In their first game back since Dec. 21, the Big Rapids Cardinals boys’ basketball team got the new year started with a 70-54 win over the Newaygo Lions at home Friday night.

The Cardinals started the first quarter red hot, scoring a season-high 23 points in the first quarter to lead 23-12. Ball movement against Newaygo’s zone defense opened looks down low and then 3-point shots from Cole Haist and Ty Gielczyk extended the lead to 22 at the half.

Dominant defense was part of the recipe for the Cardinals, slowing down Hunter Yearsovich in the second half to single digits after over 12 points in the first half. Steals by Liam McLaughlin and JaReese Moten gave Big Rapids open transition points to hold their edge in the third quarter and eventual to secure the win.

Cole Haist led Big Rapids scorers with 21 points unofficially, followed by 20 from Gabe Njenga and 14 from Gielczyk. Gielczyk, Moten, and Njenga each added over four rebounds and Gielczyk added a game-high six assists. 

Yearsovich led Lion scorers with an estimated 17 points, followed by Isaiah Miedema with 15 and Russell Toth with 15.

Big Rapids moves to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while Newaygo falls to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in CSAA-Red games. The Cardinals will hit the road to play Fremont on a non-conference tilt on Monday, followed by a home game the following night against White Cloud Tuesday evening.

Listen to all the coverage, for both games, starting at 6:30 P.M. on NewsRadio WBRN via 1460 AM, 96.5 FM, WBRN.com, and the WBRN mobile app.