Norris Transforms Grass Lake into Contender for Long-Awaited League Title
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
February 12, 2025
Grass Lake has gone more than 50 years without a conference boys basketball championship. The wait could be over Saturday.
The Warriors, guided by second-year head coach Marshawn Norris, are 18-0 for the first time in school history and have locked in a spot in Saturday’s Cascades Conference championship game.
Norris is the fifth coach for the Warriors in seven years, but he’s off to a fast start in putting his stamp on the program.
“I think that is what is most appealing to me,” he said. “I’m a basketball guy. I think I have a chance to change the village of Grass Lake into a basketball town.”
Grass Lake athletic director Brian Zalud said the community is building excitement over what’s happening with basketball. The team already has the school record for wins in a season.
“In the two years that Marshawn has been at Grass Lake he has been able to get our kids to buy into what he is trying to get them to do,” Zalud said. “They play with intensity every time they are on the court. Every kid is willing to do all the little things for him and each other, and that passion and desire comes as a direct reflection of what Coach Marshawn brings to every practice and game.”
Norris is a Jackson native who played his high school basketball at Napoleon, one of Grass Lake’s opponents in the Cascades Conference.
“They were hard-nosed and competitive,” Norris recalled about Grass Lake. “I know they’ve been looking for a basketball coach, not just someone in the job, and I hope I can be that guy for a long time.”
The 18-0 start is surprising for a program that has struggled to maintain consistency over the years. The only Cascades Conference boys basketball championships in the trophy case are from 1955 and 1971.
“Coming into the season, we knew we had a special group,” Norris said. “I told them the faster we get ready and harder we work, we’ll be able to jump on some teams and surprise them. I think we did just that. Now we are in the conference championship game on Saturday and have a chance to accomplish our first goal.”
Norris graduated from Napoleon in 2008 and played collegiately at Mott Community College and Culver-Stockton College in Missouri. He was offered an assistant coaching job at Culver-Stockton in the locker room after his final college game. He served as head coach for two seasons at Jackson College before landing at Grass Lake.
“This is my first high school job,” he said. “I’ve never built a program. I’ve never coached anywhere longer than two seasons. Hopefully this will be my first stop where I’m able to stay more than two seasons and I’m able to build something and people know what they are getting from Coach Norris.”
Norris was hired in June 2023 and quickly pieced together a summer schedule of scrimmages against Jackson-area schools. The Warriors went 11-13 in his first season.
This year, things have turned around paced by a starting lineup of all seniors.
“Four of my guys are 18 years old,” Norris said.
The starters are Brayden Lape, Sal Vitale, Jacob Collins, Bryant Cook and Carmyne Beltran.
Lape leads the team in scoring at 19.8 points a game. Cook, who missed most of last season with an injury suffered during football season, averages 8.1 points and 10.4 rebounds a game, and Collins averages 8.6 points a game and leads the team in steals. Vitale, the leader in assists, is like a coach on the floor.
Norris said the improvement began during the summer.
“We just had June, but we had a good June,” he said. “We fine-tuned some things. Everybody on my team are three-sport athletes.”
The senior class has had expectations for years. In fifth grade they were undefeated, and in eighth grade they also went undefeated, although the season was cut short by COVID-19. Norris said other teams might have more basketball ability, but no team works harder.
“We understand who we are,” he said. “We are a special team who works really, really hard.”
Lape said Norris has helped make basketball fun in Grass Lake.
"I remember even as a kid coming to games, there wouldn't be very many people in the stands," he said. "There's excitement now. Our game against Michigan Center was a pretty cool environment.
“Coach has a winning attitude. We know we are not the most talented team, but we work really hard."
Norris stresses discipline in the program.
“I think the discipline and structure I’m bringing is something they needed,” he said. “The guys know from me if you are missing practice or school or anything that is inexcusable, it is going to be punishable by less playing time. I’m holding guys accountable.
“I tell them all of the time, ‘Men, just do your job.’”
