Tri-unity Christian Back on Top As Titus Leads Overtime Surge
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
March 26, 2022
EAST LANSING – The Wyoming Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team fell short last season in its bid to add another state championship to its storied history.
Senior point guard Brady Titus wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.
Titus scored a game-high 33 points to propel the Defenders to a thrilling 56-45 overtime win over Ewen-Trout Creek in Saturday’s Division 4 Final at the Breslin Center.
“There was so much motivation, just coming up short last year,” Titus said. “Just knowing that we lost to a team that we could’ve beat really carried on into this year, and there’s a great sense of relief knowing that we really did this as a team.
“I’m more than thankful, and it’s hard to describe how I feel right now other than a lot of excitement.”
The Defenders (20-6) lost to Detroit Douglass a year ago, 46-41, but gained redemption by outscoring the Panthers 13-2 in overtime Saturday.
Tri-unity captured its fifth Final, but first since 2011 under longtime coach Mark Keeler, who watched his team struggle in the second quarter after a strong start.
The Defenders led 16-11 after the first quarter, but Ewen-Trout Creek opened the second with an 11-1 surge to snare a 22-17 lead.
The Defenders countered with a 6-0 run to hold a slim 23-22 advantage, but Ewen-Trout Creek ended the half with seven straight points.
A 3-pointer from Eric Abramson at the buzzer gave the Panthers a 30-23 lead at the half.
“I was proud of my guys because we didn’t quit or get discouraged after that buzzer 3-pointer at the end of the first half,” said Keeler, who was appearing in his 10th Final. “Ewen-Trout Creek was gutty and tough, and they dominated the boards in the first half.”
Titus, who will play in college at Indiana Tech, scored 23 of his points in the second half and overtime after being held to 10 points in the first half.
He was poked in the eye inadvertently early in the third quarter, and it fueled his play.
“It was an accident for sure, but me being the person I am I took it personally,” Titus said. “That really fired me up to just go out there and play and compete.”
Titus stepped up several times when his team needed him during the second-half rally.
His driving lay-up with 33 seconds left knotted the score at 43-43 and sent the game to overtime after the Defenders got a defensive stop in the closing seconds.
“He does it so often,” Keeler said of Titus’ heroics. “He’s just an amazing young man, and he made plays for us.”
Tri-unity turned to its defense in overtime to help secure the win.
Sophomore Owen Rosendall, who made three 3-pointers and finished with nine points, had a steal and took a defensive charge, while junior center Hanif James had a huge blocked shot with the Defenders clinging to a 47-45 lead in the final minute. He then scored inside on an assist from Titus.
“I don’t really go for blocks because I try to keep my hands up as straight as possible,” said James, who had seven points and seven rebounds. “If I see it, I go for it, and then Brady has great vision and I know he’ll find me when I’m open.”
Ewen-Trout Creek (22-3) was playing for its first Finals title since 1972.
The Panthers also finished Class D runner-up in 1982, losing to Covert 105-94.
“Overtime losses are always tough, but an overtime loss in a state championship game is something else,” Ewen-Trout Creek coach Brad Besonen said. “The fight and the grind these guys bring to the court every night showed tonight in front of a big audience on a big stage in one of the biggest games we can have as a high school team. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.”
Jaden Borseth finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Panthers, while Brendan Polkky had 14 points and Abramson added 12.
PHOTOS (Top) Tri-unity’s Hanif James (34) gets a hand on a shot attempt by Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jaden Borseth. (Middle) The Defenders’ Ethan Eerdmans (10) works to get past Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jonah Nordine. (Below) Tri-unity coach Mark Keeler raises the championship trophy toward his team Saturday. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Quarterfinal Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 11, 2025
Championship week has begun as this MHSAA boys basketball season rolls toward its conclusion, and 32 teams are seeking to add to their season-long stories with tonight’s Quarterfinals.
Below are quick glances at all 16 matchups. Games tip off at 7 p.m. unless noted. Details on tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Boys Basketball page. To watch all 16 games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. (Abbreviations below denote ppg - points per game, rpg - rebounds per game and apg - assists per game.)
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Wayne Memorial 72, Detroit U-D Jesuit 70 Wayne (23-3) clinched its first Regional title since 1997, downing another popular Division 1 championship pick in ending the Cubs’ season at 22-4.
