Glen Lake Hoops Ready to Make Impression
December 1, 2017
By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half
MAPLE CITY – When the Glen Lake boys basketball team went on a team-building retreat, coach Rich Ruelas asked his players to pick a word that would be their mantra for the season.
Cade Peterson chose “footprint.”
“Coming into my senior year, it hit me,” the three-sport standout said. “This is my last go-around for every sport. I thought, what kind of legacy do I want to leave, that our team wants to leave? It’s like footprints in the sand. How do you want to be remembered? This is a journey. Depending on how we play, how we act, we can be remembered here for years and years and years. That’s a big thing to grasp.”
The Lakers return nine players, including four starters, off an 18-5 squad that reached the Class C Regionals.
They are not the only Glen Lake basketball team that wants to leave a footprint.
The girls return five of their top seven players off a team that went 23-4 and played in the MHSAA Semifinals.
Optimism is high.
“We have experience, and a deep bench,” senior Savannah Peplinski said, reflecting on the team’s strengths. “We’ve all improved our skills. We’re tougher, mentally and physically. We’re focusing on individual things that combined will make us more complex as a team.”
It promises to be an exciting winter on the hardcourt at this Leelanau County school, where basketball tradition runs deep.
Glen Lake won boys Class D state crowns in 1959 and 1977 and was runner-up in 1996. The 1977 team, which upset Detroit East Catholic in the Final, celebrated its 40th anniversary of that championship this summer. The reunion was organized by Hall of Fame coach Don Miller, who has returned to the sidelines as the JV coach.
The Lakers claimed a girls state championship in 1978 and lost a heartbreaker in the 1979 Finals. Glen Lake has produced two of the best players to ever come out of northern Michigan – Laura Wiesen and Liz (Shimek) Moeggenberg, now the JV coach. Wiesen, a math teacher at the high school, is among the all-time assist leaders at Northwestern University while Shimek is Michigan State’s third all-time leading scorer (1,780 points) and the leading all-time rebounder (1,130).
The girls team returned to the spotlight with last season’s tournament run, which ended with a loss to Pewamo-Westphalia in the Semifinals.
Coach Jason Bradford said that run made believers out of his players.
“I told the girls they had the capability to go that far,” Bradford, now in his 10th season, said. “But I don’t think they believed it until they actually did it. It was a confidence builder, making it down (to the Semifinals).”
Peplinski agreed.
“Last year really opened our eyes as to how much talent we do have and how much harder we have to push ourselves to reach our potential,” the 17-year-old said.
A District win over nemesis Traverse City St. Francis, which had played in the Class C Final the previous year, catapulted the Lakers.
“You still have people who think it was luck we made it down there (to the Breslin Center),” Bradford said. “It’s like, you always have to prove yourself. (Because) we made it down there, and return a lot, there’s pressure to repeat, but that’s what the girls want.”
Glen Lake, which tips off its season tonight at Elk Rapids, has a solid nucleus with returnees Peplinski, Jennifer LaCross, Kaitlyn Schaub, Allie Bonzelet and Lily Ewing. LaCross averaged 10.8 points per game a year ago while Peplinski was at 10.1. Schaub, a 6-foot junior, led the team with seven rebounds a game.
“Jennifer is a forward-center, but she can play any position,” Bradford said. “She handles the ball well. She’s hard to guard. Kaitlyn’s our post player. She’s an inside-outside (threat). She has a soft touch around the hoop, and she can step out for a shot. Savannah is going to have the ball in her hands, dictating. She’s a great passer. We’re going to be pushing the ball.”
LaCross, Peplinski, Bonzelet and Schaub all saw time on the varsity as freshmen, Bradford said.
“They’ve played a lot of minutes together,” he said. “It’s a fun group, very unselfish and very supportive of each other. They accept their roles. They want to be part of this team and that’s half of it, if not most of it.”
Bonzelet is one of the top defenders on a team that prides itself on defense.
The Lakers will need to replace leading scorer Kelly Bunek and center Sarah Carney.
“It’s going to be tough to fill those holes,” Peplinski said. “But we’re working at it and building our confidence back up. I think it will be a good season.”
Sophomore Karrigan LaCross and freshman Hailey Helling are stepping in to provide the Lakers with added depth.
Glen Lake, which has won 32 consecutive Northwest Conference games, will be challenged by Kingsley and Benzie Central, which both opened the season with double-digit wins over teams from the larger Big North Conference. Frankfort is traditionally strong, too.
“It’s going to come down to the end,” Bradford said. “We have Frankfort, Benzie and Kingsley to finish the season. That’s a nice way to end it.”
