Broken Wrist Doesn't Break Season
March 29, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Never has a basketball player looked forward this much to shooting an airball.
That’s what Carson Vincent is expecting two months from now, when he gets to fire with his right hand again, just like he has most of his life – until breaking a bone in his right wrist during a 7 on 7 football drill at the end of last summer.
It’s incredible how much would’ve been lost if the Ovid-Elsie senior hadn’t been unknowingly tough and uncommonly flexible.
Vincent played a full season of football not knowing how badly he’d injured his wrist. Once he learned of the break in late November, he decided to play on – learning to shoot with his left hand and finishing his career as the Marauders’ second-leading score all-time while leading them to their best season in 25 years.
And the 6-foot-5 forward saw a clear parallel in the shared team and individual successes.
“It’s the same answer for both,” Vincent said. “Individually I wasn’t doing it for me; I was doing it for the team. I knew they wanted me out there, my family wanted me to be out there, and I wanted to be part of everything.
“The reason the team did well is we all wanted each other to be successful, to win a championship, to see each other happy.”
Ovid-Elsie finished 18-5 this winter, first in the Tri-Valley Conference West and as a Class B District champion. The league title was the program’s first since 1984, and the District its first since 1994.
Individually, Vincent began the winter coming off an all-state season as a junior, when he averaged 17.7 points and eight rebounds per game and set a school record for field goal percentage at 60.8.
With only 20 percent mobility in his dominant right hand, he was forced to become ambidextrous. “Amazingly” – to agree with coach Josh Latz’ description – Vincent upped his scoring to 20.4 points per game, grabbed 7.7 rebounds and added 2.1 assists, a block and a steal per game – and broke his school record by making 62 percent of his shots from the floor.
Vincent learned to shoot free throws left handed and became a better ball handler as well. Despite being able to throw up only an occasional floater right-handed, he became the third 1,000-point scorer in school history and finished with 1,026 points, 441 rebounds, 86 blocks, 74 assists and 60 steals over a three-year varsity career.
“Carson's toughness and resiliency this season was incredible. To be able to accomplish the things he did individually, with the hand he was dealt is remarkable,” Latz said.
“His biggest growth was as a teammate with his unselfishness to put teammates and team success ahead of his health and well-being. That being said, the successes we had as a team were in direct correlation with Carson's leadership and the example of physical and mental toughness he set for us.”
Vincent knew exactly when he was injured. He caught a touchdown pass running backward during that 7 on 7 about a week before the start of practice at the end of summer, and he fell – catching himself by falling directly on the wrist.
Despite some pain, he started football practice and did all the drills. A receiver and cornerback, he noticed when he dropped some passes he’d otherwise pull in – but he still helped the football team to a 7-3 playoff season.
On the day of the basketball team’s preseason scrimmage, he had the wrist checked out by a doctor who helps out with the Marauders. Diagnosis: broken and shifted bones. But Vincent already had made it through football season and decided to put off surgery until he could no longer manage the pain. He played in the scrimmage that day, although he couldn’t bend the wrist. He tried taping for a while, but gave up on that quickly because it just didn’t feel right.
And the difficulties didn’t come just at practice. Writing was doable but made his arm tired. Eating, even out of a bowl with a spoon, was not as easy as it would seem. Driving was a challenge for a bit. Sometimes he couldn’t open a door. He couldn’t shake people’s hands.
“Sometimes I’d get down on myself. Sometimes it’s frustrating,” Vincent said. “Before I went to the doctor’s office, I knew something was wrong with it – I wasn’t numb to the fact. Once I got told, obviously it was upsetting. All the what-ifs happen – what happens if I fall on it, will I be able to play, what if the pain is too much one day? It was really sad, but I got through it. I took it one day at a time. I wasn’t thinking about a week from now. I just got through what I could.”
He did sit out some parts of practice. Latz would pull him out of games to be cautious, but Vincent would ask right back in. A few opponents knew because they were Vincent’s friends, but mostly the team kept the injury an internal secret.
The Marauders’ season ended in a Regional Semifinal loss to Bridgeport on March 12, and three days later Vincent had surgery that included inserting bone from elsewhere in his arm and putting in a screw to hold everything together.
He’s wearing a cast now, and will switch to a splint in four weeks. He’s missing his track team’s first three meets, but will return after spring break next week – he runs the 200, 400 and on the 800 and 1,600 relays.