2. Warren Lincoln 59, Detroit Old Redford 44 Reigning Division 2 champion Lincoln (20-4) won this Regional Final matchup of teams that played at Breslin Center last season, as Old Redford (19-3) was the reigning Division 3 runner-up.
3. Flint Carman-Ainsworth 64, Rockford 60 (OT) Carman-Ainsworth (21-5) would go on to defeat Marquette two days later for a Division 1 Regional title, but this was an eye-opener among Regional Semifinals as Rockford (22-3) was considered a Finals contender.
4. Lansing Sexton 73, Chelsea 71 Sexton (19-5) claimed its first Regional title since 2012 on a buzzer beater in Division 2 that ended Chelsea’s run at 17-9.
5. Flint New Standard Academy 64, Harbor Beach 56 In Division 3, the Warriors (16-8) claimed their first Regional title by handing the Pirates (23-2) just their second defeat.
Quarterfinals at a Glance
DIVISION 1
East Lansing (25-1) vs. Ann Arbor Huron (21-4) at Mason
This is a rematch of a 2024 Quarterfinal won by Huron, 54-48. Senior guard Macari Moore remains a dominant force for the River Rats, averaging 19 points per game while making 59 percent of his shots from the floor. East Lansing is paced by a pair of standouts, junior guard KJ Torbert (20.3 ppg) and senior guard Cameron Hutson (18.5 ppg, 7.4 rebounds per game).
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (19-6) vs. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (19-8) at University of Detroit Mercy, 5:30 p.m.
The reigning Division 1 champion Eaglets continued to build through a stretch without senior wing Trey McKenney (22.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg) during the regular season but are back at full strength – and McKenney received the Mr. Basketball Award on Monday. Junior guard Julius Wilson paces a balanced LCN team scoring 16 points per game.
Detroit Martin Luther King (21-5) vs. Wayne Memorial (23-3) at University of Detroit Mercy
Wayne edged Detroit U-D Jesuit 72-70 in their Regional Final last week and can turn to multiple scoring options led by junior guard Carlos Medlock Jr. (24.9 ppg, 4.8 assists per game) among three starters averaging double-digit scoring. Three King starters also average at least 10 points per game, led by Steven Jones (15.6 ppg).
Flint Carman-Ainsworth (21-5) vs. Byron Center (20-6) at DeWitt
Carman-Ainsworth also defeated a much-anticipated contender last week, defeating Rockford 64-60 in overtime in their Regional Semifinal. Seniors Donovan Hamlin (14.8 ppg) and MarQuinn Weston II (14.5) give the Cavaliers multiple go-to options. Senior guard Keane Hinkle is Byron Center’s leading scorer at 16 points per game, with 76 3-pointers while making more than 45 percent of his tries beyond the arc.
DIVISION 2
Kingsford (21-3) vs. Freeland (22-3) at Gaylord
Kingsford is playing in a Quarterfinal for the second-straight season and can turn to Gavin Grondin, who averages 24.3 ppg and has made 79 3-pointers. Freeland also has a long-range shooting standout in junior guard Wilson Huckeby, who is averaging a team-high 20.2 ppg and has connected on 87 shots from 3-point range.
Lansing Sexton (19-5) vs. Romulus Summit Academy North (22-3) at Jackson
Sexton junior guard Keyshawn Summerville sent his team to this week with a longer-than-halfcourt buzzer-beater to get past Chelsea 73-71 in their Regional Final, and he’s averaging a team-best 19.6 ppg. Summit has four players scoring between 10-14 points per game – led by junior wing Chance Houser (14.3 ppg) – as it seeks a second trip to Breslin over the last three seasons.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (20-7) vs. Marshall (20-6) at Hamilton
Catholic Central graduated last season’s Mr. Basketball but is another returning quarterfinalist with junior forward Izaya Larthridge (15.5 ppg, 61 3-pointers) leading the way. Marshall has emerged from a three-way title share in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference paced by senior forward Austin Miller (15.4 ppg, 54 3-pointers).
