By: Nate Dreyer
The second half of conference play within the O-K Conference is now well underway after some notable results and upsets Friday night, Tuesday on Michigan Sports Radio will provide a chance for some of the area’s top contenders to keep their positioning at the top of the heap, and for others to pull upsets in an attempt to joining the top fray.
Hudsonville Seeking Home Rebound
The Hudsonville boys entered the season as one of the top favorites in the crowded field at the top of the O-K Red, and they looked the part through the first part of the season. Head coach Eric Elliott’s Eagles now are looking for a bounce-back after losing two-in-a-row within the ‘Red’. After a home loss to Grandville, they fell in an OT shocker to Grand Haven Friday night.
The Eagles are now solo 4th in the conference at 4-3, still needing to see East Kentwood twice, along with everyone else (minus Grand Haven) once more. They look to start their climb back into the Red race Tuesday, as they host Caledonia. The Scots fell by 10 to Rockford on Friday night and have now alternated wins and losses every-other game over their past two weeks of play.
The boys tip-off at approximately 7:00, following the girls contest that opens the night, also live on MSR. The Hudsonville girls are looking for a bounce-back of their own, after coach Glass’s team fell at Grand Haven as well in a 42-37 defensive struggle Friday night. The Eagles girls have had an up-and-down season as they retool off of losing some of the final key pieces from the core of the team that won the 2021 state championship, their difficult district will include both Byron Center and East Kentwood – so Hudsonville will need to be rolling headed into the district if they are going to be able to restart a district championship streak in 2024. The Caledonia girls are currently tied at the bottom of the Red at 1-7 and look for the upset over the Eagles.
Check out both games live with our Ron Cox on the call, Girls coverage begins at 5:20pm!
Defensive ‘Dawgs Hosting West Ottawa
The Grandville boys have been one of the hottest teams in the race for the O-K Red, now sitting solo 3rd with two losses within the league and a head-to-head win over 4th-place Hudsonville. A recent 4-1 stretch for the Bulldogs (with the only loss against the area’s top team for many, Grand Rapids Christian) have been led through suffocating Defense. The Bulldogs have allowed less than 50 points in every game during that stretch (and only allowed 51 in the game before that five game run).
The West Ottawa program comes to Grandville, where their boys team under second-year head coach Jared Redell have now dropped five-straight and have been mixing up some pieces in their rotation, trying to find a spark. The Panther boys were able to force an up-and-down game the first time against the Bulldogs and will try to control the pace and score on the suffocating ‘Dawgs and earn a season split and road upset win.
The West Ottawa girls had a milestone Friday night as their leading star Gabby Reynolds scored 30 points, en-route to notching her 1500th career point and taking down previously-perfect in the O-K Red, East Kentwood, 53-50. The Panthers girls are now 5-3 in the league and two games back in the loss column of the Rockford/East Kentwood conference lead at one loss, with Grand Haven’s two losses also sliding into the mix.
The Grandville girls have been finding a bit more of a groove as of late, beating both Mattawan and Jension last week (along with a Saturday loss to EGR). Expect this game to likely be a slower-paced and defense-led game, as both coaches Chapman for WO, and VanHekken for Grandville like to break out various different traps and a slower, controlled pace to try to win through defense.
Coverage begins on GAME NIGHT on Michigan Sports Radio at 5:00, with girls tip-off at 5:30 and the boys to follow at ~7:00. We’ll have video coverage of both games!
Cougars Control Gold vs. T.K.
After completing the season sweep of South Christian on Friday, the O-K Gold now fully runs through Grand Rapids Catholic Central. As they sit unbeaten in the O-K Gold and two games clear (with the double Head-to-head wins) over the Sailors to fully control their own destiny for the second have of league play.
The ‘Cougs host Thornapple-Kellogg on MSR Tuesday, as they look to stay perfect in the conference and bounce back from their showcase loss to Lima (OH) at Aquinas Saturday. Keep an eye out for the health status of Durral Brooks, as the C.C. senior sat out Saturday after returning from a previous injury to score 30 against South Christian the night before.
The Cougars won the first meeting with the Trojans, 68-48. They look to complete the sweep, starting live on MSR at 6:45, tune in for video coverage with Eric and Joe!
South Christian Girls Take on FHE
MSR’s Bob Sack will be at South Christian Tuesday with more girls basketball action as well. The Sailors ladies sit at 8-6 overall and an even 4-4 in thenO-K Gold after they suffered a loss Friday to Catholic Central (who also has remained perfect in conference on the girls side).
South hosts a Forest Hills Eastern Squad sitting currently in solo 7th in the league with a 1-7 conference record. FHE has only won one game overall on the season, with that win coming in conference play against Ottawa Hills – We’ll see if the Hawks can pull the upset or if the Sailors can get back above .500 on the year in O-K Gold play.
Live coverage starts at 6:50pm!
Central Montcalm Girls Look to Better .500 Mark
The Hornets girls in Central Montcalm have put together a solid season, with some ups-and-downs to currently sit at 7-7 on the campaign, and they’ll look to better that mark Tuesday on MSR. They welcome another .500 challenger in Sheperd to town in a non-conference battle. Catch the live video coverage with the Hornets Radio crew, beginning at 6:35pm!
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Enjoy the slate of Tuesday action, and be sure to check back in before Friday, as we’ll have a packed preview of all of the action coming up then live on MSR – in what might be the biggest night of the season so far with huge match-ups like Grandville/Rockford, Coopersville/Hamilton, and more on the way!
Be sure to swing by and check out standings, scores and future schedules along with the most comprehensive list of live coverage in the state all season long, right here on MichiganSportsRadio.com!
