De La Salle Continues Championship Year with 1st Hoops Title
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
March 26, 2022
EAST LANSING – Triston Nichols has had quite the high school sports season so far.
The Warren De La Salle Collegiate junior standout helped the football team win a Finals championship in the fall and then helped deliver the same result on the hardwood four months later.
The Pilots pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat 2021 champion Grand Blanc 67-58 in Saturday’s Division 1 title game at the Breslin Center.
It was De La Salle’s first Finals basketball title. The Pilots finished Class B runners-up in 1982.
“I actually brought (my football championship ring) with me, and I think it’s my good luck charm,” said Nichols, who had 17 points, including two timely 3-pointers in the second half, and five rebounds.
“It was definitely harder to win this one than football, and we went through adversity and we just did our job throughout the season. We locked in, and our connection got better and better.”
While there were high expectations that the football team could win a championship in the fall, duplicating that feat in basketball seemed unlikely after De La Salle finished fourth in the Detroit Catholic League Central and lost four of its last six games in the regular season.
Pilots’ junior Nino Smith, who led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points, said the rigors of their league helped prepare them for this historic run.
“Earlier in the season we went to double overtime against (Orchard Lake) St. Mary’s and showed a lot of resiliency even though we came up short,” Smith said. “A lot of games in the Catholic League came down to last possessions, so I think that really helped us.”
De La Salle (19-7) led 27-24 at the half, but watched its lead evaporate as Grand Blanc pulled away with a 14-4 surge and went up 38-31 midway through the third quarter.
The Pilots countered with a 10-0 run to regain the lead as senior Tamario Adley converted back-to-back three-point plays during that stretch.
Adley finished with 12 points and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
“The kids were able to fight through adversity and it’s in their mental make-up to continue to fight, and the last few comebacks have gone our way,” De La Salle coach Gjon Djokaj said.
The Pilots held a slim 42-40 lead entering the final quarter, but never relinquished it thanks to several clutch plays and made free throws.
“We made winning plays down the stretch, and I thought overall we got contributions from a lot of different players at different times,” Djokaj said. “That’s what we’ve been built on all season long, and I’m happy to be going out with a state championship and the way we got here.”
Junior guard RJ Taylor kept the Bearcats (21-5) within striking distance in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 28 points and seven 3-pointers.
“He's a heck of a player and made it tough on us,” Djokaj said. “He made individual-effort plays that I haven't seen in a while from one player. He should hold his head up high for the way he competed and carried his team.”
Tae Boyd added 14 points and eight rebounds for Grand Blanc, which won its first Finals basketball title a year ago.
“This was an unbelievable run, and everybody counted this team out from the beginning of the year. Nobody believed in this team,” Grand Blanc coach Mike Thomas said. “I take my hat off because they were out there fighting for themselves, and I take my hat off to Warren De La Salle too, and their student section. That was an unbelievable crowd to where I think that was a really great advantage for them, and they created a lot of emotion and momentum.
“They deserved to win. They outplayed us and outworked us and made more free throws in the end.”
PHOTOS (Top) Warren De La Salle players raise their championship trophy Saturday at Breslin Center. (Middle) The Pilots’ Michael Sulaka (33) attempts to redirect a shot by Grand Blanc’s Tae Boyd (1). (Below) De La Salle’s Nino Smith (0) is defended by the Bobcats’ RJ Taylor (10). Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
1,000-Point Scoring Pair has Howardsville Christian Eying Postseason Possibilities
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
February 5, 2025
MARCELLUS – Despite facing a shorter bench and tougher schedule this winter, Howardsville Christian’s boys basketball team still started this season much slower than head coach Ken Sparks had anticipated.
But Sparks, now in his fourth season, said the Eagles are highly confident they can achieve big things before the 2024-25 campaign ends.
Two reasons why are the exceptional play of shooting guard Kaden Sparks – Ken's son – and point guard John Paul Rose. The two four-year varsity players and senior starters both recently eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark.
Howardsville Christian has fewer than 80 students, and they were the first pair in school history to achieve that milestone during the same season. A total of 17 players are now on the Eagles’ 1,000-point list, led by Dylan Jergens, the third-leading scorer in MHSAA history with 2,782 career points. All of their names appear on a banner on the wall behind one of the baskets inside the school gymnasium.
Needing just two points to reach his career milestone, Kaden Sparks scored a game-high 27 points in a 57-46 loss by Howardsville Christian to Division 2 Edwardsburg in the Tri-State Holiday Classic on Dec. 14 at Southwestern Michigan College.
Rose achieved the rare feat in the Eagles' 55-44 win over St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic on Jan. 7. Rose needed 30 points to reach 1,000 and scored exactly that many.
Making their feats even more impressive is that both Eagles starting guards stand just 5-foot-9.
Out of necessity, Kaden Sparks and Rose both made immediate impacts as freshmen on the Eagles' varsity.
"We knew that Kaden and John Paul were going to be good players from the very start of their careers. Both of them became starters right away because we didn't have lot of impact returners in the way of upperclassmen. That forced them to play at a high level early on, and now it’s really paying off for both of them," said Ken Sparks, a 2000 Howardsville graduate and also a member of the 1,000-point club. "When both Kaden and John Paul are on the court, they find a way to get the ball to the other. Even though they are our main scorers, they are also our top two guys in assists and work hard to get everyone else involved.
