Get Prepped for a Fantastic Finale
May 24, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We love this time of year. And not just because school is nearly out for summer.
There’s little argument that the week ahead is the most exciting of each MHSAA school year. And you’ll want to set your bookmarks for MHSAA.com and Second Half for updated results and coverage not just next week – but through the rest of this spring season.
The MHSAA.com Score Center is our home for scores from all District softball, baseball and soccer games, which begin Tuesday. You also can view real-time brackets for every District by going to the “Sports” page for each, and updated brackets for lacrosse by visiting our girls and boys pages for that sport as well.
In the Lower Peninsula, we’ll have same day or next morning results as golf Districts are played, and first-day results from next weekend’s Girls Tennis Finals on May 31 – followed by final results at the conclusion of play June 1. We’ll post Finals results for Upper Peninsula golf and tennis as we receive them Wednesday and Thursday, and then results for all seven Lower and Upper Peninsula Track and Field Finals as they come in June 1.
But results are only the start. As we have during the fall and winter, Second Half will provide coverage including photos from every MHSAA Final – beginning with Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Girls and Boys Golf and Boys Tennis Finals. Keep an eye on Second Half throughout the week, or follow the Second Half feed on the cover page of MHSAA.com.
Transfer rule clarification
We released Monday the actions our Representative Council took earlier this month at its Spring Meeting, including an addition to the athletics-related portion of our transfer rule. Based on some questions we’ve received and read, here’s some further explanation of what will be installed for 2014-15:
The longer period of ineligibility for athletes who transfer because of athletics is not new. This has previously existed for cases in which a school could prove that it lost a student to another school purely for sports-related reasons.
What’s new is what must be proven and by whom for the longer ineligibility period to take effect. Now, a school that lost a student does not have to file a report with the MHSAA for the case to be considered. As long as one of a set of offending activities can be verified – including practicing, competing or training with a member of the new school’s coaching staff during summer or non-school sports activities or seasons – that student will have to sit 180 days instead of the usual period of roughly a semester. The 15 exemptions that allow a student to be eligible immediately – like making a full move to a new district or a student’s school closing – may still apply.
So, to conclude: The longer athletics-related ineligibility period is not new, just how athletics-related transfers are considered and reported. Click to read the full release.
Kickoff is coming
And that means we’re collecting varsity football schedules.
In fact, we have most of them thanks to our athletic directors, their secretaries, coaches and many others who chip in to help us keep complete and accurate information throughout the season.
But there are still plenty of steps in getting ready for August – and a huge one is locking down correct leagues for our teams this season, especially as schools continue to switch things up.
Check out your school’s schedule page by click on the “Schools” button in the menu bar at the top of MHSAA.com and searching for your school. Once on the school page, click the blue “Boys” button next to football. The schedule will appear in the middle of the page, with standings to the left.
See an error in a schedule or the standings? Email me at [email protected]. I thank you in advance.
Kramer’s words of wisdom
Long before Roy Kramer served as athletic director at Vanderbilt University, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and creator of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for Division I college football, he coached multiple sports at East Lansing High School.
He recently was named winner of this year’s Duffy Daugherty Award, given in honor of the former Michigan State University coach to a valued coach or contributor to college football. The award, presented in East Lansing, is among those recognized by the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kramer finished his acceptance speech with a stirring endorsement of the sport that brought the crowd of more than 300 to its feet. If you’re a fan, former or current player or coach, see below.
PHOTO: Athletes race toward the finish of a relay during this spring's Alma College Invitational. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)
Gorham Twins Setting Scoring Pace as Mendon Climbs Into League, District Contention
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
February 10, 2026
MENDON – After another stellar football season, Mendon is making some big waves on the basketball court as well this winter.
As the 2025-26 regular season winds down, and coming off a run to the 8-Player Football Regional Finals with some of the same players leading the way, the Hornets are enjoying their finest season on the hardwood in many years. Under second-year head coach Matt Gorham, they are 16-1 overall, with a 10-0 record in the Southern Central Athletic Association West following an 84-40 win Monday in a divisional contest at Bellevue.
Mendon, which hosts its Division 4 District later this month, is looking to win its first league title in boys hoops since 2014 and raise its first District trophy in the sport since 2015.
Two of the biggest catalysts in Mendon's pursuit of those two goals are senior guards and twin brothers Ryder Gorham and Owen Gorham. Both four-year varsity letterwinners went over the 1,000-point mark for their respective careers this winter and are the sons of the Hornets' head coach.
Ryder and Owen have experienced both the good and lean times during their careers. During their freshman season, Mendon finished with an 11-14 record before attaining back-to-back winning seasons as sophomores (12-11) and juniors (14-9).
"Mendon has always had good athletes. When I got here, I wanted to bring a professional look to the program in terms of preparing for teams, practicing hard and teaching life skills so that when they get out of here they are better people with a competitive nature," said Matt Gorham, who is employed as an agent for State Farm Insurance in Battle Creek and brought more than 25 years of coaching experience from Vicksburg, Portage Central, Portage Northern, Mattawan, Schoolcraft and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Gorham, who previously owned a business training athletes, got involved last spring as an assistant track & field coach at Mendon. That helped him build a better rapport with his current players.
