Grant, Carrying Perfect Record Into Final Weeks, Quietly Making Statewide Name
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
February 12, 2026
Don’t expect to see Dan George yelling and screaming and snapping clipboards.
In fact, he rarely raises his voice and doesn’t write down any Xs and Os during timeouts, instead calmly talking to his team, often with his hands in his pockets.
“You can’t teach during a timeout, there’s not enough time,” explained George, 73, a longtime college coach who came out of retirement and is now in his second year as the head coach at Grant.
“I just want to refocus everyone and reinforce what we’ve taught at practice.”
Those lessons from the old ball coach appear to be hitting home with the Tigers, who are one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the state, with a spotless 19-0 record heading into Friday’s home game against Reed City.
Grant, which has already clinched its second-consecutive Central State Activities Association Red title, still has not cracked the Top 10 in the Division 2 Associated Press state rankings. The Tigers were among the “others receiving votes” in the latest poll.
Zaiden Phillips, a 6-foot-1 senior guard/forward, is the team’s ringleader, averaging 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game.
Phillips is one of three skilled long-range shooters for the Tigers, along with fellow senior Blake Rider (averaging 15 points, four rebounds and four assists) and junior Kohen Obenauf (eight points, six rebounds). On Wednesday at Big Rapids, the game began with each of those three hitting a 3-pointer as Grant took a quick 9-0 lead.
When Big Rapids adjusted its defense, Phillips and others started cutting to the basket in the Tigers’ motion offense, where he is a great finisher. If those cuts result in drawing fouls, he’s also a strong free-throw shooter.
Phillips and Rider are Grant’s two senior starters (the other three are juniors) and best friends, and their many years of hanging out and playing basketball together is evident in their on-court chemistry.
Junior Austin Gragg is the team’s “big man” at 6-3, averaging eight points and six rebounds per game. The final member of the Tigers’ starting five is junior point guard Jack Swanson, who also excels at driving to the hoop and puts up nine points and five rebounds per game.
Grant goes seven deep, with senior Owen Chesebro and junior Jacob Gates the main reserves.
The Tigers had only nine varsity players as the season approached, before Phillips and Rider talked their buddy and fellow senior Rory Fish – a baseball standout – into playing hoops, which allows the team to scrimmage 5-on-5 at practice.
Those practices are where George’s old-school coaching techniques and the players’ developing skills come together.
“In practice, I make them throw six passes before they take a shot, and they also can’t dribble,” said George with a smile. “They learn in a hurry to be looking up and seeing the court.”
The defense is in the capable hands of assistant coach Kirk Rider (Blake’s father), who is also Grant’s athletic director. The Tigers play primarily man-to-man, but it often looks like a zone as they clog the lane to prevent penetration and force opponents to beat them from the perimeter.
The formula has been working to perfection, literally, this winter.
Phillips has garnered the most headlines, earning MVP honors at the inaugural Be Legendary Showcase at Grace Christian in early January, then scoring 22 points in a victory over Montague on Jan. 6 to top 1,000 career points.
He has remained hot recently, scoring 27 against Remus Chippewa Hills and 31 at arch-rival Fremont in back-to-back games last weekend. His shot was slightly off on Wednesday at Big Rapids, and he finished with 14 points.
“When his scoring falls below his average, he will fill the stat sheet with assists, rebounds, and steals,” said George. “He understands the importance of doing the little things.”
Phillips said the key to his scoring, and the team’s consistency, is defense. Grant forces an average of 12 turnovers per game.
“We get after it on defense and cause a lot of turnovers, then we get easy buckets off of those,” said Phillips, who has received college basketball offers from Kuyper College and Grace Christian.
Grant, which has not won a District during Phillips and Rider’s high school careers, will be favored to win the Division 2 District tournament at Sparta, as it has beaten all four of the other teams in the bracket.
“It would mean a lot to get a District this year,” said Rider. “We’ve been close, but we just haven’t got it done. We know that we need to step up our defense and rebounding in the tournament.”
This year’s perfect season comes on the heels of last year’s 20-3 finish, giving Coach George a 39-3 record while wearing Grant’s orange colors, a gaudy 93-percent winning percentage.
Winning basketball games is nothing new for George, who made his mark as the head coach at Jordan College and later as an assistant coach at Grace Christian University, where he coached for 17 years and was part of six National Christian College Athletic Association championship teams.
But hang around George for even a few minutes and you’ll see that winning games is low on his list of priorities.
“I always tell my players that I want to accomplish three things,” said George, who noted he is having a blast because his team is so coachable.
“First is to have fun. Second is to help them become better people, better brothers and better husbands. And third is to see them in heaven someday.”
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Grant’s Zaiden Phillips, far left, interacts with his teammates before a recent game. (Middle) Veteran coach Dan George talks with a game official. (Below) Phillips considers his next move with George looking on from the sideline. (Photos courtesy of the Grant athletic department).
