LocalSportsJournal.com
The freshmen duo of Owen Varnado and Kellen Mitchell sparked the Western Michigan Christian boys basketball team to an exciting 55-51 Lakes 8 Conference win over previously unbeaten Orchard View on Friday.
Varnado gave WMC an early lift, scoring eight of the Warriors’ first 10 points, finishing with 16. Mitchell, who played his first game after suffering a concussion, finished with 12 points.
The Warriors led 16-7 after the first quarter and 27-22 at halftime. WMC built a 44-36 lead after the third quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the fourth.
But Orchard View’s defense pushed WMC into a dozen turnovers in the final quarter, and the Cardinals cut their deficit to 53-49 with just under two minutes to play. But the comeback fell just short.
Brady Bowen kept the Cardinals in the game with his hot hand, draining six 3-pointers and finishing with a game-high 18 points.
Keontae Barnes added 14 points for OV and Davion Lane chipped in eight.
Brant Zeerip scored 10 points for the Warriors, who  had nine different players score in the win.