“Having two guys in the same class reach 1,000 points is really special. We try to make it a big deal so it inspires our younger kids in the program to work hard and achieve similar success when they reach the high school level."
Kaden Sparks’ strength and athleticism is a big reason why he leads the Eagles in every statistical category. Through 16 games, Sparks is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
"We're confident if Kaden gets the ball inside the post that he can still finish against bigger guys because of his strength. That's a big reason he is able to lead us in rebounding, because he does such a great job of boxing out," Ken Sparks said. "His athleticism and quickness help him anticipate where the ball is going. Defensively, he's led our team in steals the last couple seasons. As a coach, out of nowhere you'll see him intercept the ball and head the other way downcourt. He has more speed than most other players on the floor. Offensively he's always shot one of the higher percentages during his career."
On Jan. 2 in a game against Battle Creek St. Philip, Kaden suffered a bad ankle sprain that sidelined him nearly three weeks. But he's returned to top form.
"Scoring 1,000 points has always a goal of mine, and it’s neat to accomplish the same thing my dad did, but to also have a teammate from my class achieve that too is pretty special as well," Kaden Sparks said. "I don't consider my scoring as my biggest contribution to the team though. I pride myself on defense and try to motivate my teammates to do the same. That's what wins championships."
Rose is currently averaging 19 points, 6.2 rebounds, three assists and 2.1 steals per game. Scoring and rebounding have been his two biggest areas of improvement the past two years.
"John Paul led us in scoring as a junior. He was a great young point guard his freshman and sophomore year and led our team in assists. I've gotten several compliments from opposing coaches about what a great ballhandler he is and his ability to run the point guard position. He's been a good mainstay for us that way," Ken Sparks said. "He has a very solid mid-range jump shot and also has a knack for finishing well under the basket. His quickness allows us to put him on the other team's best offensive player too. From a leadership standpoint, he's very vocal on the court and is a good encourager for our younger players in practice. Like Kaden, he's really put in the time during the offseason to improve."
Rose credits cousins David and Michael Crips, both assistant varsity coaches at Howardsville, as being big influences to him in basketball.
"Those two have helped me a lot in my development and inspired me to work hard. Last year we had six losses and three of those were to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic, so being able to get my 1,000th point this year against them was pretty special," Rose said. "I'm proud that I've become a better ballhandler. I have a good mid-range shot, while Kaden is a better 3-point shooter. But I feel like I've made my most improvement defensively."
Last year Howardsville finished 19-6, losing in the Regional Semifinals 49-43 to Our Lady of the Lake.
"I think we have a good shot to repeat as District champions, but it’s going to be tough with (Kalamazoo) Phoenix and Marcellus is a pretty good team as well," Ken Sparks said.
Howardsville's overall record stands at 6-11, including a 4-4 mark good enough to tie for third in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League. Kaden's career point total now stands at 1,168, and Rose had scored 1,092 entering Tuesday's home game with Covert.
One of Howardsville Christian's other losses came Dec. 28 to Jackson Northwest, a Division 1 school, 73-51 in the Spring Arbor University Shot Clock Classic.
The Eagles, with six games remaining, have their sights set on finishing the regular season on a strong note and building momentum for the postseason. Howardsville Christian has won six District titles over the last nine seasons, including a run to the Quarterfinals during Jergens' senior year in 2018.
Howardsville Christian will be one of five teams vying for the District title Feb. 24-28 at Marcellus High School, along with the host school, Phoenix (12-1), Kalamazoo Heritage Christian and Lawrence. Howardsville lost to Phoenix 53-50 on Dec. 20.
"If we could win our remaining regular-season games, that would give us momentum for the postseason. John Paul and I are a big presence and give our team lots of energy when we are on the floor, so that makes us work that much harder to help our team succeed," Kaden Sparks said.
Howardsville's head coach is confident his Eagles can work some postseason magic, especially with five seniors joined by three talented freshmen to make up the current roster.
Other Eagles seniors besides Kaden Sparks and Rose playing key roles are guard Sean Kimble, 6-4 center Isaac Nagel and 5-11 forward Jonah West. Leading a solid freshman class are 5-10 guard Kole Sparks – Kaden's younger brother – 6-3 Keaton Grandlinard at forward/center and 6-2 forward Caden Grant.
"Our No. 1 goal is to repeat as District champions. I know we're about to turn the corner. We wanted to challenge our kids by scheduling some tougher games this season and finish in the top of our conference," Ken Sparks said. "We've really spoke with our other seniors and younger guys about stepping up in scoring, rebounding and defense. Everyone plays a role, and I think it’s set us up for a good run here at the end of the season."
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) At left, Howardsville Christian’s John Paul Rose (3) brings the ball upcourt this season against Cassopolis. At right, Kaden Sparks drives around a screen set by a teammate against Kalamazoo Phoenix. (Middle) Howardsville Christian teammates and coaches pose for a photo after Sparks surpassed 1,000 points for his career during a loss to Edwardsburg in the Tri-State Holiday Classic at Southwestern Michigan College. (Below) Howardsville teammates and members of the coaching staff celebrate Rose reaching 1,000 career points against St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic. (Howardsville/Cassopolis photo by Brooklyn Scheidel. Howardsville/Phoenix photo by David Sparks. Banner photos by Kristen Sparks.)