Basketball Takes 'The Judge' Worldwide, Home Again as Love of Game Lives On
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
August 13, 2026
He’s been everywhere, man.
Antoine Joubert, one of the best-known high school basketball players to come out of Michigan during the 1980s, has retired as a day-to-day basketball coach, but still gives back while continuing his lifelong dedication to the sport.
From being one of the most heavily recruited high school basketball players in the state, to playing four years at the University of Michigan and being drafted by the Detroit Pistons, to more than a decade of playing professionally overseas and in South America, Joubert remains humble and a fan of the game that has brought him so much in life.
“All of these things happened in my life because of basketball,” he said.
Joubert, who lives in Farmington, retired after the 2023-24 season after spending more than a decade coaching at Oakland Community College. He continues to host basketball camps – something he has done since 1992 – and has operated an AAU basketball program known as The Judge’s Court since 2006.
“The Judge” got the nickname from his older brother long before he was dominating opponents at Detroit Southwestern High School.
“My brother gave me that nickname,” he said. “I was in the locker room after a game and the media heard him call me that, and it stuck. ‘Here comes The Judge.’”
Joubert graduated in 1983 from Detroit Southwestern. He was Michigan’s Mr. Basketball Award winner and a McDonald’s All-American and recruited by nearly everyone from Indiana to Kentucky to UCLA before choosing Bill Frieder and Michigan.
As a high school junior, he averaged 30 points a game. He was even better as a senior, averaging 31.3 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists per contest. In his team’s 1983 Class A Semifinal, he scored 44 points. Two days later he scored 47 in the championship game against Flint Central, a tough 84-80 loss by the Prospectors that still ranks as one of the greatest Finals performances in state history.
“I was trying so hard to win that game,” Joubert said. “It was tough. Flint Central was a tough team.
“Playing in Michigan back those days was really great. The basketball was great, and there were some great coaches throughout the state. We’d go to camps and go play all over. We knew everybody, from Battle Creek to Lansing to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Traverse City. There was great basketball all over, and the kids all knew one another. I’ll never forget my high school career. I really loved it.”
Detroit Southwestern coach Perry Watson had coached Joubert’s uncle.
“He was like family,” Joubert said. “I knew him from when I was really young. He could play, too. He was a good ball player.”
The early 1980s were before the explosion of travel basketball, AAU programs and summer camps and shootouts. Joubert said while he did attend a few camps, including a national event in Indiana, he refined his skills at the Boys Club in Detroit and the legendary St. Cecilia gym that was a stopping point for some of the all-time greatest players from Michigan, from Dave Bing to Magic Johnson.
“That’s where our summer leagues were,” Joubert said. “Those were some great times.”
As his stock rose nationally, he was able to play against high school players like Patrick Ewing and Doc Rivers.
“That really opened my eyes to a lot of things about how tough basketball is,” he said.
He remembers some tremendous battles in the Public School League as well.
“That was a rough league at the time,” he said. “I mean, the talent that came through Detroit was amazing. Every PSL school had two or three guys that were going on to play Division I or Division II basketball. It was so competitive and they had really good coaches, guys that cared and helped players back then.”
Watson helped forge Joubert’s game, but it was his brother, Ezekiel Joubert Jr., who was perhaps Antoine’s greatest influence. He’s also who gave Antoine the nickname Judge, which stuck and continues to live on to this day.
“He was five years older than me, so he put it on me more than a few times,” Joubert said. “I wanted to be like him and do everything like him in sports. Once I could beat him, I thought I could beat anybody in the world.”
While Joubert gravitated to basketball, his first love in sports was baseball.
“That was the first sport I was really good at,” he said. “I had letters from the Tigers, the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox at 15 years old. Then, I stopped playing.”
After high school, he took his talents to Ann Arbor. His teammates during his four years included Roy Tarpley, Gary Grant and Glen Rice. He was a starter beginning his freshman season and twice was named honorable mention all-Big Ten.
