DEFENSE, GRIT, AND FREE THROWS DEFINE EARLY-SEASON WOLVERINE SHOWDOWN AS PLAINWELL EDGES PAW PAW

Plainwell and Paw Paw captains meet before tip-off. Photo by Brady Triemstra | TBM Team

There were no easy buckets on either side Friday night as two Wolverine rivals locked into a physical, defense-first battle from the opening tip. Paw Paw set the tone early behind Caden Bowen, who came out firing and buried back-to-back threes to give the Red Wolves a quick 6–0 advantage. Plainwell answered soon after, leaning on Chibueze Amaezechi in the middle of the first quarter as he went to work inside and poured in seven points to steady the Trojans. The opening quarter swung again in the final seconds when senior guard Nathanael Launt converted an and-one with 4.5 seconds remaining, giving Plainwell a slim 12–11 edge at the break.

Caden Bowen warms up prior to Friday night’s game. Photo by Brady Triemstra | TBM Team

Plainwell carried that momentum into the second quarter with a 5–0 run, capped by a goaltending call that pushed the lead to 17–13 midway through the period. Paw Paw responded with energy, rattling off a 7–0 run of their own to briefly reclaim control. The momentum slowed, however, when senior guard Truman Brennan went down with an injury. At halftime, Plainwell held a narrow 22–20 lead. Scoring remained hard to come by in the third quarter, with much of the offense coming from the free-throw line. Neither team could create separation, and Plainwell entered the fourth still clinging to a 31–29 advantage. The final quarter came down to execution and stops. Plainwell’s defense tightened even further, holding Paw Paw scoreless for nearly half the period. The Red Wolves struggled to find rhythm offensively as shots refused to fall, and Plainwell was able to grind out possessions and protect the lead down the stretch.When the final horn sounded, Plainwell escaped with a hard-fought 38–34 win in a game that was decided by toughness, defense, and timely plays. Amaezechi led all scorers with 15 points for Plainwell. For Paw Paw, Bowen and Tate each finished with seven in the loss.

Paw Paw student section cheers on the Red Wolves Friday night. Photo by Brady Triemstra | TBM Team

Plainwell improves to 3–1 on the season with the win, while Paw Paw falls to 1–2. The Trojans will look to keep their momentum rolling next Tuesday when they face Three Rivers, while the Red Wolves aim to bounce back as they prepare to take on Edwardsburg in their next outing.