Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 7
January 27, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Well, the weather outside is frightful … but inside the gym it’s warm as ever, especially for teams able to avoid the freeze outs that have made scheduling and re-scheduling an adventure this month.
This week’s list includes a number of teams from northern Michigan, where they are used to braving the cold – and some from downstate that probably feel they are doing it more than usual lately.
1. Bellaire (9-0, Class D) – The Eagles are among three contenders atop the Ski Valley Conference, and a win over Mancelona this week would give Bellaire at least a one-game edge on the other two.
2. Grand Ledge (7-2, Class A) – After winning four games two seasons ago and eight in 2012-13, the Comets lead the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue thanks to a six-point win over favorite Holt on Friday.
3. Detroit Osborn (9-3, Class A) – The Knights opened this season 1-3 but haven’t lost since mid-December and are 5-0 in the Detroit PSL East Division 2.
4. Crystal Falls Forest Park (9-0, Class D) – The Trojans edged third-place Carney-Nadeau by four points to keep pace with Powers North Central atop the Skyline Conference.
5. Hillman (10-1, Class D) – The Tigers have won three straight by at least 24 points, including a nonleague victory over Posen, the other North Star League team without a loss this winter (they meet in league play Feb. 27).
6. Ironwood (11-1, Class C) – The Red Devils’ lone loss this season was to a team from Wisconsin; 10 of 11 wins have come by double digits.
7. Fulton-Middleton (7-1, Class D) – The Pirates opened up the Central Michigan Athletic Conference race by edging leader and favorite Pewamo-Westphalia by three to move into a tie for the top spot.
8. Suttons Bay (7-1, Class D) – The Norsemen haven’t lost since opening night and lead the Northwest Conference with second-place Benzie Central coming up next week.
9. Belleville (7-3, Class A) – The Tigers must play catch-up behind Western Wayne Blue leader Romulus, but notched a nice overtime win over Southeastern Conference White leader Ypsilanti Lincoln on Thursday.
10. Lansing Eastern (6-5, Class A) – The Quakers bounced back from a four-game losing streak to beat CAAC Blue contenders Okemos and Lansing Sexton last week.
PHOTO: Detroit Osborn, here against Detroit Collegiate Prep, leads its division of the Detroit Public School League. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit PSL).
GR Christian Withstands Late Chelsea Rally to Book Historic Opportunity
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 15, 2024
EAST LANSING – Grand Rapids Christian has never looked at it as courting disaster.
The Eagles admit there have been a handful of games where major trouble has been averted by a strong second half. The latest example was Friday's tight 50-41 win over Chelsea in a Division 2 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.
Instead of fretting about slow starts, the Eagles say they prefer to dwell on what happens during the final two crucial quarters. In the win over Chelsea, for example, the Eagles nearly let a 10-point lead slide away over the final five and a half minutes before hitting some clutch free throws and limiting the Bulldogs to just three points during the final 4:25.
Business as usual, said the Eagles (25-2), who will play Warren Lincoln in Saturday's 6:45 p.m. Final. It’s a matchup of the top two-ranked teams in Division 2 and a rematch of a 49-47 Warren Lincoln win earlier in the season. Grand Rapids Christian will be playing for a first championship since winning the Lower Peninsula Class B title in 1938.
"We get a little excited early sometimes," Eagles senior Jaylan Ouwinga said. "Maybe we move too fast or too slow, but we forget slow starts and just get the job done. We work on coming out strong, but we've had to learn to just let the game come to us."
Such was the case against Chelsea (21-6). Grand Rapids Christian led 40-30 with 5:34 left, but an 8-0 Bulldogs run cut the margin to 40-38 with 4:25 to go. Ouwinga made a basket, Carter Goodyke added a layup and the Eagles managed seven free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Grand Rapids Christian's Tyler Davis said the team is aware of the dangers of slow starts.
"We talk about it, and we know it's not so great," he said. "We've never been here before, but we have confidence. We're not going to get down on each other because of someone's mistake."
Eagles coach Eric Taylor said the key to stronger second halves isn't complicated.
"Guys are focused," he said. "We've never wavered. They made some runs at us and cut the lead. We talked about basketball being a game of runs. We didn't lose focus because another team makes a run, because it happens."
Ouwinga had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Nate Johnson added 13 points, and Davis had 10.
Johnson said second-half strength is something the team has capitalized on all season.
"It's something we've acquired," he said. "We stay resilient and keep our heads in the game. We stay strong mentally and stick to the game plan."
Jake Stephens had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Chelsea.
Taylor said experience has been a factor in the team's success. There are nine seniors on the roster, and they benefitted from a schedule that included seven ranked teams.
"We're very battle-tested," Taylor said. "We've proven we're ready for the moment; we know we have to play 32 minutes, not 28. (Slow starts) aren't what we like, but tough players win and we've been tough all year."
Chelsea coach Andrea Cabana said there were chances to win.
"They made enough runs in the second half that we allowed them to get away from us," she said. "We've played a tough schedule; teams similar to who they've played. We're gritty and never give up. We got a couple turnovers late, but couldn't capitalize on them. We were relentless, which is how we play."
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Christian’s DeClan Winstanley (22) dunks before Chelsea’s Hayden Long (4) can get a hand in to stop the attempt. (Middle) Tyler Davis (11) launches a jumper from the top of the key during the Eagles’ Division 2 Semifinal win. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)