"The kids have gotten to know me, and having two kids myself in the school helps,” he said. “I give last year's seniors that we had on the team a great deal of credit. They helped set the tone for the kids we had coming back. This year it was a matter of rinse and repeat, let's get a bit more focused and prepare better.”
Team speed and unselfishness are two of Mendon's biggest weapons.
Ryder Gorham, the Hornets' point guard, is averaging 24.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 4.6 steals per game.
"Having been on varsity four years really helps. The pace of the game is much faster. I've always played against older and bigger guys, so it just helps the game come to me more naturally,' Ryder Gorham said.
Mendon is averaging 69.6 points per game and owns a pair of overtime wins over divisional rival Colon (80-75 and 80-73). The Hornets' lone loss came 78-65 in another overtime thriller against Hillsdale Academy. Those two schools could meet again in the Division 4 Quarterfinals.
"Our defense generates most of our offense most of the time. We like to just get out and run,” Ryder Gorham said. “This team can set up plays, but we prefer to score a majority of our points in transition because most of the teams we play are bigger than us."
Ryder Gorham poured in a game-high 36 points in Monday's win at Bellevue. That effort pushed his career total to 1,344 points, surpassing the school record of David Schrock, who previously held the mark with 1,320. Ryder also owns school records for career 3-point field goals made at 141 and steals with 236. Owen Gorham is second in career steals at Mendon with 226.
"It all starts with Ryder. He makes us go and is a special player when the ball is in his hands,” Matt Gorham said. “He's an extremely great passer and establishes the tempo for us. Our biggest trick was to get Ryder's outside shot going so he could get more 3s up. He can drive, finish well and get to the free-throw line too."
Ryder loves the chemistry he and his brother Owen have developed by playing together throughout their high school careers.
"It's awesome being on the same court with my brother. We've been playing together our entire lives. We have that chemistry and know when each of us is hitting their shots. Our dad sometimes jumps on us a little more, but that's the way it's supposed to be," Ryder Gorham said.
Owen Gorham, a shooting guard, is averaging 18 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.2 steals per game.
"My job is just to try and score any way I can. I feel like I've improved my rebounding the most over last season, and outworking people," Owen Gorham said.
"Owen moves very well without the basketball and does a nice job getting rebounds for a 5-10 kid. He almost always averages a double-double," Matt Gorham said.
Also playing a vital role in Mendon's starting lineup is senior forward Carter Huston with norms of 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
"I'm usually a forward but they put me everywhere. I can reach around other people and get a lot of boards and get to my spots quickly," said Hutson, who hopes to continue his golf or baseball career in college and major in sports entertainment and marketing.
"We have more leadership, and the guys are more focused in practice this season. This group really works together well. That's why whenever we come out of a huddle we say, 'As a team.’ My position challenges me. I'm average size, but yet I'm tall enough that I can jump and get more rebounds. I'm trying to be more of a leader and communicate better on the floor. We have better team chemistry this season too."
Hustle points, rebounding and getting tip passes are Huston's forte.
"Carter has developed into a pretty good third scoring threat for us. He takes the ball to the bucket and is a pretty good free-throw shooter," Matt Gorham said.
Other key players for Mendon are junior forward Tristan Wood (4.1 points, 5.3 rebounds) and 6-foot-5 junior center Dante Goto (7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 4.6 blocks).
"Dante is just a sponge. He soaks stuff in and has real good timing on rebounds and blocked shots. He's working on his mid-range shooting," Matt Gorham said. "Tristan is just an insane hard worker who does a lot of the dirty work for us by playing defense, getting loose balls, steals, rebounds and boxing out well. His hustle translates to points for us. You need those kind of guys."
Junior Kyron Truckey has been a sparkplug off the bench at a guard spot averaging 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and one steal per game.
"From last year to this season Ky might be our most improved player as far as not just his play, but his basketball mind and maturity. He works extremely hard, plays good defense, takes good care of the basketball and knows his role," Matt Gorham said.
Senior post player Jayden Haigh is a two-year varsity contributor making an impact.
"Jayden is a very physical player and a real good passer. He gets pumped up when he makes a great pass, and that just shows the unselfishness of this team," Matt Gorham said.
Mendon's loss to Hillsdale Academy also should make the Hornets stronger in the postseason.
"We watched film for over two hours straight after that loss. I know we are going to learn a great deal from the mistakes we made in that game,” Owen Gorham said. “We are hoping we see (Hillsdale Academy) again somewhere down the line after Districts.
“It’s great to see us building a legacy here that no has seen before. We just want to help put basketball on the map at Mendon.”
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, Owen Gorham shows off a banner earlier this season identifying him as a 1,000-point scorer. At right, Ryder Gorham holds up a banner commemorating him as Mendon's all-time leading scorer with 1,344 points following Monday's 84-40 win at Bellevue. (Middle) Second-year Mendon varsity boys basketball coach Matt Gorham addresses his team during a recent home game against Athens. (Below) Mendon junior guard Kyron Truckey (2) drives inside for a layup and scores against Athens. (Top photos provided by Matt Gorham. Game photos by Scott Hassinger.)