Joubert was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the sixth round of the 1987 draft but injured his knee during training camp and was released. He was signed by teams from a variety of leagues but found a home when he went to Belgium. In 1990 he went to Mexico to play and made that league’s all-star game. In 1992 he played in Venezuela, where he earned league MVP honors.
“I got lucky,” he said. “My career took off.”
While playing in Europe, Joubert said he got a firsthand look at 7-foot players who could dribble like guards and shoot 3-pointers.
“I could see where the NBA was going to be, and that’s what it is like today,” he said.
Thanks to basketball, Joubert travelled the world.
“It was great. I played in Belgium, France, Spain, Poland, Italy, all through South America, Venezuela, Mexico, in Asia. Ball took me all around the world. I visited Egypt and Africa. I visited Jerusalem and Israel. I mean, I’ve been everywhere. I learned so many other languages and other cultures and made so many friends. It was all because of basketball. I got to travel the world and see how beautiful the world is.”
Because of basketball, he also got an education. He has a master’s degree.
“Basketball has meant a lot to me, still does,” he said.
After retiring as a player, Joubert returned home and started his AAU program. Soon after, he was hired to coach men’s basketball at Oakland Community College.
“It was challenging,” he said. “But I loved it, loved helping kids. I had players that played for years overseas and kids that are really doing well in life. It’s a blessing to see them grow up and become men, get their degrees and move on.”
Joubert remains a big fan of basketball – especially high school basketball.
“I go to games all of the time,” he said. “I love the tournaments and spending all day in the gym, talking to my friends and watching basketball. I’ll travel. I’m really enjoying myself.”
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PHOTOS (Top) At left, Antoine Joubert puts up a shot during his highlight-filled career at Detroit Southwestern. At right, Joubert coaches Oakland Community College’s men’s basketball team. (Middle) Joubert finished his tenure at OCC in 2023-24. (Southwestern photo courtesy of the Detroit News. OCC photos courtesy of the OCC athletic department.)
Preview: On Course Again for Historic Victories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 7, 2021
A number of teams at Thursday’s Boys Basketball Semifinals finished last season with wins as COVID-19 abruptly ended their postseason runs during District play.
But all 16 teams this weekend have another opportunity to close with a win – and this one accompanied by an MHSAA Finals championship.
Nine are seeking their first titles, including all four teams contending in Division 1. Others are seeking their first championship since 1939, 1945, 1966 or 1975.
Below is a schedule of all Semifinals and Finals – Semifinals are Thursday at Breslin Center in East Lansing and Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, and all four championship games will be Friday at Breslin.
DIVISION 1 - Breslin Center
Ann Arbor Huron (19-0) vs. Warren De La Salle Collegiate (14-3), 3 p.m.
Forest Hills Northern (17-1) vs. Grand Blanc (13-2), 5:30 p.m.
DIVISION 2 - Van Andel Arena
Ferndale (14-4) vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (18-0), 3 p.m.
Bridgeport (17-2) vs. Battle Creek Pennfield (20-2), 5:30 p.m.
DIVISION 3 - Breslin Center
Hanover-Horton (20-1) vs. Flint Beecher (14-1), 10 a.m.
Schoolcraft (19-1) vs. Iron Mountain (18-0), 12:30 p.m.
DIVISION 4 - Van Andel Arena
Rudyard (18-2) vs Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (13-2), 10 a.m.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (20-1) vs Detroit Douglass (15-5), 12:30 p.m.
Finals – Friday
Division 1 - 12:30 p.m.
Division 2 - 5:30 p.m.
Division 3 - 3 p.m.
Division 4 - 10 a.m.
Spectator limits remain in effect, but all Semifinals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with free audio broadcasts via the MHSAA Radio Network. All four Finals will be broadcast by Bally Sports Detroit (formerly FOX Sports Detroit), the first three on the primary channel and the Division 2 Final on delay at 1:30 a.m. All four also will be available live on the FOX Sports Detroit Website and the FOX Sports Go! app.