Norris said he got into coaching because of the coaches he had while growing up. He not only coaches Grass Lake but runs a skill development program and coaches youth basketball in Jackson.
“I think I wanted to be a coach because I’ve always had good coaches,” he said. “I never had a bad coach. Coaches were always like father figures to me. Hopefully someday someone will say that about me.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Grass Lake’s Brayden Lape (23) gets to the basket against Michigan Center. (Middle) Grass Lake boys basketball coach Marshawn Norris talks with his team. (Photos courtesy of JTV.)
Past Wildcats Bringing Valuable Experiences Home as Three Rivers' New Hoops Coaches
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
December 2, 2025
THREE RIVERS – Basketball has always been a passion for rookie Three Rivers coaches Drew Bosma and Michael Morrison.
The two former Wildcats aim to bring that same level of energy they exhibited during their playing careers as they embark on their first varsity coaching stints.
Both Bosma and Morrison have brought along a few familiar faces as they begin working to rebuild Three Rivers' strong basketball tradition.
Bosma, a 2009 graduate, replaced long-time mentor Brian Burg as the Wildcats' varsity boys coach, while Morrison has taken the reins of the girls program from Carley Shoesmith.
As a student-athlete at Three Rivers, Bosma excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track & field. He continued his playing career at Alma College and Liberty University before returning home and completing his undergraduate studies in psychology through online courses.
"My psychology background has been useful in my coaching career. The kids you work with have so many different issues they encounter than when I was in school," said Bosma, who is employed in the RV Industry at Grand Design in Elkhart, Ind.
Bosma's early shift works out perfectly with his coaching duties. After 11 seasons as Three Rivers’ JV boys coach, he spent the last two as a varsity assistant at Portage Northern. His immediate goal is to renew enthusiasm within the program.
"My experience with Three Rivers basketball as a player was a very good one. I want to build the culture to the point where people want to be here, the effort isn't questioned and (we) have kids who enjoy the game," Bosma said. "I've had a lot of good mentors in this game. Now that I'm a head coach, I want our players to be able to step onto the court and play freely. Yelling after every mistake they make isn't going to teach them anything. They are going to make mistakes in life, and they have to understand it’s ok to mess up and learn from those mistakes.”
Bosma's additional goals this season are simple ones.
"I want our kids to make it known that we have competed hard in every game with a no-quit attitude. It's a coach’s dream to win every game, but I want to make sure these kids are becoming better people as well as basketball players," Bosma said.
Long-range goals include increasing interest among students to try out for the team. He and his staff have organized the Three Rivers NextGen Boys' Basketball Program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade that will begin in January and focus on building skills and nurturing players who may fill the ranks down the road.
Bosma's coaching philosophy includes being tough on his players while showing that he truly cares about their well-being.
"As a coach I'm going to be hard on you, but these guys know that it’s out of love and concern for them,” he said. “They understand that anything I say to them is meant truthfully, and it comes from the heart. I want them to know they can come and talk to me. I want them to return 10-12 years later and notice the same type of feeling in this program. All of my coaches are either former teammates of mine or guys who played for me.”
Tirrell Hausmanis, a former hoops star at Three Rivers, serves as Bosma's varsity assistant. Brenden Brown is the Wildcats' junior varsity mentor, and alumnus Thomas O'Dell is the freshman coach.
"Having Three Rivers alumni on our coaching staff teaches these kids how important basketball is to our community," Bosma said.
Offensively, Bosma expects the Wildcats to be able to stay in space and use their long wing players and better shooters to their advantage. Among the top returners are junior point guard Brayden Carpenter, 6-foot-6 senior forward Zander Barth (who is committed to Central Michigan for football), and senior forward Carter Langston.
Carpenter averaged 13 points per game as a sophomore, as Three Rivers finished 7-15.
"You can tell there's a different attitude under the new coaching staff. There are lot of guys now who want to put in the extra time and energy to get better,” Carpenter said. “Our communication on the court has improved, and Coach Bosma's system allows us to play freely without worrying about the consequences of making a mistake.”