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 4, 2025
The final 128 Michigan boys basketball teams still playing are just three wins away from booking a trip to East Lansing.
That team total will be cut in half again tonight in Regional Semifinals played across the state, and then once more during Thursday’s Regional championship round.
Find everything you need to know this week about tickets, brackets and more as the tournament continues on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network, and see below for several of the intriguing matchups. Host sites are in bold.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and 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. Rockford 64, Muskegon 62 The Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Rams (22-2) sank a last-second game-winner to get past the O-K Green title-winning Big Reds (19-2) in a Division 1 District Final.
2. Bridgman 45, Niles Brandywine 39 The Bees (18-5) ended this season’s run for last year’s Division 3 champion Brandywine (12-11) in the District Finals, also avenging a 64-60 overtime loss to the Bobcats from Jan. 7.
3. Goodrich 68, Flint Powers Catholic 54 The Martians (19-5) claimed a Division 2 District title, avenging an 81-57 loss to the Chargers (19-2) from Dec. 7.
4. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 64, Birmingham Groves 61 The Warriors (22-2) navigated one of their closest wins this season to down Oakland Activities Association Red champion Groves (18-6) in a Division 1 District clincher.
5. Frankenmuth 48, Bay City John Glenn 38 These teams split during the regular season and John Glenn (20-4) won the second meeting and the Tri-Valley Conference Red title, but Frankenmuth (18-6) won this rematch to claim a Division 2 District championship.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Detroit Renaissance
Farmington (19-5) vs. Wayne Memorial (21-3)
Detroit U-D Jesuit (20-3) vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (22-2)
A lot of statewide eyes will be on the Jesuit/Brother Rice Regional Semifinal, and with good reason – Jesuit won their lone meeting on Dec. 6, 58-44, and then the Catholic High School League Central title with the Warriors finishing second. The winner will still have a tough road ahead to finish the week. Farmington has won 10 of its last 11 games, and Wayne is the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East champion and winner of 17 of its last 18.
Lansing Eastern’s Don Johnson Fieldhouse
Battle Creek Lakeview (14-10) vs. Kalamazoo Central (18-4)
East Lansing (23-1) vs. Okemos (17-7)
East Lansing has been a favorite all season to get to MSU next week, with its only loss in overtime to Muskegon on Dec. 21. But this bracket is likely to provide some challenges. The Trojans swept Okemos during the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue season but won the first game in double overtime, 78-67, and the second 53-46. Kalamazoo Central must add to their regular-season sweep of Lakeview first, but the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East champion would be another formidable foe in the Regional Final.
Hudsonville
Hudsonville (18-5) vs. Holland West Ottawa (13-11)
Grand Rapids Northview (19-5) vs. Byron Center (18-6)
Half the O-K Red won District titles last week, and second-place Hudsonville will look to add to its regular-season sweep of fifth-place West Ottawa – which upset third-place Grand Haven to advance. Northview shared the O-K Gold title, and Byron Center was runner-up in the O-K Green – and also defeated Hudsonville 61-59 on Feb. 4. The Bulldogs’ four most recent losses came to teams that have won at least 19 games this season, and Northview played one of the toughest schedules in the state; they are two of only four to defeat reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln.
DIVISION 2
Central Montcalm
Frankenmuth (18-6) vs. Freeland (20-3)
Flint Hamady (16-6) vs. Portland (21-2)
Frankenmuth may haver ended the season for TVC Red champion John Glenn (see above), but now the Eagles must take on runner-up Freeland after losing to the Falcons by six in overtime and then 57-56 in their second meeting Feb. 7. On the other side of the bracket are a pair of league champions – Hamady from the Genesee Area Conference and Portland from the CAAC White. Hamady rebounded last week after closing the regular season with four losses in five games. The Raiders have won 10 of their last 11, including avenging their lone league loss by downing Lansing Sexton in overtime in the regular season finale to clinch that title outright.
Ferndale
Detroit Old Redford (18-2) vs. Detroit University Prep (19-5)
Detroit Denby (15-6) vs. Warren Lincoln (18-4)
Two of these teams played at Breslin last season – Lincoln is the reigning Division 2 champion, and Old Redford finished Division 3 runner-up. But to make their matchup happen, they must of course advance to the Regional Final. Old Redford must defeat University Prep – they finished second and third, respectively, in the Charter School Conference Gold, thanks to Old Redford’s 61-54 win Jan. 27. Denby finished fourth in a strong Detroit Public School League Blue and will be the latest to challenge Lincoln, which played a schedule against opponents that combined to win 70 percent of their games during the regular season.