He’s planning to play college basketball. He has Division III opportunities and could also play at the junior college level to start out. Wherever he ends up, he’ll bring a much more well-rounded game – a lot of good that came out of what could’ve been a sad situation.
“First of all, (even without hurting) my wrist, if someone would’ve asked me if my team would do this, I would’ve told them I honestly don’t know,” Vincent said. “That alone surprised me. … It’s all shocking to me, to be able to do as good as a team, and I was able to do good individually also.
“Before this I was good left-handed, but I easily could say right-handed I was better. Now, honestly, my left hand is better than my right hand. I’ve learned new moves, I can do right and left hand now. Obviously I wish I hadn’t broken my wrist. But there were a lot of benefits to my game. I’ll take the good things and move on from it.”
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA as its Media & Content Coordinator in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He has served as Editor of Second Half since its creation in Jan. 2012. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Carson Vincent chases down a loose ball against Bridgeport this season. (Middle) Vincent throws down a dunk against Ithaca. (Photos courtesy of the Ovid-Elsie boys basketball program.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 9
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 27, 2025
While sub-zero temperatures froze out several games during the first half of last week, the state’s boys basketball scene warmed up plenty on the way to the weekend as Michigan’s hopefuls continued to build their title aspirations with just about a month remaining before District play begins.
This week will see our first league champions crowned, conference tournament play begin, and a flurry of other key matchups as we move closer to the final stretch of the regular season.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid 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. Riverview Gabriel Richard 88, Jackson Lumen Christi 65 RGR (13-2) sits alone atop the Catholic High School League AA after handing the Titans (13-1) their only loss this season in what also was a matchup of statewide Division 3 contenders.
2. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 66, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 64 The Warriors (14-1) avenged a string of three losses to St. Mary’s (8-6) from last season, including in their Division 1 Quarterfinal.
3. Grand Rapids Northview 57, Grand Rapids South Christian 55 Northview (11-3) held onto the top spot in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold, but now alone in sending the Sailors (9-4) into second place.
4. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 70, Southfield Christian 65 (OT) Inter-City (12-2) broke a first-place tie with Southfield Christian (11-3) in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue in a meeting of top Division 4 teams statewide as well.
5. Flint Powers Catholic 60, Warren Fitzgerald 58 The Chargers (13-0) remained perfect on the season in edging Fitzgerald (12-2) at the Downtown Showdown at Detroit Cass Tech.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-1) The Cubs have emerged from another elite group in the CHSL Central this season and clinched a share of the league title with Friday’s 60-58 win over Toledo Central Catholic. That came just two days after a 79-78 edging of Ann Arbor Huron, one of several notable wins this winter. Jesuit handed Brother Rice its lone loss, 58-44 on Dec. 6, and owns a 63-54 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and a 65-52 victory over Clarkston among other highlights. The Cubs will get a few more tests before the CHSL Tournament begins Feb. 8, most notably against reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln on Feb. 4.
Marquette (10-2) After starting the season 1-2, Marquette has been on a roll defeating three double-digit win teams – Ishpeming Westwood (11-4), Iron Mountain (11-2) and Kingsford (10-2) – plus Grand Blanc 66-65 after a long trip downstate Jan. 18. Marquette leads Kingsford by a game in the Great Northern Conference heading into the second half of the league schedule. The two losses came on back-to-back nights during the first weekend of December at Traverse City West and then Traverse City Central and by a combined seven points, and the Sentinels could see both again in District play after West halted their 20-4 campaign last season in a District Final.
DIVISION 2
Warren Lincoln (10-4) The reigning Division 2 champion sits atop the Macomb Area Conference Red standings but additionally has navigated a schedule loaded with Division 1 contenders. The Abes have wins over Ann Arbor Huron and Muskegon, plus a rising Clinton Township Chippewa Valley team, and the losses came to East Lansing, Byron Center (by two points), Brother Rice and Northview (by four points). As noted above, a major matchup is coming Feb. 4 when Lincoln hosts Detroit U-D Jesuit, and the Abes will close the regular season against Warren Fitzgerald during their 313 Classic.
