Tri-unity Christian Finishes Season-Long Mission to Return to Top of D4
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 16, 2024
EAST LANSING — Wyoming Tri-unity Christian may have the nickname Defenders, but for the last year “Avengers” might have been more appropriate.
Ever since losing the 2023 Boys Basketball Division 4 Final by two points to Munising, Tri-unity Christian was on a mission to get back on top of the division it had ruled the previous year.
“That was our motivation for the whole year,” Tri-unity Christian senior Owen Rosendall said. “We all thought about the (loss) every other day. It was living rent-free in our heads.”
Consider that loss avenged, and now the Defenders will get to spend the next year trying to be defenders of another Division 4 title following a 79-59 win over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on Saturday at Breslin Center.
In winning its sixth Finals title under coach legendary Mark Keeler, Tri-unity Christian put up a brilliant offensive display that carved up what’s been a great Sacred Heart defense all year.
Tri-unity Christian shot 60.9 percent from the field (28 of 46) overall and 41.2 percent from 3-point range (7 of 17).
The big difference was the second quarter, which saw Tri-unity Christian score 22 points and turn a 17-14 lead after the first quarter into a 39-25 lead at halftime.
The Defenders went 14 of 24 from the field overall and 4 of 10 from 3-point range during the first half.
Tri-unity Christian kept up the pressure in the third quarter, taking a 53-34 lead with 4:11 to go in the third and a 64-43 advantage into a fourth quarter that was more of a coronation than anything.
Senior Jordan VanKlompenberg led five players in double figures with 19 points. Rosendall scored 14 points, junior Keaton Blanker had 11 points and 12 assists, senior Akais Giplaye scored 11 points and senior Wesley Kaman added 10 points to lead the Defenders’ balanced attack.
“I think we had a little bit of an advantage with length,” Keeler said. “That really freed us up a little bit. They stayed with their man-to-man, so we were in a lot of rhythm. We got to run a lot of offensive sets we hadn’t done in all these games because right away other teams will go to zones. It was fun executing and see some of (the plays) work.”
Sacred Heart (26-3) advanced to the Final for the first time since 2006 and was seeking its first title since winning the Class C crown in 1975, but couldn’t solve Tri-unity Christian for a second time this year.
Tri-unity Christian defeated Sacred Heart 71-41 in its second game of the season.
Saturday was only the third time this winter an opponent scored more than 60 points on the Irish.
“When you look at their size and length on the perimeter, we just kind of sensed that they were going to be able to get shots that they wanted,” Sacred Heart head coach Justin Sherlock said. “I thought our guys did a good job contesting.”
Junior Grady Pieratt scored 21 points and sophomore Noah Zeien had 14 to lead the way for Sacred Heart, a good omen since those two along with junior guard Brody Cherry will be a part of a good core of returnees next year.
“There is a lot of youth on our team,” Sherlock said. “Now we know how to do it.”
PHOTOS (Top) Wyoming Tri-unity Christian players begin to celebrate clinching the Division 4 championship Saturday at Breslin Center. (Middle) Akais Giplaye (20) begins a move to the basket with Sacred Heart’s Aidan Halliday defending. (Below) The Defenders’ Wesley Kaman (5) works to get up a shot over Noah Zeien. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Boys Report Week 2
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 15, 2025
The calendar year may be drawing to a close, and schools soon shutting down for break. But there will be little rest for basketball fans seeking to see several of the state’s title contenders in action over the next three weeks.
Several leagues have either started play or will over the next few days, and this weekend starts full schedule of boys hoops showcases that will see many teams across the state playing at least once over the holidays before the regular-season schedule falls into routine in January.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac 60, Warren Lincoln 59 Last season’s Division 3 runner-up Lions (2-0) earned one of their most impressive wins over the last two winters by edging reigning Division 2 champ Lincoln (2-2) at the Best of Michigan Tournament at Detroit Mercy.
2. East Lansing 41, Detroit Martin Luther King 40 The reigning Division 1 champion Trojans (4-0) answered their closest call of the early season to win one of the most notable matchups at the Moneyball Tip-Off Classic at Don Johnson Fieldhouse.
3. Ishpeming Westwood 59, Kingsford 54 These two both made Semifinals at Breslin Center last season, and Westwood (5-0) came back from 17 points down to avenge a seven-point loss from last year to the Flivvers (3-1).
4. Lansing Sexton 86, Detroit Cass Tech 81 Sexton (2-1) opened this season with a loss at East Lansing but has rebounded to make a statement about its potential to build on last season’s Division 2 Quarterfinal run with this win over the Division 1 Technicians (3-1) at Don Johnson.