As for the boys, Ruelas challenged his team over the summer. The Lakers competed in tournaments at Benzie Central. Traverse City West, Ferris State and Grand Valley State.
“We wanted a challenge so we got put in the top brackets at Ferris and Grand Valley,” Ruelas said.
Glen Lake won its bracket at Grand Valley and was runner-up at Ferris State.
The Lakers return four starters in seniors Peterson and Nick Apsey, junior Xander Okerlund and sophomore Reece Hazelton. Okerlund averaged 17.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a year ago, while Peterson was at 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest.
“We have balance, inside and out, length and leadership,” Ruelas said.
Peterson, who has committed to play football at Grand Valley, is 6-5, as is Hazelton. Okerlund measures 6-4.
The Lakers also welcome back 5-7 senior point guard Peyton McDonough, who missed most of last season with a torn meniscus.
“We’re very athletic,” McDonough said. “We can run the floor. We have good shooters - we can drive and kick. We’re a well-rounded team.”
Glen Lake did not win the Northwest Conference last season. That honor went to Buckley, which ran the table. The Bears, who reached the Class D Final, return all five starters. Frankfort also has its top talent back.
“(Our players) know we have great teams in our conference,” Ruelas said. “We don’t throw that in their face. It’s motivation for us to work hard, do the right things and take it step by step.
“If we work together, work hard, have fun and are connected as a team, that’s my goal. I want us to get better every day.”
Connected was the word Ruelas chose at the retreat.
“It’s a we – not a me – mentality,” he said. “We’re trying to live that day in and day out. It’s easy to say, but if we can live it they know the sky’s the limit.”
Peterson said chemistry is one of the Lakers’ strengths.
“We’re more unselfish, more together,” he said.
“Everyone’s really positive and excited for the challenge,” Okerlund added.
McDonough. Peterson and Okerlund are the captains, and all bring something different to the table.
“Peyton’s the vocal leader,” Ruelas said. “He’s challenging everybody to get better every day, even if it’s one percent. Cade brings that competitiveness to the team. He wants his senior class to go out the right way, not have any regrets. Xander leads by example. He works his tail off.”
Glen Lake opens its season Tuesday against St. Francis – the start of a near four-month journey.
“We’re not going to lose sight of the important things,” Ruelas said. “Of course, we want to win the conference, the District, and so on. Every good team wants that.
“But basketball is like every other sport. On any given night, maybe the ball doesn’t fall, things don’t go your way. (Our season) could end in the state championship game or in a District Final. Whenever it ends, we want to look back and say we worked hard, had fun, respected each other and enjoyed the journey. If we walk away knowing that, I can’t think of a reason we would have any regrets. That’s what matters.”
Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Savannah Peplinski (left) and Peyton McDonough are among those expected to contribute to strong Glen Lake basketball teams this winter. (Middle) Jennifer LaCross defends against Frankfort last season. (Below) Max Lerchen goes to the basket last winter against Leland. (Girls photos courtesy of Robert Ewing; boys photos courtesy of Don Miller.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 24, 2025
March is finally on the horizon, our state finally seems to be thawing out from a long, snowy winter – and all signs point to East Lansing as Districts tip off the MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament tonight for more than 700 teams.
We always switch up our “Breslin Bound” format once the MHSAA Tournament starts, as last week’s most intriguing results below are followed this time by glances at three District brackets of note in each division. Host sites are bolded, and teams playing in those brackets are listed by seed as determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
Everything you could want to know this week about tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“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. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 76, Detroit Renaissance 73 Catholic High School League champion St. Mary’s (15-6) claimed its second-straight Operation Friendship victory, in a close one this time over the Detroit Public School League-winning Phoenix (14-8).
2. Novi 66, Wayne Memorial 64 After edging Northville by two points four days earlier to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title outright, Novi (18-4) moved past East winner Wayne (19-3) for the overall league championship.
3. Flint Kearsley 75, Goodrich 73 Kearsley (16-6) jumped from third in the Flint Metro League Stripes last season to a three-way tie for first this winter, then edged Lake Fenton by three and Goodrich (17-5) by a bucket to claim the overall league title.
4. Kingsford 72, Marquette 60 The Flivvers (17-3) avenged a 58-53 loss to Marquette (19-3) from Jan. 3 to pull even with the Sentinels and share the Great Northern Conference championship.
5. Hartford 61, Centreville 50 The Huskies (19-2) avenged their lone league defeat, 59-50 on Jan. 27, to pull even with Centreville (18-3) and share the Southwest 10 Conference title.
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and teams are listed by seed:
DIVISION 1
Auburn Hills Avondale
1. Waterford Mott (19-3), 2. Auburn Hills Avondale (15-7), 3. Clarkston (15-7), 4. Lake Orion (15-7), 5. Waterford Kettering (1-21).