Below is a glance at all 12 teams contending this weekend. Click for the full program. (Statistics below are through Regional Finals. Rankings are based on the Michigan Power Ratings generated to seed teams at the District level.)
Division 1
ANN ARBOR HURON
Record/rank: 19-0, No. 9
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Coach: Waleed Samaha, 17th season (282-94)
Championship history: Class A runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 44-34 over No. 28 River Rouge in Quarterfinal, 77-45 and 70-36 over No. 29 Ypsilanti Lincoln, 56-33 over No. 24 Dexter in Regional Semifinal.
Players to watch: Julian Lewis, 6-6 sr. G (12.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg); Devin Womack, 6-2 sr. G (12.6 ppg, 35 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Kingsley Perkins, 6-7 sr. F (9.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.1 bpg).
Outlook: Huron has booked its first trip to the Semifinals since that runner-up season of 2010, and its second trip in program history – although last year’s team had high hopes entering its District Final with a 21-1 record. Lewis earned an all-state honorable mention as a junior and is part of a balanced, experienced and sizable attack – he’s one of nine seniors and one of five players standing 6-5 or taller. Senior 6-5 guard Tyson Edmondson also is part of all three groups averaging nine points per game with 35 3-pointers entering this week.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 17-1, No. 11
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Coach: Joe Soules, 10th season (153-68)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 66-56 over No. 10 East Lansing in Quarterfinal, 53-49 over No. 16 Zeeland East in Regional Final, 62-54 (District Final), 62-42 and 82-71 over No. 30 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 67-46 over Division 2 No. 14 Grand Rapids Christian.
Players to watch: Trinidad Chambliss, 6-1 sr. G; Ethan Erickson, 6-1 sr. G. (Individual statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern has won 15 straight games to reach the Semifinals for the second time and first since 2008. The only loss was early to Williamston, by just two points, and a tough tournament path has included dealing Zeeland East its only defeat. Erickson and Chambliss both earned all-state honorable mentions last season.
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 13-2, No. 5
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Mike Thomas, fourth season (66-17)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1952.
Best wins: 58-53 over No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Quarterfinal, 77-61 over No. 28 River Rouge, 85-58 over No. 19 Marquette in Regional Final, 91-52 (District Final) and 82-44 over No. 14 Davison.
Players to watch: Ty Rodgers, 6-6 jr. F (17.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.6 apg); RJ Taylor, 5-11 soph. G (16.8 ppg, 29 3-pointers, 7.2 apg); Timonte Boyd, 6-3 soph. G (9.7 ppg).
Outlook: Grand Blanc is back at the Semifinals for the first time since 1953 and after last season’s team was forced to end at 18-3. Rodgers earned an all-state honorable mention last season and has been considered among the top players in his class throughout high school. He’s got lots of help, with Taylor another big scorer and 6-2 senior guard Jacob Carlson (8.1 ppg) and 6-0 sophomore guard Amont’e Allen-Johnson (8.0 ppg) also adding to the balanced attack. The Quarterfinal win over St. Mary’s avenged a 65-52 loss from Feb. 16. Thomas formerly led Kalamazoo Central to Class A titles in 2010 and 2011.
WARREN DE LA SALLE COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 13-3, No. 13
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Coach: Gjon Djokaj, first season (16-3)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1982.
Best wins: 64-59 over No. 2 Detroit U-D Jesuit in Regional Final, 53-51 over No. 6 Detroit Martin Luther King in Regional Semifinal, 59-42 over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 56-18 over No. 24 Dexter.
Players to watch: Linden Holder, 6-1 sr. G (17.7 ppg, 28 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Triston Nichols, 6-4 soph. G (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Caleb Reese, 5-10 jr. G (12.5 ppg, 3.5 apg).
Outlook: De La Salle is back at the Semifinals for the second time in four seasons, thanks in part to avenging a two-point overtime loss to Jesuit from March 11. Five players average at least eight points per game – 6-0 sophomore Nino Smith (8.6 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore Michael Sulaka (8.2) bolster the scoring and also are part of a starting lineup that will graduate only one player. Djokaj formerly led Walled Lake Northern and Livonia Franklin’s programs and has a 73-35 record overall.