Three Rivers looks to be more adaptable at the defensive end.
"Defensively I want to change things up all the time. We don't want to just sit back in one zone or play man-to-man, but rather press whenever we can,” Bosma said. “We have a group that has improved its basketball IQ, which allows us to do so much more as coaches. We have good team camaraderie and kids who are going to play for each other. These guys are more excited about getting the win rather than what shows up in the box score.”
Bosma has seven seniors on his roster, but Three Rivers still is a fairly young team in terms of experience.
"We have long and athletic kids and guys who could be pretty good once they build their confidence level. We have great guards and kids who like to defend. Defense has become somewhat of a lost art in high school basketball. We have the tools though to be a successful basketball team," Bosma said.
Morrison, a 2003 Three Rivers graduate who played football, basketball and baseball for the Wildcats, has taken the reins of the girls program. After high school, Morrison attended Ferris State University where he graduated with a psychology degree as well. He is employed as a probation officer for the state.
Morrison has extensive experience coaching basketball. He started out coaching travel basketball in Paw Paw while also coaching high school teams at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Vicksburg and Three Rivers, including the last five years as the JV boys coach under Burg. He also served as an assistant men's coach at Glen Oaks Community College under Mike Elliott.
"Working under Mike taught me so much more about basketball and has made me an even better coach. That time was very beneficial," Morrison said.
Morrison's immediate goal is to provide stability in the girls program.
"These girls have had several coaches in the last few years. I want to provide some stability and help the program grow from the lower levels,” he said. “Obviously you want to win championships, but right now we have to start with attainable goals like finishing over .500, which we haven't done in a while.”
Other goals that Morrison feels are within Three Rivers’ grasp are finishing in the top half of the Wolverine Conference and competing for a District title. The Wildcats were 8-14 last season and tied for sixth in the league.
His philosophy centers around pace and space.
"I want to get up and down the floor and defend. We want to execute an offense in the halfcourt, but also get up and down the floor and get some fastbreaks when we can. We spent the first couple weeks of practice working on executing things the right way," Morrison said.
Senior guard Dani Glass, a second-team all-Wolverine Conference pick last season, returns for her fourth varsity season. Glass, who averaged 12 points per game as a junior, has committed to play at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
"Dani makes us go and is our catalyst for everything we do offensively. We expect more from her this season as she gets ready for the next level," Morrison said.
Sophomore post player Braylee Burg will be another key component for the Wildcats, along with senior defensive specialist Jersey Roehrs.
"I feel I help my team most with my ability to box out and create a lane for my guards along with providing rebounding. I want to work on finishing stronger at the rim this year,” Burg said. “Our coaching staff has us doing fun drills that are getting us ready for the season. We want to get the ball down the floor more effectively and set up our offense."
Morrison is most excited about his team's work ethic.
"We are very excited about this team's potential and are really leaning heavily on our seniors to give us a big great burst of energy and bring everyone else along,” Morrison said. “People are going to see a very well-disciplined group that works hard and together as a team. We are working extremely hard on our communication and shooting as well."
Parker Ellifritz, who ranks among Three Rivers’ all-time leading scorers, serves as Morrison's varsity assistant. Olivia Hancock, whose played on the 2016 Class B championship team at Marshall during her prep days, fills the role of junior varsity coach with Payge Ellifritz, Parker's sister, serving as her assistant.
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) Above, the Three Rivers boys basketball coaching staff, from left to right: junior varsity coach Brenden Brown, head varsity coach Drew Bosma, varsity assistant Tirrell Hausmanis and freshman coach Thomas O'Dell. Below, the girls basketball coaching staff, also from left to right: varsity assistant Parker Ellifritz, head varsity coach Michael Morrison and junior varsity coach Olivia Hancock. (Middle) Junior point guard Brayden Carpenter (0) returns for his second varsity season at Three Rivers. (Below) Senior Braylee Burg (52) returns for her second varsity season for Three Rivers. (Photos by Scott Hassinger.)