Big Rapids capped off a strong 2nd half of the season last Friday with a statement win over the Grant Tigers: 56-35. 

This makes 5 in a row for Coach Ingles' Cardinals and 10 of their last 11 to end the regular season. Add in a season series sweep over the Coyotes and Big Rapids couldn't possibly feel better about tonight's Round 1 matchup with Reed City.

When the Coyotes hosted Big Rapids on January 11th it was tight. 54-50 final but if you watched or listened to the game it didn't seem as close as the score board displayed. Reed City only briefly led by 1 point twice in the 2nd quarter. The Cardinals lead was as much as 10 in the 3rd. They then survived the 4th getting outscored 18-13.

This turned a corner for Big Rapids. Since that night they're only lost 1 game at Fremont; 54-36.

Facing the Coyotes a second time was a much different affair for Big Rapids. February 15th Reed City came to Cardinal Country and failed to score a bucket until more than 12 minutes into the game. The Coyotes scored 6 points in the half. They followed that with 21 total points in the 2nd half. Cardinals completed the season sweep with a final of 43-27.

The Cardinals dominant defense, that didn't allow 50 points to 3 of the highest scoring offenses in the league during the final 2 weeks, is looking to again repeat their efforts at Ludington tonight in District 35 Round 1 Play.

Tipoff is at 6:00pm with the Big Rapids Public Schools Pre-Game on WBRN 1460, 107.7, & 96.5 with Bryan Fongers and J.T. Scarpelli on the call.

You can also stream the game via the Betten Baker Chevy Buick GMC Live Stream here!

Both the Cardinal Boys and Girls Basketball teams close out their Conference Seasons at home tonight versus the Grant Tigers.

For the boys this ends their roller coaster season that is ending, regardless of tonight, on quite a high. The boys took care of business this week knocking off Newaygo 49-44 on Monday then winning at Chippewa Hills the next night 47-32.

Monday was a makeup and vengeance for a January 4th upset at Newaygo 75-68 in overtime.

Tuesday was doing what had to be done. Their 47-32 game was as eventful as the score looks, but a win is a win. Coach Kent Ingles and the Cards did what they needed to for the W.

In the 3rd quarter Ingles essentially stopped all play and had the Cardinals play keep away to burn clock.

Why? Why in the 3rd quarter?

Chip Hills Coach Lenny Starck dropped the Warriors back into a tight 2-3 zone refusing to come out and challenge a ball handler. So Coach Ingles had DJ Lee stand at half court and milk clock for about 90 seconds before the Warriors adjusted. Big Rapids ate up another 60+ seconds playing keep away. Then repeated their ensuing 2 possessions.

Genius. Boring, but genius.

The Cardinals had gone cold from the field and the Warriors were incapable of scoring quickly all night. There's no shot clock in high school. Game set and match.

Tonight the Cards host the 11-8 Grant Tigers who have won 5 of their last 6 including upsets over Reed City and Morley Stanwood. They even lost to Fremont, at Fremont, by 1 point in overtime; 60-59. Coach Joe Schuitema's Tigers are rolling at the right time.

Just like Coach Ingles' Cardinals who have won 9 of their last 10. The only loss? At Fremont. In that span they're only giving up 42 points per game including 3 games of less than 35 points. 

With a win tonight Big Rapids finishes in a stand alone 2nd place. With a loss and a Reed City win versus the visiting Newaygo Lions, 2nd place is shared.

Tune to WBRN 1460, 107.7, & 96.5 for the play-by-play action of both the Lady Cardinals and the Boys Cardinals with Bryan Fongers and J.T. Scarpelli starting at 5:45p tonight (2/22/2019).

You can also stream the game via the Betten Baker Chevy Buick GMC Live Stream here!

In what was the strangest offensive game you'll see this year in high school basketball, the Big Rapids Cardinals held off the Reed City Coyotes to complete the season sweep: 43-27.

The Coyotes managed 6 points in the 1^st half including 2 in the 1^st quarter, both from free throws. It took Reed City almost 12 minutes to knock down their first field goal. At half the Cardinals held a lead akin to a football game, 28-6.