5. Grand Rapids Northview 50, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44 The Wildcats (3-1) returned to The Invite at Calvin University and downed the Cougars (0-2), also Division 2 semifinalist last season.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Auburn Hills Avondale (4-0) Winners of 16 games both of the last two seasons and runners-up in the Oakland Activities Association Red last winter, the Yellow Jackets may have more in store after this solid start including a 69-51 win over West Bloomfield on Thursday. Avondale’s holiday break slate is loaded with notable matchups against Freeland, Grand Blanc, Detroit Mumford and Hamtramck.
Jackson (3-0) The Vikings are off to a solid start as they look to build on last season’s 12-12 finish and tie for second in the Southeastern Conference White. Jackson opened league play Friday with a 60-47 win over Tecumseh, one of the other two teams that also tied for second in the league last season, and will get a first look at reigning champion Adrian on Friday.
DIVISION 2
Ludington (5-0) The Orioles’ fast start has included handing Spring Lake it’s only loss, 55-46 on Dec. 4, and delivering a first defeat to Fremont on Friday, 73-67 in overtime. Ludington lost to Spring Lake twice last season on the way to finishing 16-9, and the Orioles also are the early leaders in the West Michigan Conference Lakes after finishing second to Whitehall last winter.
Romulus Summit Academy (6-0) Last season’s Division 2 runner-up has not slowed down a bit, with a 35-29 win over Warren Fitzgerald on Saturday adding to a 65-59 overtime win over Detroit Edison and 65-54 victory over Detroit U-D Jesuit among notables during a busy but successful opening two weeks. Friday’s home game against Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac could end up deciding the Charter School Conference Gold title.
DIVISION 3
Gobles (4-0) The Tigers have improved from four, to nine, to 12 wins over the last three seasons and could add to that climb after four double-digit victories to open this one. The team’s fast start included last week a 55-45 win over Bloomingdale – avenging a last season loss – and a 50-36 victory over Delton Kellogg, with which Gobles split Southwestern Athletic Conference Central meetings last winter.
Onsted (4-0) The Wildcats have won at least 18 games every season this decade and finished 21-2 in sharing the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with Adrian Madison last winter. Onsted split with Madison last season and won their first meeting again this time, 45-38 on Friday, with the rematch Jan. 29. Also worth noting: Onsted is in Division 3 this season after previously playing in Division 2 and Class B before that.
DIVISION 4
Concord (5-0) A 53-51 win over Bronson on Friday kept Concord perfect to start this season, with that also their first single-digit game of this winter. The Yellow Jackets finished the last one 17-10 and tied for second in the Big 8 Conference, and the Bronson win also avenged a December loss from a year ago – as did the 67-57 victory over Battle Creek St. Philip on Dec. 5. Concord will see reigning league champion Stockbridge for the first time Jan. 8.
Traverse City Christian (5-0) The Sabres finished 23-3 last winter, when they also started 5-0 before running into Lake Leelanau St. Mary. Those two faced off Friday, and this time TC Christian handed St. Mary its first loss, 55-36. Onekama and Bellaire were the other teams to defeat the Sabres last season, and neither is on the regular-season schedule this time – but matchups against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on Jan. 19, Traverse City St. Francis on Feb. 6 and Lake Leelanau St. Mary again Feb. 10 should be circled.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Dec. 18 – Detroit Cass Tech at Detroit Martin Luther King (1-2) – They finished a combined 40-10 last winter, splitting their regular-season meetings. With Cass Tech defeating reigning champ Detroit Renaissance on Friday, this matchup could weigh much more heavily on the Detroit Public School League Blue title chase.
Dec. 20 – Grand Rapids Catholic Central (0-2) vs. Ann Arbor Huron (5-0) at Hazel Park – Arguably the top matchup at the D Zone Showcase will feature two teams that won Regional titles last season.
Dec. 28 – East Lansing (4-0) vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-0) at Ferndale – This Motor City Roundball Classic matchup will feature two of the favorites in Division 1.
Dec. 29 – Schoolcraft (2-1) vs. Grand Rapids South Christian (3-1) at Cornerstone University – These two are joined by Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and Paw Paw in the Green bracket.
Jan. 3 – Clarkston (4-0) at Grand Blanc (3-0) – This matchup might be the best of a strong slate at the annual Carmody Classic.
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PHOTO Freeland senior forward Wilson Huckeby, right, navigates around a defender during the first quarter of last week's 70-47 Falcons win over Gaylord. (Photo by Kolleth Photo.)