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Baldwin's boys basketball team celebrated a district title on Friday.
John Raffel/Courtesy photo
BALDWIN – JJ Eads has been coaching boys and girls basketball for many years and has enjoyed some successful teams.
But Friday as coach of the Baldwin Panthers, Eads finally was able hold a district championship trophy.
The Panthers, (22-1) ranked third in the state in Division 4, posted their third win over Pentwater (11-13) this season 62-36 and did it in the district championship game.
SJ Hossler scored 18 points while Carmelo Lindsey added 17 to lead the Panthers. David Lee had nine points.
“For the most part, we played pretty well, “ Eads said. “We missed a few shots, had a few turnovers and missed a few offensive assignments. I felt we did all right.”
Eads coached girls basketball at Crossroads and boys at Reed City before coming to Baldwin four years ago. He had strong district contending teams, which always ran up against tougher competition and was denied the district title.
“This is more for the kids,” Eads said. “But I’ve paid my dues. We’ve lost the last six to eight years to private schools.”
Baldwin was ahead the entire contest and built a 16-7 lead after the first quarter. Lindsey had 11 points in the first including a pair of triples. Hossler drove for a bucket just before halftime for a 28-16 lead. David Lee and Hossler both had four points in the second quarter.
Hossler scored 11 points in the third and had three triples. Chance Dockery hit a triple for a 34-19 lead. Louie Jackson and Hossler scored on a couple of drives to make it 38-20. It was 41-25 but Hossler hit two triples with Lindsey netting one inbetween for a 50-25 lead. It was 52-25 after three quarters.
Pentwater made a brief run to open the fourth but it wasn’t enough. Hossler scored off a steal for a 58-36 lead with 2:51 left in the game.
“The key was coming out and playing our game and having good defense,” Lindsey, a four-year player, said. “We came out well.
“This has been my best season far in every (category).”
Will Erkema-Grondsema had 15 points for Pentwater.