Grand Rapids Christian
Spring Lake (15-10) vs. Sparta (13-11)
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (18-7) vs. Grand Rapids South Christian (20-4)
The attention is going to be given primarily to the teams playing in the second Regional Semifinal. South Christian shared the O-K Gold title with Northview and won a 50-40 meeting Jan. 28 with GRCC, which went on to win the O-K White. But there’s intrigue on the other side of the bracket as Spring Lake emerged last week to defeat three of the top five from the West Michigan Conference Lakes, including champion Whitehall. Sparta has won four of its last five games.
DIVISION 3
Ithaca
Ovid-Elsie (19-5) vs. Chesaning (21-3)
Stockbridge (20-4) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (21-3)
A Mid-Michigan Activities Conference showdown kicks off this bracket, as champion Chesaning will seek to add to its 57-52 win over runner-up Ovid-Elsie from Jan. 31 after the Marauders won the first meeting 58-55 on Dec. 16. Chesaning has won 18 straight games since that defeat. Big 8 Conference champion Stockbridge is 17-2 over its last 19 games – but with those losses 61-50 to Ovid-Elsie on Feb. 10 and 69-59 to Lumen Christi on Dec. 20.
Millington
Millington (22-2) vs. Flint New Standard Academy (14-8)
Harbor Beach (22-1) vs. Brown City (13-11)
Harbor Beach won the Big Thumb Conference Black and Millington won the BTC White, and Harbor Beach also won their meeting Feb. 10, 60-54. To earn a rematch, Millington must get past a New Standard team that has taken losses from several top teams including Brother Rice, and also won five straight including avenging a defeat to International Academy of Flint. Harbor Beach’s lone loss came by two points to Yale on Jan. 3, and the Pirates swept Brown City, which finished fourth in the BTC Black.
Sault Ste. Marie
Ishpeming Westwood (19-5) vs. Iron Mountain (21-3) at Gladstone
Harbor Springs (21-3) vs. Maple City Glen Lake (22-1) at Elk Rapids
These powerhouses will play Regional Semifinals at separate sites before meeting in Sault Ste. Marie. Iron Mountain won the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East, but its one league loss was to Westwood on Jan. 3, 61-56, before winning the rematch three weeks later 58-32. Glen Lake won the Northwest Conference and Harbor Springs was runner-up in the Northern Shores Conference, and they also met during the regular season with Glen Lake taking a Dec. 18 meeting 71-63.
DIVISION 4
McBain Northern Michigan Christian
Mio (15-7) vs. Bellaire (20-4)
Traverse City Christian (22-2) vs. Marion (18-6)
Mio and Traverse City Christian have crossed paths, with TCC winning their Battle of the Bridge championship game at Mackinaw City 45-26 on Dec. 7. Bellaire shared the Ski Valley Conference title, and three of its four losses were to Division 2 and 3 teams. Marion finished third in the West Michigan D League but notably downed Northwest Conference runner-up Onekama by 13 to claim their District last week. TCC has won 15 straight since falling to Onekama on Jan. 3, and Mio finished runner-up in the North Star League Little Dipper and has won eight of its last 10 games.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Muskegon Heights Academy (11-10) vs. Pentwater (21-2)
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (20-3) vs. Fowler (21-3)
Pentwater and Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart are league champions and Fowler finished runner-up in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference only to Division 3 contender Pewamo-Westphalia, with two of its losses to the Pirates and the third to Division 2 Fruitport. Pentwater ran its winning streak to 11 with a buzzer-beating District Final win over Baldwin, and Sacred Heart’s losses were to Division 3 Lumen Christi and Glen Lake and league rival Fulton. Enter an intriguing possibility in Muskegon Heights Academy, which as an independent has played all over and is riding a six-game winning streak. The Tigers also lost to Fruitport, but by only a point in their season opener, and have taken on several much larger schools and played in five overtime games.
Negaunee
Bessemer (15-9) vs. Dollar Bay (20-4) at Houghton
Felch North Dickinson (18-5) vs. Crystal Falls Forest Park (22-2) at Kingsford
These teams also will play at separate Regional Semifinal sites before convening in Negaunee. Dollar Bay shared the Copper Mountain Conference championship, that run including a 53-43 win over Bessemer on Jan. 24. The Speedboys have won 10 of their last 12 games, while Dollar Bay brings a 10-game winning streak into tonight. Forest Park was a Regional champion last season and has lost this winter only to Division 1 Marquette and Division 2 Kingsford, with 11 and nine-point wins over North Dickinson contributing to a Skyline Central Conference small-school title. But North Dickinson has improved five wins from a year ago and won nine of its last 10 games.
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PHOTOS (top) Rockford’s Lucas Pitsch (10) works to protect the rim as Muskegon’s Keashaun Johnson drives during their District Final on Friday. (Middle) Ishpeming Westwood’s Tristan Miller (22) goes to the basket with Marquette’s Jacob MacPhee defending during their teams’ December matchup. (Rockford/Muskegon photo by Tim Reilly. Westwood/Marquette photo by Cara Kamps.)