Conference Championship Defining Friday Night: MSR Hoops Weekend Recap
By: Nate Dreyer
Photo courtesy of Miles Postema
Friday night served as a major determining point in conference races across west Michigan, and Michigan Sports Radio was live at all of the biggest match-ups. Here’s a look at some of the results, setting the scene for a chaotic final week of the conference season.
Also, Sunday is a big day in boys hoops, as the MHSAA will be releasing the official brackets for boys districts that begin a week from Monday night. So keep your eyes glued to the MHSAA website and social media channels to see if your favorite team was able to lock up a top-two seed and what their match-ups look like for the first round of the district playoffs. MSR will have live radio coverage across the area at many of the biggest and most hotly-contested districts.
O-K Red Split at Rockford Re-Writes the Standings
Rockford provided an incredible setting on Friday night, as MSR had live coverage from a boys/girls doubleheader, where all four teams sat in the top two spots of the conference with massive implications riding on the results. It was East Kentwood making the trip up 131 to Rockford and the boys led off the night.
The Rams boys were able to hold off Kentwood on the road last time around, and had a 14-game win streak and two-game conference lead heading into Friday. A win here and the conference would be locked up for Coach Kyle Clough’s team – But, that wasn’t to be in the cards. Coach Mike Thomas’s Falcons led this one throughout, eventually earning a 61-49 win over the Rams to snap the Rockford win streak and bring the Falcons deficit in the loss column to one game in the Red.
E.K. was led by Christian Humphrey-Rembert who put up an 18 point and 10 rebound double-double performance (along with seven blocks), sophomore Jake Bascom had 13 for Rockford.
Next week East Kentwood will play three games to close their league (and regular season) schedule – They have a make-up game with 4th-placed Hudsonville on Monday, before taking on 6th-place Caledonia on Tuesday and 5th-spotted Grand Haven on Friday. The Rams play the bottom two teams in the Red, West Ottawa and Jenison to close. So, with a one-game lead the Rams still seem to be in position to take another league championship – But, W.O. has already taken Grandville to OT, & anything can happen as March nears….
The Rockford Girls had their 33-game win streak snapped by the Falcons last month, and hosted the Kentwood ladies with both teams tied at one-loss before Friday. The winner would take the one-game advantage and be in the ‘cat-birds’ seat to win the O-K Red crown.
Rockford would not be denied this time around, as Coach Wilson’s team took down the Falcons 62-54 – stretching the reigning state champs new winning streak to nine.
The Rams will have to take on Miss Basketball frontrunner Gabby Reynolds and West Ottawa on Tuesday, before taking on Jenison on Friday. While EK has Hudsonville, Caledonia and Grand Haven left on the ledger – So, things could still get mixed up more (especially if W.O. pulls off the win vs. Rockford like they did earlier to EK).
Unity Christian Survives Thriller to Take Two-Game O-K Blue Lead Over Coopersville
Unity Christian is one of west Michigan’s hottest teams. And after Rockford’s loss on Friday, they could stretch an 11-game win streak to 12 and become the hottest in the area. They hosted Coopersville on Friday, who saddled into the night one game back of Unity with a head-to-head loss to the ‘Saders by two points as their only conference blemish. Friday would again live up the hype.
A back-and-forth affair came down to the closing seconds and closing possessions, with the game knotted at 47 UC’s sophomore Kyler Berghuis drove to the basket inside 10 seconds to go and was able to draw the contact and get to the line – He hit both at the stripe to give the Crusaders a 49-47 lead with nine seconds remaining.
On the inbound, Coopersville would commit a conference-sealing error as a violation and travel was whistled on the inbounder moving on the throw-in. Giving the ball back to the ‘Saders, where after a foul, Colin Niewenhuis was able to go 2-for-2 at the line and seal a 4-point, 51-47 win for the ‘Saders.
T.J. Fisher had 14 points to lead Unity, while Coopersville fell just short despite an incredible effort from senior big-man Gabe VanSickle – with 20 points.
With a two game lead, it will just take a single win in their final week games against Holland Christian or Spring lake, and the Crusaders will lock up another solo conference championship for legendary Head Coach Scott Soodsma.
Muskegon Comeback Creates Two-Horse O-K Green Chase
Zeeland West’s boys came into Friday a game back of the two-way Reeths-Puffer/Muskegon tie at the top of the O-K Green – but, with a game against each still left for the Dux, they controlled their own destiny for a chance at a share of the crown still.