Clarkston would be the favorite most seasons but enters after finishing fourth in the Oakland Activities Association Blue and having been swept by its Wednesday opponent, league runner-up and District host Avondale (15-7). On the other side, Mott was the co-champion from the Lakes Valley Conference and fell just a pair of overtime losses from a perfect league run. Lake Orion was runner-up in the OAA White and fell to Clarkston 49-38 on Dec. 4 – a few months ago but sure to be mentioned if they meet again Friday.
Grosse Pointe South
1. Detroit Martin Luther King (17-4), 2. Detroit Cass Tech (19-3), 3. Grosse Pointe North (18-4), 4. Grosse Pointe South (7-14), 5. Detroit East English (9-10), 6. Detroit Western (2-15).
King/Cass Round 3 is likely the expected Friday title matchup. They’ve met in District play the last three seasons and split their meetings this season with Cass winning 54-42 on Dec. 17 and King taking the rematch in the Detroit Public School League Tournament 58-52. Grosse Pointe North will do its best to crash the party coming off a Macomb Area Conference Blue championship and riding an 11-game winning streak that’s included a 58-43 win over Adrian (18-4).
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
1. Rockford (20-2), 2. Muskegon (19-2), 3. Greenville (21-1), 4. Muskegon Mona Shores (10-12), 5. Cedar Springs (9-13), 6. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (6-16).
A potential championship matchup of Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Rockford and O-K Green title winner Muskegon is what most will anticipate, and that makes sense – all four of their combined losses came to teams ranked among the top seven in statewide Division 1 or MPR, and traditionally they are two of the strongest West Michigan programs in any division. But River Cities Alliance champion Greenville definitely gives this bracket an intriguing wild card – its only loss came to Allendale (16-6), and 17 of the Yellow Jackets’ wins were by double digits.
DIVISION 2
Adrian
1. Onsted (20-1), 2. Adrian (18-4), 3. Adrian Madison (18-3), 4. Tecumseh (16-6), 5. Milan (5-17).
The top two teams from the Lenawee County Athletic Association and Southeastern Conference White top this bracket, as Onsted and Madison shared the LCAA title and Adrian High was first and Tecumseh second in the SEC White. Onsted and Madison split, with Madison winning the second meeting Jan. 30, and that may become notable if they meet one more time as that was Onsted’s only loss. Adrian defeated Tecumseh by 11 and 19 and also Madison by 16 on Dec. 16 – but the Maples are coming off a 73-60 loss to Brooklyn Columbia Central (18-4).
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
1. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (19-3), 2. Hudsonville Unity Christian (20-2), 3. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (15-7), 4. Allendale (16-6), 5. Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-12), 6. Wyoming Lee (8-14).
Covenant Christian moved into Division 2 this season after reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals a year ago, and the Chargers loaded their schedule with several Division 1 and 2 teams and contenders from Divisions 3 and 4 – notably handing North Muskegon its only loss but also falling to Unity 46-39 on Dec. 3. That was some time ago but will provide some familiarity if Covenant and the O-K Black champion Crusaders meet again. Don’t count that as a sure thing, however. Unity saw potential Wednesday opponent GRCC at Calvin University on Dec. 14, winning but in overtime 53-49. And Covenant saw its potential Wednesday opponent Allendale on Dec. 20, winning 58-52 in another close matchup.
Otsego
1. South Haven (17-3), 2. Paw Paw (19-3), 3. Parchment (19-3), 4. Plainwell (14-6), 5. Allegan (9-11), 6. Otsego (5-15).
The top four-seeded teams in this bracket either won or finished runners-up in their respective leagues – Parchment winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley, Paw Paw winning the Wolverine Conference, Plainwell placing second in the Wolverine and South Haven second in the SAC Lakeshore but still earning the top seed this week. South Haven did defeat Parchment 57-45 at Kalamazoo College on Nov. 30, and also has notable wins over Galesburg-Augusta (18-4) and Berrien Springs (17-4). Parchment has won 17 of its last 18 games, falling only to Battle Creek Pennfield (18-4) by three during that time.
DIVISION 3
Bark River Harris or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
1. Iron Mountain (19-3), 2. Munising (19-2), 3. Menominee (11-11), 4. Gwinn (9-13), 5. Bark River-Harris (7-15), 6. Manistique (4-18).
Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East champion Iron Mountain has pairs of wins over Gwinn and Manistique and a 16-point victory Feb. 3 over Menominee, which knocked the Mountaineers out of the District a year ago. Munising won the large schools division of the Skyline Central Conference and also has a pair of wins over Manistique and one over Gwinn – and may have to defeat Menominee in the District Semifinal to reach Friday’s championship game. Bark River-Harris is the named host for this non-traditional bracket and will host all games it plays; otherwise the highest seed in each game will host that contest.