Division 2
BATTLE CREEK PENNFIELD
Record/rank: 20-2, No. 16
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference
Coach: Nate Burns, fourth season (60-30)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 54-49 over No. 12 Romulus Summit Academy in Quarterfinal, 56-53 over No. 2 Williamston in Regional Final, 57-45 and 44-41 over Division 1 No. 41 Coldwater.
Players to watch: Ryne Petersen, 6-1 sr. G (15.6 ppg, 32 3-pointers, 5.9 rpg, 6.3 apg, 3.1 spg); Luke Davis, 6-1 jr. G (11.2 ppg, 25 3-pointers, 3.6 apg); Gavin Burns, 5-11 sr. G (12 ppg, 51 3-pointers).
Outlook: Pennfield has been one of the stories of the tournament, first winning a Regional title for the first time since 1972 and now making the Semifinals for the first time ever. The team’s only league loss this winter came against Marshall, and the Panthers avenged in the District Final. Petersen earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
BRIDGEPORT
Record/rank: 17-2, No. 36
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference 8
Coach: Kevin Marshall Sr., fourth season (85-6)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 52-41 over Escanaba in the Quarterfinal, 54-53 (Regional Final) and 55-54 over Carrollton, 53-33 over Frankenmuth in District Final.
Players to watch: Jaylen Hodges, 6-4 sr. G (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.1 spg, 1.5 bpg); AJ Pipkins, 5-8 sr. G (9.6 ppg, 57 3-pointers, 3.3 apg, 3.6 spg); Omarion Wilkins 6-4 sr. F (9.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg).
Outlook: After opening the season 1-2, Bridgeport avenged both of those losses and has won 16 straight games on the way to its first Semifinal since 2009 and third in program history. Hodges made the all-state second team last season and is one of eight seniors total and four who start. Senior 5-7 guard Ramaureon Arthur is another offensive key averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 assists per game.
FERNDALE
Record/rank: 14-4, No. 5
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Juan Rickman, third season (43-19)
Championship history: Class A champion 1963 and 1966.
Best wins: 73-68 (2OT) over No. 4 Croswell-Lexington in Quarterfinal, 56-49 and 51-43 over Division 1 No. 17 Clarkston, 60-55 over Division 1 No. 15 North Farmington, 94-74 over Division 4 No. 17 Detroit Douglass.
Players to watch: Jason Drake, 6-2 jr. G (16.5 ppg, 25 3-pointers); Christopher Williams, 6-3 soph. G (7.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Treyvon Lewis, 6-5 jr. G (19.3 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 7.0 rpg).
Outlook: Ferndale won its first league and second District titles under Rickman, who formerly led Detroit East English Village/Detroit Crockett, and have reached the Semifinals for the first time since 1985. The Eagles lost only once in their league, in their rematch with North Farmington, and three of their four defeats this season were by five points or fewer. Lewis earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is part of a starting lineup made up of all juniors and sophomores.
GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 18-0, No. 8
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: T.J. Meerman, eighth season (116-63)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2018.
Best wins: 83-72 over No. 1 Benton Harbor in Quarterfinal, 68-50 (Regional Semifinal), 58-56 and 49-46 over No. 23 Grand Rapids South Christian, 71-52 over No. 10 Hudsonville Unity Christian in District Final, 59-44 over No. 14 Grand Rapids Christian.
Players to watch: Jack Karasinski, 6-6 jr. G (19.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg); Kaden Brown, 6-0 soph. G (19 ppg, 4.5 apg); Durral Brooks, 6-1 fr. G (10 ppg, 5.0 apg, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 spg).
