Sanders Excels on, off Court at Columbia Central
By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (December 28, 2024 8:00 AM ET) Tenacious, strong, and confident is how Columbia Central High School basketball player Derek Sanders – an avid comic book collector – describes his favorite Marvel Comic Book character Thor. Others at CCHS may say those words apply to Sanders. The CCHS senior just scored his 1,000th point on the basketball court, helped the Golden Eagles win a soccer league championship this past fall, and expects to graduate with a GPA over 4.0 in the spring. Not bad for someone who blazed his own trail at CCHS. He transferred from the Hanover-Horton district as a freshman to attend schools at Columbia – a district his family already lived in. “Having a soccer team, solid academics, and living in the district made it easy,” Sanders said of the decision. “The learning curve of adjusting from eighth grade basketball to varsity was the tough part.” Making a name for himself in the sport of basketball may have also been tough for the then 15-year-old. His two brothers played on successful basketball teams under HHHS Coach Chad Mortimer. “I was always the little brother who got beat on the basketball court,” Sanders said…
JTV Sports Jackson County Scoreboard for Dec 27, 2024
Jett Smith (3) of Concord High School brings the basketball up the court Friday during the Shot Clock Classic at Spring Arbor University against Columbia Central. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports Boys Basketball – SAU Shot Clock Classic Columbia Central 60, Concord 55 Lenawee Christian 69, Springport 68 (OT) On Deck Dec. 28 at SAU Shot Clock Classic Northwest vs. Howardsville Christian 11 a.m. Erie Mason vs. Grass Lake 1 p.m. Schoolcraft vs. Lumen Christi 3 p.m. Mason vs. Jackson 5 p.m. Western vs. Hanover-Horton 7 p.m. Girls Basketball SAU Shot Clock Classic Northwest 36, Springport 34 Wrestling Montague Inv. (Girls): Alina Andrist of Jackson was fifth at 130 pounds; Bella Huston of Columbia Central finished fourth at 190 pounds; and Kaylee Bonner of Jackson was fourth and Aleah Gillett of Hanover-Horton sixth at 235 pounds at the all-girl invitational Friday. On Deck Dec. 28 Fred Boss Memorial at Addison 9 a.m. Montague Inv. (Boys) 9 a.m. Springport at Thornapple-Kellogg 9 a.m.
Lenawee Christian 69, Springport 68 (OT) in Boys Basketball at Spring Arbor University
Marshall Shoemaker (2) of Springport High School shoots a free throw during the Shot Clock Classic at Spring Arbor University Friday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports Lenawee Christian 69, Springport 68 (OT): The Cougars won a battle of previously undefeated teams at the Shot Clock Classic at Spring Arbor University Friday. They jumped out to nearly a double-digit lead in the first period, but only led 28-25 at halftime. Every time it appeared as if LCHS would pull away, Springport would respond. Jake Kregel finished with 19 points and Dallas Higelmire tallied 16 points including the game-tying 3-point shot at the end of regulation. The Spartans could not stop Jaxon Salenbien of Lenawee Christian who scored 37 points in the win.
Basketball Boys Lenawee Christian vs. Springport (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photo Gallery
Basketball Boys Lenawee Christian vs. Springport (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports. Basketball Boys Lenawee Christian vs. Springport (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
Columbia Central 60, Concord 55 Boys Basketball at SAU Shot Clock Classic
Nolan Schiel (14) of Columbia Central High School attempts to split a pair of Concord defenders during the Shot Clock Classic at Spring Arbor University Friday afternoon. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports Columbia Central 60, Concord 55: The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first few minutes of the Spring Arbor University Shot Clock Classic Friday. The Golden Eagles were led by Derek Sanders with 23 points including a key three-point play with just over a minute remaining in the game. Nolan Schiel also scored 17 points for CCHS. Concord was led by Darrell Dean with 20 points and Connor Stevens scoring 14 points.
Basketball Boys Concord vs. Columbia Central (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photo Gallery
Basketball Boys Concord vs. Columbia Central (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports Basketball Boys Concord vs. Columbia Central (SAU), 12-27-2024 | Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports