-pound wrestler Reid Westfall. In his flight, Westfall ended the night taking third overall.
Westfall had a major decision win (10-0), a technical fall (15-0) and a 4-3 decision win in the medalist round to earn bronze for his team. Also placing on the podium was Lukas Strine in fifth at 175 and Isaac Westfall in fifth at 190.
More: Reid Westfall takes third; 5 other area wrestlers place in top 5 at Leslie Invite
Camden-Frontier junior Averil Miller leads team to third win of the season
Camden-Frontier girls basketball picked up their third win of the season with a 38-26 victory over North Adams-Jerome. Miller led the team with 14 points. Senior Lexus Sigler added 13 points to the team total. For the Rams, Lydia Little had 14 points.
Pittsford senior Mason Payne earns two double-digit scoring efforts in Week 8 wins
The Pittsford boys basketball team had a tough week that included three games. The team defeated Litchfield 71-61 and North Adams-Jerome 59-23.
Senior Mason Payne scored 20 points against Litchfield and led the team with 14 more points in the win over North Adams-Jerome. He then added six points to the team total on homecoming night against Jackson Christian.
Jacob Drawe led the Wildcats with 22 against Litchfield. Senior Gavyn Carden led the team with 10 points on homecoming night.
Bowles and Lennox lead Hillsdale past Hudson
After four defensive battles in a row between Hillsdale and Hudson boys basketball, the Hornets delivered a 61-31 defeat to the Tigers.
Leading the way was Senior Jack Bowles with 20 points. Junior Jace Lennox Delivered 13 points for the Hornets. Junior Brody Adams had 10 points.
Seniors lead Hillsdale bowling teams
The Hillsdale bowling teams were able to defeat Onsted together in their league matches. Leading the boys team was senior Charles Macy who bowled a 238 game. Alex Porrteus had a 235 game and senior Nolan Grant had a 222 game.
Leading the girls team was senior Chloe Manifold who bowled a 392 series and a 214 game.
At the Hudson jamboree over the weekend, Grant led the boys results with a 222 game and a 410 series. Chloe Manifold led the girls team with a 212-225-437 series.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Week 8 Top Performers: Seniors step up for their teams in big games and tournaments
