The final week before Christmas break rolls on and we have an interesting and-of-week slate on MSR with a few game split between Thursday and Friday night with Saturday then marking the start of the annual Cornerstone Holiday Tournament, that MSR will be bringing coverage of almost daily over the next couple of weeks!
THURSDAY
GRANDVILLE vs COOPERSVILLE | BOYS
Grandville dropped their third straight game on Tuesday against a still unbeaten Crusaders team from Unity Christian, the ‘Dawgs will now play their final game of 2024 at their home gym and welcome in 3-2 Coopersville – Who picked up a win over Hamilton on Tuesday to buids some momentum headed into this game.
Both teams have played tough schedules to open the year and are better than their under .500 records indicate. Stand-out scoring wings will be the matchup to watch – Grandville’s 6’5 Caden Neves and 6’7 Colin Heyboer are each averaging well over 10 points per game on the season. And Coopersville’s Judah Bartels is Cornerstone commit and multi-level scorer, that especially is deadly from three.
Expect some mixed defensive looks as well in this game – Grandville leans on a half-court mid-paced attack with physical man-to-man defense, while the Broncos can have one of the more methodical offenses in the area, mixed with a zone defense that throws attackers of their rhythm.
Coverage begins from Vanderslice Gymnasium at 6:30pm, with tip-off set for 7:00.
FRIDAY
CENTRAL MONTCALM vs KENT CITY | GIRLS+BOYS DH
The Hornets program travels to Kent City on Friday night for one last doubleheader for 2024. On the girls side, the Hornet ladies sit at 3-2 on the season and have now won two-straight, they’ll look to keep that momentum going vs. Kent City – who are now on a 4-game win-streak and 4-1 on the season after dispatching Grant on Tuesday night.
In game number two, the hosting Eagles boys have now dropped two straight and fallen to 2-3, they will look to get back in the win column vs a Hornets boys side that is looking to get back on track themselves after a close three point loss to Chippewa Hills on Tuesday – they are 2-5 on the season.
Coverage begins from Kent City at 5:15pm!
SATURDAY – CORNERSTONE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
ZEELAND EAST vs LANSING EVERETT | BOYS
Zeeland East and Lansing Everett will lead a Saturday DH to open the Cornerstone festivities for 2024-25. The Chix, led by a strong core highlighted by the likes of senior and fututre GVSU Laker, B.J. Walker. They have opened 3-2 on the year and will also play Thursday night before opening play at Cornerstone vs Everett.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Everett, who sit at 0-6, but with 4 of those losses coming via forfeit, after they had a brawl incident and subsequent suspensions following their opener. They are a team that have some great athletes and talent and may be able to push the pace vs. the Chix.
Coverage starts at 5:25, with tip-off immediately after at 5:30.
GR CATHOLIC CENTRAL vs MONA SHORES | BOYS
Zay Larthridge and Catholic Central then will get back on the floor for the first time since their OT loss to Unity Christian at Calvin last weekend. The 3-2 Cougars draw a tough and interesting matchup in this one as 1-3 Mona Shores (who have played a difficult schedule and had a FF loss added to their resume vs WO) will travel in to play them.
The Sailors have strong players across the lineup to match the strengths of the Cougars including senior wing (and football QB) Jonathan Pittman and skilled PG Jordan Bledsoe.
Coverage is set to being at 6:55pm with tip at 7:00 – But those times could change based on the duration of game number one.
Next week, the Cornerstone tournament rolls on into the Holiday weekend! We’ll have more great action all to be followed by the new year and the start of conference play – when things will really heat up!