The first test was a rematch with Muskegon, who was able to pull away late at Redmond-Potter Gym for a win in the first go-around. This time it again started well for ZW, as after a banked-in triple at the 2nd quarter buzzer by Myles Steffen, they led a grinding ball game at the half, 22-15.
Coach Guy and the Big Reds upped the intensity down the stretch and were able to pull away with another impressive closing half, however. As the Big Reds would hold West to just 5 points scored in the 3rd quarter and held off a late ZW charge for a 53-44 win.
The critical stat down the stretch: free throw shooting. In a 9-point win the Big Reds made 29 free throws compared to West only hitting six on the night, as the Big Reds were adept getting to the stripe and didn’t miss out on their chances when they got there.
Terrance Davis had 12 to lead Muskegon, while Luke Bakker paced Zeeland West with 14. The Big Reds and Rockets of Reeth-Puffer remain tied at the point of the O-K Green Standings, where Zeeland West could likely still play a big role in determining the champion, as they rematch with Reeths-Puffer on Friday – looking for revenge for an OT loss to the Rockets the first go-around.
Other Games on MSR, & Beyond
*In a DH at Hudsonville on Friday the West Ottawa girls and Hudsonville boys were each able to prevail in a split on the evening. That result keeps the WO girls in solo third, two games back of Rockford and the Hudsonville boys solo fourth, now three games back in the loss column of the Rams on that side.
Hudsonville’s boys and girls will still have to play three games next week, as Monday MSR will have coverage of their make-up doubleheader vs. East Kentwood from the Hudsonville Fieldhouse.
*G.R.C.C. and South Christian’s boys each continue their strong play in the O-K Gold as they ramp up for a loaded D2 playoffs that will see them have to face off with the likes of each-other, GR Christian, Unity Christian, & more – before they even see east-side powers.
Catholic Central took down Cedar Springs in big fashion, 70-30, as Durral Brooks put up 31 points for the ‘Cougs. The Sailors were able to beat Ottawa Hills on the road Friday in a high-scoring game, 87-66. Jake VerMaas had 21 for coach Johnson’s team to lead the way.
*The G.R.C..C girls were able to pick up a big win over Cedar Springs on Friday also, surviving 54-51. That win keeps the top of the O-K Gold standings as C.C. territory for the girls and boys. The C.C. girls hold a one-game lead over Wayland and the boys a 2-game lead over South Christian, with just a week, and two games, to play.
*There were no hangover effects for GR Christian’s boys after their conference-deciding win over Northview on MSR on Wednesday. They were able to handle Forest Hills Northern 53-27 on Friday. Quintin Willis had 11 for GRC and Ouwinga was just behind him with 10 on a well-balanced scoring night for coach Taylor’s Eagles.
*Grandville’s boys bounced back after a very tough loss on the road vs. Kentwood on Tuesday, as they held on in a tough game vs. Caledonia, 43-39. The Bulldogs were led by Colin Heyboer with 16 and Cam Regnerus with 15. Grandville is still in solo third at the moment, a half game up on Hudsonville at 8-4 in the league, and 3 back of Rockford’s one-loss pace. The ‘Dawgs play Grand Haven and Hudsonville next week to close the year.
*The Holland Christian Boys won a thriller on the road over Hamilton to sweep their rival Hawkeyes on the season, 41-40. The Maroons were able to survive the road game while playing without two key injured starters. Caden VanHuis was the final hero, hitting the winning free throws with 30 seconds to go, before the Maroons were able to hold off a final game-winning attempt at the buzzer from the Hawkeyes.
*Byron Center will be hosting maybe the most packed district in boys basketball come next week in division one, the Bulldogs will see the likes of East Kentwood, Grandville, and Hudsonville as a part of the packed district. Byron Center is shaping themselves up well to win the district at home, as they continue to play great basketball.
Friday, the Bulldogs took down a very stout Forest Hills Central team in tough fashion, 53-38. Byron Center’s Camden Karel had 13 points and FHC’s Jonas VanderWoude had 16.
The way things ultimately get seeded Sunday between BC, EK, Hudsonville and Grandville will be a fascinating one to watch, as the top two seeds get byes and the other two will split matchups with Jenison and always-tough Wyoming.
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That’s a look at just some of the action that was live on MSR and other big games across the area. Be sure to check out what the district match-ups are for your favorite teams through the MHSAA website on Sunday and check back in for more big-time action, LIVE on MSR.
The playoffs are coming up and things are only about to ramp up, as we crown conference champions this week and then begin the playoffs for the boys a week later!