Warren Lincoln (20-4) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (14-10) at St. Clair County Community College
Reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln has won 15 straight games and brings a starting lineup of all seniors into championship week. Notre Dame Prep will play in its second Quarterfinal over the last four seasons, led by stars from the Division 5 champion football team including senior guard Joey DeCasas (19 ppg).
DIVISION 3
Ishpeming Westwood (21-5) vs. McBain (23-2) at Boyne City
McBain is on another run after reaching the Semifinals last year and falling to eventual champion Niles Brandywine in overtime at Breslin. Sophomore Clayton Heuker has taken on a starring role at 19.7 ppg and can play all over the lineup. Westwood defeated teams last week that finished with a combined 44-6 record and is led by junior guard Ethan Marta (27 ppg, 50 3-pointers).
Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (19-1) vs. Flint New Standard Academy (16-8) at St. Clair County Community College, 5:30 p.m.
ATAP has jumped from 8-7 last season to the Quarterfinals, with the lone loss to Division 1 Hamtramck and freshman guard Lewis Lovejoy (17.9 ppg) leading four players scoring at least 12 points per game. New standard has followed previously-longtime Saginaw Arthur Hill coach Greg McMath to this week, with junior guard Jeffrey Turner (15.8 ppg) and senior forward Jhirnea Harris (13.6) leading a lineup that includes two freshmen.
Jackson Lumen Christi (23-3) vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard (22-2) at Ypsilanti Lincoln
This is another Quarterfinal rematch from last season, and will even be played on the same floor. Gabriel Richard won last year’s meeting 58-44 and then its two with Lumen this winter 88-65 and 82-48 on the way to claiming Catholic High School League AA and Cardinal Tournament championships.
Pewamo-Westphalia (23-3) vs. Schoolcraft (20-6) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
After missing out on the Quarterfinals with a one-point Regional Final loss last season, P-W has advanced to championship week for the third time over the last four seasons. Junior guard Grady Eklund leads at 17.5 ppg. Schoolcraft is making its third Quarterfinal trip in five seasons with senior guard Tucker Walther (16 ppg, 5.0 apg) guiding a balanced attack.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park (24-2) vs. Pickford (23-2) at Gladstone
Forest Park will play in a Quarterfinal for the second-straight season and is led by the Giuliani brothers – senior forward Kevin (14.6 ppg) and sophomore forward Vic (22 ppg) – among standouts from the 8-player Division 2 football champion in the fall. Pickford was the 8-player Division 1 football runner-up and several of those playmakers are driving this run as well with senior forward Eli MacDonald the lead scorer at 16.6 ppg.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (24-2) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (22-4) at Richland Gull Lake
The reigning Division 4 champion Tri-unity will attempt to send out retiring coach Mark Keeler with one more title this week. Senior 6-foot-7 center Joey Mellon leads another balanced lineup at 13 ppg. Junior forward Jaxon Salenbien is the latest high-scoring talent from his school and family, averaging 24.3 ppg with 52 3-pointers as he attempts to follow his two older sisters’ previous paths to Finals weekend.
Bellaire (22-4) vs. Fowler (23-3) at Houghton Lake
A pair of senior standouts has Bellaire playing in its first Quarterfinal since 2016, as Drake Koepke (16.8 ppg) and Jayden Hanson (16.1) are setting the pace. Fowler is making its first trip to this round since 2017 with two of its losses this season to Pewamo-Westphalia, playing tonight in Division 3.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (23-3) vs. Kingston (18-6) at West Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
This is one more rematch from last year’s Quarterfinals, which Inter-City Baptist won 58-46. Junior guard Ethan Esse is starring again for Inter-City, averaging 22.3 ppg with 64 3-pointers, and senior center Austin DeRoseau also is back among Kingston’s leaders with a team-high 18.6 ppg and three blocked shots as well per contest.
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PHOTOS (Top) Pewamo-Westphalia’s Reece Thelen (3) launches a 3-pointer this season. (Middle) Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Julius Wilson (1) drives during his team's 68-65 Regional Final win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Below) Carman-Ainsworth’s Anthony Mull (20) drives during last week’s win over Rockford. (P-W photo by Jim Pivarnik. LCN/De La Salle photo by Adam Sheehan. Carman-Ainsworth/Rockford photo by Terry Lyons.)