Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 8
January 28, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Eight weeks of success is enough to expect that any team still undefeated – like our top team among last week's high performers – should keep making noise over the month and a half to come.
But there's something to be said about starting anew on Jan. 1. And we've got a few on this week's list as well that have surged since the calendar year got a new start.
Remember, results and overall records below are those listed in our MHSAA Score Center. Are either incorrect? Please help us out after filling in this brief registration.
1. Big Rapids (11-0) – The Cardinals have won 20 straight regular-season games dating back to the mid-point of last winter and lead the Central State Activities Association.
2. Rochester Adams (10-1) – The Highlanders’ lone loss came against Oxford all the way back on Dec. 14; they’ve won four straight by double figures and are just two wins from equaling last season’s total.
3. Zeeland East (10-2) – The Chix are in first place by a win over two others in the O-K Black and have won four straight including beating league favorite Muskegon 67-61 on Friday.
4. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (10-2) – Before Saturday’s 14-point loss to Detroit Country Day, the Chargers had won three straight and earlier this month edged reigning Class D champion Southfield Christian by a point.
5. Lansing Waverly (9-2) – The Warriors opened this season with losses to Holt and Jackson Lumen Christi by a combined five points, but since have won nine straight including avenging that loss to the Titans on Friday.
6. Bessemer (10-1) – The Speedboys are undefeated in-state, with their only loss to Washburn, Wis., after winning 10 games total last season.
7. Crystal Falls Forest Park (6-3) – The Trojans opened this winter with two losses, but are on a roll and edged 2012 Class D Semifinalist Carney-Nadeau on Friday, 70-67.
8. Pittsford (9-2) – The Wildcats hit a rough patch from Jan. 11-15, when they lost two games; otherwise, they’re undefeated this season.
9. Temperance Bedford (8-1) – Despite losing to Sylvania Southview of Ohio on Saturday, the Kicking Mules opened with eight straight wins and beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 56-54 the night before.
10. Canton (7-5) – The Chiefs also are running well in January with five straight wins including Friday’s 55-50 victory over Westland John Glenn which avenged their last lost before the run, 53-48 to John Glenn on Jan. 4.
PHOTO: Canton players (in red) try to gather a loose ball during a game against Cincinnati Withrow on Dec. 28 at Detroit County Day. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
2021 Experience Helps 2022 Tri-unity Earn Return to D4 Final
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 24, 2022
EAST LANSING – Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for experience.
Such was the case in Thursday’s second Division 4 Boys Basketball Semifinal between Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and Genesee Christian at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
While Tri-unity Christian was in the Semifinals for a second-straight year and fourth time in the last seven years, Genesee Christian was playing on the stage for the first time.
Tri-unity Christian’s familiarity with Breslin and overall skill won out, as the Defenders reached another championship game with a 77-33 win.
The Defenders (20-6) will attempt to win their first Finals title since 2011 at 10 a.m. Saturday when they play Ewen-Trout Creek.
“If you haven’t been there, it can be pretty intimidating,” Tri-unity coach Mark Keeler said of playing in a final four game. “Last year, we came here. It helped us for this year.”
The big quarter for Tri-unity Christian was the second, as the Defenders went on a 12-0 run to start the quarter and take a 26-12 lead with 5:54 remaining until halftime.
Tri-unity Christian ended up outscoring Genesee Christian in the second quarter, 25-7, to take a 39-19 lead at the break.
The Defenders continued to grow their lead in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run to move ahead 53-23 with 1:11 remaining in the third.
The game featured a matchup of two of the state’s top point guards in Division 4, Tri-unity Christian senior Brady Titus and Genesee Christian junior Trenton Boike.
Titus entered the game averaging just under 30 points a game, while Boike was averaging over 23 points a contest.
Titus finished with a game-high 21 points on 9 of 17 shooting for the Defenders, while Boike had seven points for the Soldiers (21-5).
Now, Titus and the Defenders can try and earn some redemption after a loss to Detroit Douglass in last year’s championship game.
“Last year was tough,” Titus said. “We came up short. But I think it will impact the want to win. That’s really what it is. Just having the drive to win the next game.”
Tri-unity Christian shot 58.3 percent from the field for the game and outrebounded Genesee Christian by a 41-19 margin.
Junior Tyler Chapman led Genesee Christian with 10 points.
Despite the loss, it was obviously a memorable and historic season for Genesee Christian.
“For the guys, I felt so proud of them,” Genesee Christian coach Dan Chapman said. “With COVID and everything the last couple of years, we kind of looked forward to this group. To do it with all the seniors that I’ve coached since fifth grade, it was everything you’ve dreamed of.”
More good news for the Soldiers is that Boike and Chapman will headline a nice crop of juniors that will be back next year.
“Just the experience part will help a lot,” Boike said. “It will help us next year when we get back here.”
PHOTOS (Top) Tri-unity Christian’s Brady Titus (25) works to get up a shot over Genesee Christian’s Jonah Derderian (24) during Thursday’s Semifinal. (Middle) Teammates watch in anticipation as the Defenders’ Stephen Bouslog (24) attempts a 3-pointer. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)