Outlook: GRCC has advanced to its first Semifinal since 2018 and is seeking its first championship after falling by a point in overtime in that year’s Class B Final. Karasinski made the all-state second team last winter and is part of a lineup with a variety of contributors – junior 6-2 guard Jordan Brooks (9.5) and senior 6-9 forward Gabe Quillan (8.5) also score nearly in double digits per game. GRCC had only three single-digit games this season – two against South Christian.
Division 3
FLINT BEECHER
Record/rank: 14-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red
Coach: Mike Williams, 17th season (336-93)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 89-58 over No. 3 Reese in Regional Final, 84-54 over Division 2 No. 20 Goodrich, 73-68 (2OT) over Division 2 No. 5 Ferndale, 65-63 over Division 1 No. 4 Flint Carman-Ainsworth.
Players to watch: Keyon Menifield Jr., 6-1 sr. G; Carmelo Harris, 5-11 jr. G; James Cummings II, 6-2 jr. F. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Beecher is making its first Semifinals appearance since its last championship season of 2017, although the Bucs were 20-2 last season when it was halted. Menifield earned an all-state honorable mention last season and leads a team that lost only to Division 1 top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the second game of the regular season. Carman-Ainsworth and Ferndale were the only other opponents to get within single digits.
HANOVER-HORTON
Record/rank: 20-1, No. 20
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Chad Mortimer, 23rd season (453-97).
Championship history: Hanover was Lower Peninsula Class D runner-up in 1941; Horton was LP Class D runner-up in 1936 and 1937.
Best wins: 41-29 over No. 9 Ypsilanti Arbor Prep in Quarterfinal, 50-45 over No. 8 Leslie in Regional Final, 69-38 (Regional Semifinal), 66-52 and 45-44 over No. 28 Michigan Center, 70-45 over No. 23 Homer in District Final.
Players to watch: Carson Sanders, jr. G (18.5 ppg, 33 3-pointers); Brogan Brockie, sr. G (13 ppg); Conner Mortimer, sr. G (13.2 ppg, 3.8 apg). (Heights not submitted.)
Outlook: The Comets saw last year’s run end as they stood 20-1 when COVID struck. But this time they’ve reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2015 and fourth time in program history. Hanover-Horton graduated three players who earned all-state honorable mentions last season, but the next set of standouts has filled right in. Four of the team’s eight seniors join Sanders in the starting lineup.
IRON MOUNTAIN
Record/rank: 18-0, No. 14
League finishes: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference and Mid-Peninsula Conference.
Coach: Harvey Johnson, 21st season (315-155)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1939), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 53-50 over No. 2 McBain in Quarterfinal, 63-52 over No. 6 Oscoda in Regional Final, 71-50 over No. 7 Painesdale-Jeffers in Regional Semifinal, 79-48 over No. 15 Menominee in District Final, 58-52 over Division 2 No. 3 Escanaba.
Players to watch: Foster Wonders, 6-5 sr. G; Ricky Brown, 6-0 sr. G; Jurgen Kleiman, 6-4 sr. F. (Statistics not provided.)
Outlook: Iron Mountain was the Division 3 runner-up in 2019 and 21-1 last season when it was forced to end. But Wonders has led the charge back into the Semifinals with incredible scoring numbers in going over 2,000 points for his career. The Mountaineers have downed previously-unbeaten teams their last two games, and Jeffers had only one defeat when they met. Only McBain and Escanaba got within single digits.
SCHOOLCRAFT
Record/rank: 19-1, No. 17
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Coach: Randy Small, 16th season (306-64)
Championship history: Class C champion 2011, runner-up 2009.
Best wins: 59-47 (Quarterfinal) and 60-55 over No. 10 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, 56-38 over No. 4 Niles Brandywine in District Final, 55-49 over No. 5 Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Bryce VanderWiere, 6-7 sr. C (15.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Shane Rykse, 6-1 fr. G (11.6 ppg, 43 3-pointers); Tyler DeGroote, 6-6 jr. F (13.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg).