Yale (14-1) The Blue Water Area Conference has five teams (of eight) at 8-5 or better, and Yale tops the league with its only loss this season to MAC Gold contender St. Clair (12-4) on Dec. 17. The Bulldogs won their first meeting with second-place Imlay City 46-33 three weeks ago and will host the rematch Feb. 18; Imlay City was first and Yale second in the BWAC last season as Yale finished 16-6 overall. Yale has had only three single-digit games this winter, but shined downing Lapeer by three, Linden by three and Harbor Beach (12-1) by two in consecutive games over the second half of the holiday break.
DIVISION 3
Ithaca ((10-3) The Yellowjackets bounced back Friday from two straight losses to get past Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 34-32 and maintain a tie for first with Saginaw Valley Lutheran atop the TVC Blue. A 50-48 defeat to Valley Lutheran was Ithaca’s closest of three this season, and the rematch is Feb. 14. The Yellowjackets also lost to last season’s league champion Saginaw Nouvel but will get an opportunity to avenge in the regular-season finale Feb. 21. Wins over Jack Pine Conference Division 1 leader Standish-Sterling (12-2) and Highland Conference leader Beal City (10-2) have shown their potential, and the third loss came to Big Thumb Conference White co-leader Millington (12-1).
Schoolcraft (10-3) Few teams have a more impressive list of losses, as Schoolcraft has sharpened itself in defeats to Flint Powers (13-0) and Lumen Christi (13-1) and in their first matchup against Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley foe Parchment (10-2). The Eagles will meet Parchment again Feb. 7 with hopes to taking back at least a share of first place, but they also have sizable tests coming up against reigning Division 4 champion Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (10-2), Southwest 10 Conference co-leader Centreville (10-1) and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-2). Schoolcraft defeated Tri-unity and Centreville last season on the way to finishing 22-4.
DIVISION 4
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (10-2) The Defenders have celebrated coach Mark Keeler’s 700th win this season and of course would love to send him into retirement with a seventh Finals championship in March. They have an early lead in the Alliance League and win over reigning champion Wyoming Lee after finishing second to Lee the last two seasons, and their only losses have come to Fowler (13-2) by three points Dec. 3 and Division 2 Grand Rapids West Catholic by seven during the Cornerstone University Holiday Classic at the end of last month. Tri-unity also owns wins over Adrian Lenawee Christian (12-2) and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-2) with the above-noted matchup with Schoolcraft and a later one with Beal City good tests before the postseason.
Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian (11-2) Last season’s Northern Lakes Conference co-champion leads the new West division and does have a win over East leader Alanson, 58-47 after those two shared the formerly-combined NLC title a year ago. All of Harbor Light’s 11 wins this winter have come by nine or more points, and they’ve taken good losses to Traverse City Christian (12-2) and Pickford (11-1). The Swordsmen will get another chance against TC Christian at home Feb. 11, and a matchup with Harbor Springs (11-2) the night before also will be telling of the team’s potential to continue building on last year’s 20-5 finish.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Monday – Hartford (11-1) at Centreville (10-1) – This will be their first of two meetings, and they are both undefeated in league play and tied atop the Southwest 10 Conference.
Thursday – Haslett (11-1) at Mason (12-1) – Mason has a one-game lead atop the Capital Area Activities Conference Red thanks to a 65-63 win over second-place Haslett on Dec. 13.
Thursday – Onsted (13-0) at Adrian Madison (10-3) – Onsted’s one game lead on Madison in the Lenawee County Athletic Association came from a 59-34 win over the Trojans on Dec. 12.
Friday – Traverse City West (11-1) at Cadillac (9-4) – West also owns a slim lead atop the Big North Conference thanks to a 60-46 win over Cadillac in their first meeting Dec. 12.
Saturday – Grand Rapids Christian (9-4) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (11-1) – This is the 2:45 p.m. game at the Red Hawk Showcase at Aquinas College and will come about 17 hours after Christian plays Grand Rapids Catholic Central for first place in the O-K White.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Iron Mountain's Oskar Kangas (0) dunks the ball off a fourth-quarter inbounds pass during his team’s 58-32 win over Ishpeming Westwood on Thursday. (Middle) Detroit Cass Tech’s Donavin Eddins (12) gets up a shot in traffic during his team’s 68-57 win over Rochester Adams on Dec. 30. (Iron Mountain/Westwood photo by Cara Kamps. Cass Tech/Adams photo by Team Arreguin Photos.)