Hanover-Horton
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (19-3), 2. Grass Lake (21-1), 3. Hanover-Horton (14-8), 4. East Jackson (11-11), 5. Napoleon (9-13), 6. Vandercook Lake (4-18).
Lumen Christi has emerged as a basketball contender the last two seasons, reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago and finishing CHSL AA runner-up this season to another Division 3 contender in Riverview Gabriel Richard. Grass Lake has made a jump too after finishing 11-13 a year ago, winning the Cascades Conference East and overall championships with its only loss last week to Clinton, 42-40. Grass Lake has a Dec. 3 53-48 win over Hanover-Horton, a possible Wednesday opponent and the runner-up from the Cascades Conference West. East Jackson finished fourth in the Cascades East, also enjoying a nice bump after going 8-15 a season ago.
Quincy
1. Schoolcraft (16-6), 2. Centreville (18-3), 3. Union City (14-8), 4. Bronson (11-11), 5. Quincy (11-10), 6. Homer (5-17).
This could be one of the most evenly-matched brackets in any division. Schoolcraft was the SAC Valley runner-up but defeated Centreville 62-54 on Feb. 5. Centreville shared the Southwest 10 Conference title. Union City was one of three runners-up in the Big 8 Conference (where Bronson finished fifth and Quincy sixth), sweeping Bronson but winning the second meeting only 63-61 and splitting with Quincy losing the second meeting 58-48 just last week – although those two are on Schoolcraft’s side of the bracket and Union City must instead defeat Homer and Centreville to get to Friday. Schoolcraft reached the Regional Final a year ago before falling to eventual Division 3 champion Niles Brandywine.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
11. Crystal Falls Forest Park (20-2), 2. Norway (17-5), 3. Powers North Central (10-11), 4. Stephenson (15-7), 5. Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh (15-7), 6. Carney-Nadeau (6-16).
Skyline Central Conference small-schools division champion Forest Park swept third-place Powers North Central and also has a pair of wins over Norway and one over Stephenson as the Trojans seek to match and surpass last season’s run to the Quarterfinals. Their only losses were to Great Northern Conference co-champions Marquette and Kingsford. Norway finished second to Munising in the SCC large-schools division, with four of its five losses to teams with at least 19 wins. North Central has won only three of its last 11 games, but two straight including last week over Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh 68-63. Stephenson also has a win over Nah Tah Wahsh and split with North Central – avenging a 34-point loss with a 12-point win a month later.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
11. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-3), 2. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (13-8), 3. Coleman (13-9), 4. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (13-9), 5. Merrill (5-17), 6. Midland Calvary Baptist (5-16).
Mid-State Activities Conference champion Sacred Heart is seeking to return to the Division 4 championship game after finishing second last season, and went 2-2 in nonleague play this winter stacking the schedule with Beal City, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Maple City Glen Lake and Jackson Lumen Christi. Nouvel finished second in the Tri-Valley Conference Blue but played Ithaca (17-4) last week for a share of the title and loaded its nonleague schedule as well. Among potential stoppers, Coleman is enjoying its first winning season since 2019-20, and MLS its first since 2020-21 and with a split with Nouvel – although the Panthers avenged losing the first game by seven points by winning the second by 15.
Vestaburg
1. Fowler (19-3), 2. Fulton (17-5), 3. Portland St. Patrick (14-7), 4. Vestaburg (12-8), 5. Breckenridge (10-11), 6. Ashley (1-21).
While Fowler may be the favorite – the Eagles finished second in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (19-3) and have double-digit wins over Fulton and St. Patrick – there are opportunities to shake things up. Fowler did win its one matchup with Fulton 62-32, but the Pirates went on to finish second in the MSAC and downed Sacred Heart 70-62 last week. St. Patrick finished third in the CMAC and cut its deficit against Fowler from 22 to 13 between their first and second meetings. Vestaburg was fourth in the MSAC, losing the second meeting to Fulton by 11 but winning the first by six, and Breckenridge took Fulton to overtime in their second game.
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PHOTOS (Top) Haslett's Wardrell Wicker (5) gets in defensive position as Okemos' Branden Pruitt (21) considers his options during a 58-48 win Feb. 3. (Middle) Flint Carman-Ainsworth's Jaden Green (5) drives to the basket during his team's 90-88 triple-overtime win over Flint Powers Catholic on Tuesday. (Haslett/Okemos photo by John Johnson. Carman-Ainsworth photo by Terry Lyons.)