The 3^rd quarter took just an odd a turn; the Cardinals scored 4 points to Reed City’s 17 drawing the game to within 10 but then the 4^th returned the scoring to normalcy with the Coyotes managing only 4 points to the Cardinals 13.

The Coyotes never led all night long. The closest they came after the 1^st quarter was the 9 points to close out the 3^rd.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was senior Jake Martinson with a cool 12 points. Sam Alley added 9 with 2 of the biggest rebounds of the game including a missed free throw put back to drive the nail early in the 4^th.

The Coyotes Hansen led with 13 points including 2 triples. Price, Johnson, and Pelton were the only other Coyotes to score.

On one hand you have to wonder if Big Rapids has seen the Coyote team that beat 1^st place Fremont earlier this season. The Reed City squad that was vying for 1^st place coming into February. It’s questions like these that make the Coyotes dangerous come next Monday in Ludington. Who will show up? The December 7^th Coyotes who hosted Fremont and brushed them aside? Or the February 15^th Coyotes who scored 6 points in a half.

On the other hand, you have to give it to Big Rapids. Legendary Coach Kent Ingles and his staff have focused on the side of basketball people often forget; defense. And it’s paying dividends.

The Cardinals mixed up their zone last Friday which confused and baffled the Coyotes to the tune of 22 turnovers. Add in LJ Graves’ 3 blocks and there were no easy possessions for Reed City.

Big Rapids has given up the 2^nd fewest points in the Conference behind only Fremont (47 & 46 respectively).

The Coyotes host Central Montcalm tonight and Newaygo Friday to end their regular season. The Cardinals host Newaygo tonight, head to Chippewa Hills tomorrow, and host Grant Friday.

Tune to WBRN 1460, 107.7, & 96.5 for the play-by-play action of both the Lady Cardinals and the Boys Cardinals with Bryan Fongers and J.T. Scarpelli starting at 5:45p tonight (2/18/2019).

You can also stream the game via the Betten Baker Chevy Buick GMC Live Stream here!

After a season sweep of the Tri County Vikings last Friday, the Big Rapids Cardinals head to Fremont to take on the 1st place Packers!

Big Rapids is 8-5 overall, 5-3 in Gold play and currently sit in 3^rd place.

The Fremont Packers are 11-1 overall, 6-1 in Gold play and currently lead the standings in 1^st place.

Fremont's only loss on the season was at Reed City back in December, 61-49. They returned the favor to split the season series last Friday beating the Coyotes in Fremont, 60-49. The Packers have now won 9 in a row dating back to that single loss on December 7^th.

The Cardinals are on a 5-game win streak dating back to January 8^th when they lost at home to the Central Montcalm Hornets. 4 of the 5 games are conference wins which has helped propel the Cardinals to 3^rd place.

Big Rapids dropped game 1 of the series to Fremont on December 14th, 54-44. The Cardinals only led twice in that game, both very early. Fremont then ran away with it in the 4th.

The game was much closer than the final showed, however. Staying within 10 points until the end of the 3^rd, the Packers ripped off 10 unanswered heading into the 4^th. The Cardinals eventually closed the deficit to 2 but from there Fremont controlled the pace of play maintaining a somewhat comfortable 5 to 7-point lead until the final moments.

Fast forward to tonight, the Cardinals are not the same team they were on December 14^th. With DJ Lee, LJ Graves, Dorian Martin, and Jayden Mason coming as of late, the Cardinals are a tad deeper than game 1.

If the Cardinals can pull off another “Reed City at Reed City” upset tonight they could potentially move into a 3-way tie for 1^st. The Coyotes would also need to lose at Grant tonight. A tall order considering they beat the Tigers back on December 14^th in Reed City by 14, 56-42.

Both the Girls and Boys will be broadcast tonight on WBRN 1460, 107.7, & 96.5
Also streaming via the Better Baker Big Rapids Stream: http://wbrn.com/

Big Rapids Public Schools Girls Pre-Game 5:45p
Big Rapids Public Schools Boys Pre-Game 7:15p