AKRON — West Branch’s boys basketball suffered a 49-40 loss at the hands of Akron Garfield on Friday in the season opener.

Garfield led by two after first quarter, but the Warriors were up four at half.

Garfield regained the advantage, 32-31, after the third quarter.

Gavin Gregory paced the Warriors with eight points and 13 rebounds. Jeremiah Thomas had 10 points. Kasen Weaver chipped in nine points, while Landon Coffee had five points and seven rebounds.

West Branch hosts Louisville on Tuesday.

Garfield won the jayvee game 47-43. Brock West had nine points for Branch.

WB: 12-13- 6- 9–40

AG: 14- 7-11-17–49

WEST BRANCH SCORING: Jeremiah Thomas 3-3-10, Gavin Gregory 3-2-8, Grady Hirst 1-0-2, Chase Gee 2-0-6, Zach Coffee 0-0-0, Kasen Weaver 3-2-9, Landon Coffee 2-1-5. TEAM TOTALS: 14, 8-12: 40.

GARFIELD SCORING: Thompson Jr. 2-0-5, Caldwell 4-2-11, Chapman 1-1-3, Hamilton 3-7-13, Edwards 3-6-12, Tyler 0-0-0, Law 2-1-5. TEAM TOTALS: 15, 17-27: 49.

Three-point goals: West Branch 4 (Gee, Thomas, Weaver), Garfield 2 (Thompson Jr., Caldwell).

Columbiana 56,

Springfield 46

NEW MIDDLETOWN –Columbiana shot 11-of-24 from three-point range to beat Springfield, 56-46, in Friday’s season opener.

Carter Johnson and Cooper Brown each hit four three-pointers as the Clippers’ leading scorers. Johnson had a game-high 16 points and four assists and Brown 15 points, four assists and four blocks.

Senator Johnson collected 14 points and five rebounds. Brayden Clancy grabbed seven rebounds and Hunter Davanzo four.

Carter Johnson and Senator Johnson scored six points apiece in the first quarter to give the Clippers a 16-13 lead. It stayed close throughout until Columbiana shot 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and Brown added a pair of three-pointers to give the Clippers a 10-point victory.

Columbiana also won the junior varsity game, 58-39 as Zander Oliver scored 21 points.

The Clippers will host Mathews on Tuesday.

C: 16-13-11-16–56

S: 13-12- 9-12–46

COLUMBIANA SCORING: Cooper Brown 5-1-15, Senator Johnson 4-4-14, Carter Johnson 6-0-16, Brayden Clancy 0-0-0, Hunter Davanzo 3-0-6, Avery Young 0-2-2, Deron Winnale 0-0-0, Trey Snyder 1-0-3. TEAM TOTALS: 19-41, 7-9: 56.

SPRINGFIELD SCORING: L. Dyer 4-3-12, Gentile 2-1-5, Wymer 2-0-5, Morlan 4-0-8, Baird 2-4-8, I. Dyer 2-0-4, Jones 2-0-4. TEAM TOTALS: 18, 8-15: 46.

Three-point goals: Columbiana 11-24 (Brown 4, C. Johnson 4, S. Johnson 2, Snyder), Springfield 2 (L. Dyer, Wymer).