Outlook: Schoolcraft is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2012 and was 21-0 when last season came to a close. The only loss this winter was to Division 2 top-ranked Benton Harbor. VanderWiere earned an all-state honorable mention last season and is part of a sizable frontcourt that also starts 6-6 junior forward Ty Riske and brings 6-6 senior center Harmon DeVries off the bench.
Division 4
DETROIT DOUGLASS
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 17
League finish: Second in Detroit Public School League East
Coach: Pierre Brooks Sr., seventh season (103-50)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 68-56 over No. 1 Southfield Christian in Quarterfinal, 55-51 (2OT) over No. 29 Plymouth Christian Academy in District Final, 60-53 over Division 2 No. 1 Benton Harbor.
Players to watch: Pierre Brooks II, 6-6 sr. G (33.1 ppg, 50 3-pointers, 9.3 rpg); Javantae Randle, 6-10 sr. F (18 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.9 bpg); Damonn Tiggs, 6-0 sr. G (8.5 ppg, 31 3-pointers, 3.8 apg).
Outlook: Brooks II made the Division 2 all-state team last season and has signed with Michigan State, and Randle gives Douglass a second Division I college prospect in the frontcourt. The Hurricanes were 17-5 last season when it ended and will be playing in their second Semifinal and first since 2014. Brooks Sr. has guided the program to three District titles over the last six seasons and formerly coached Detroit Martin Luther King.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 20-1, No. 9
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Coach: Justin Sherlock, first season (20-1)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1975), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 59-53 over No. 13 Frankfort in Quarterfinal, 61-49 over No. 15 Hale in Regional Semifinal, 70-56 over Division 3 No. 29 St. Charles.
Players to watch: Zach Wentworth, sr. G (16.7 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg); Luke Predum, sr. G (21.2 ppg, 47 3-pointers, 3.5 apg); Aidan Halliday, fr. F (7.8 ppg). (Heights not submitted.)
Outlook: Sacred Heart is a three-point loss to Division 3 St. Charles from being undefeated and is headed back to the Semifinals for first time since finishing Class D runner-up in 2006. Predum and Wentworth both earned all-state honorable mentions last season and provide 63 percent of the team’s scoring, although five players total average at least five points per game.
RUDYARD
Record/rank: 18-2, No. 7
League finishes: First in Straits Area Conference and Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference
Coach: Jim Suggitt, third season (44-19)
Championship history: Upper Peninsula Class D runner-up 1945.
Best wins: 78-55 over No. 34 Mackinaw City in Regional Semifinal, 74-32 and 49-31 over Division 2 No. 48 Cheboygan.
Players to watch: EJ Suggitt, jr. G (20.3 ppg, 53 3-pointers); Cam Peterson, fr. G (7.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.7 apg); Tate Besteman, jr. C (15.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg).
Outlook: Rudyard has improved from 11 to 15 to now 18 wins over the last three seasons and is making the trip to the Semifinals for the first time since 1963. The only losses this season came to No. 8 Munising, which finished 15-2, and Division 3 Roscommon. The Bulldogs have won their first five tournament games by an average of 33 points.
WYOMING TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 13-2, No. 5
League finish: First in Alliance League
Coach: Mark Keeler, 34th season (627-197)
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 56-44 over No. 20 Webberville in Quarterfinal, 60-32 over No. 28 Marcellus Howardsville Christian in Regional Final, 57-50 over Division 3 No. 10 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Players to watch: Brady Titus, 5-9 jr. G (22 ppg, 30 3-pointers, 4.2 apg); Austin Treece, 6-7 sr. C (11.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Jaden Ophoff, 6-3 sr. G/F (6.5 ppg).
Outlook: Tri-unity will be making its second Semifinals appearance in three seasons and third in six years, and finished Class D runner-up most recently in 2013. Titus made the all-state second team last year and drives a team that starts three seniors but has only four total. The team’s only losses were to Division 2 Wyoming Godwin Heights and Muskegon Orchard View, which had one regular-season loss between them.
PHOTO: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, here against Grand Haven, is among nine teams playing this weekend hoping to win a championship for the first time. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)