Defenders Rise Again at Breslin
March 21, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – Wyoming Tri-unity Christian on its own has been plenty to contend with for Class D opponents over the last two decades.
At Michigan State University’s Breslin Center, the Defenders have been nearly unbeatable – which wasn’t good news for first-timer Powers North Central on Thursday.
The top-ranked Defenders – champions on this floor only two seasons ago – improved to 12-4 in playoff games on MSU’s home court with a 51-36 Semifinal win over the Jets. Tri-unity will face reigning champion Southfield Christian at 10 a.m. Saturday in one more Breslin game to finish the season.
“It’s going to give me a little bit of an advantage,” said Tri-unity senior Joey Blauwkamp, who also started on Defenders’ 2011 championship team. “It gives me just a feel for what’s coming.”
Tri-unity (25-2) has four titles over the last 17 years, and coach Mark Keeler’s recipe is proven – the Defenders haven’t had a losing season since 1992.
Once again this winter, Tri-unity played about one third of its regular-season games against Class A and B schools, and in the process built an edge that likely contributed to a deciding fourth-quarter run in this Semifinal.
“Those are the games that really make it so when we go here, we’re ready for this atmosphere,” said Keeler, who is finishing his 26th season. “And this game will help Powers next year. You’ve got to be in it to experience, carry it out. That’s just the way it is for us.”
For playing its first tournament game at Breslin – and coming off its first Regional title in 29 years – No. 10 North Central (23-4) didn’t show any signs of being uncomfortable in the cavernous surroundings.
The teams were tied 27-27 into the final seconds of the third quarter.
But that was despite North Central scoring only one field goal in the period. Blauwkamp dropped in a basket at the quarter buzzer to give the Defenders a two-point lead, and it seemed to get the ball rolling for a big Tri-unity fourth quarter.
“It was a little bit deflating, especially because we were struggling offensively at the end of the third quarter as well,” Jets coach Adam Mercier said. “If we got that one stop, we get the ball coming out of the fourth quarter and maybe make a run. That was a little blow to us mentally.”
Tri-unity held the North Central to only one field goal in the fourth quarter as well, and it didn’t come until 1:19 remained in the game. Meanwhile, Defenders senior Daniel Cole scored 11 of his game-high 18 points as his team pulled away.
Blauwkamp added 10 points and 14 rebounds for Tri-unity. Most impressive, it was the 15th time this season the Defenders held an opponent to 40 or fewer points.
“We rely so much on good defense. We trust one another, and we’ve been playing with one another since … seventh grade at the latest,” Tri-unity senior Evan Przybysz said. “So we know one another. We’ve got each other’s backs. And we know how to get stops when we have to.”
Junior forward Rob Granquist led Powers North Central with 13 points, and junior center Trevor Ekberg had eight and seven rebounds.
But here’s the kicker: The Jets won’t graduate anyone from this season’s roster, allowing them the opportunity to build off some of the experience Tri-unity uses so well to its advantage.
“It was the first end-of-the-season speech where I didn’t see any tears. They’re hungry for more,” Mercier said. “If we do the right things in the offseason, individually pick it up and get better, I hope the kids will be back in the same position next year. This was a great experience for our kids to be here against a great team … and they’ve got a hunger in their eyes.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Wyoming Tri-unity's Daniel Cole drives between Powers North Central defenders Rob Granquist (15) and Trevor Ekberg (40) on Thursday. (Middle) Tri-unity's Joey Blauwkamp prepares to shoot against the Jets' Travis Vincent. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Douglass Completes Climb for 1st Championship
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
April 10, 2021
EAST LANSING – Detroit Douglass senior guard Pierre Brooks II sought out his coach, who’s also his father, as the final seconds ticked away.
The pair shared an emotional embrace as they celebrated the program’s first state title with a 47-41 win over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian in Saturday’s Division 4 Final at the Breslin Center.
“This is the best feeling in the world, and especially winning a state championship with your dad,” Brooks II said. “It’s been a long road since my freshman year, and we used to butt heads a lot. Towards the end of my high school career we really started to click a lot more, especially with the pandemic.”
Brooks II, a Michigan State signee, recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to help lift the Hurricanes to the victory in their first Finals appearance.
He also added five assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
“I've never said this to him personally, but Pierre is the best player I've ever coached,” Douglass coach Pierre Brooks Sr. said. “I've been coaching for 22 years, and the work that he puts in on his own and the dedication he has to get better is amazing. I’ve never had a kid like him, and he just so happens to be my son, so this moment is really special for me.”
Douglass’ 6-foot-10 senior center, Javantae Randle, also played a pivotal role and produced a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
“I didn’t take basketball seriously until I was in 10th grade, so I never thought I would be here,” Randle said. “I never thought we would win a state championship, so I’m going to remember this forever.”
Tri-unity was playing in its ninth Final, but came up short as runner-up for the fifth time.
The Defenders were searching for their first championship since 2011, but were unable to rally in the second half after a strong start.
Tri-unity played well early, and led 19-13 in the second quarter before the Hurricanes mounted a comeback.
Brooks II drained a deep 3-pointer during the closing seconds of the first half to cap a 9-0 run and give the Hurricanes a 22-19 lead at the half.
“That was huge,” Brooks Sr. said. “That gave us a little confidence, and I think it swung the momentum in our favor.”
The Hurricanes took control during the final minute of the third quarter.
Randle converted a three-point play, and then seconds later Brooks II stole the ball and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk to make it 36-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
The lead swelled to double digits with six minutes remaining, but Tri-unity junior guard Brady Titus wouldn’t let his team go away quietly.
Titus, who had a game-high 21 points, kept the Defenders within striking distance, and teammate Owen Rosendall knocked down a 3-pointer with a minute left to make it 43-40.
“We told the guys it was going to be a game of runs, and Tri-unity always makes runs because they are a well-coached team,” Brooks Sr. said. “We had to keep focused, but Titus is a special player and he played a heck of a game.”
Tri-unity coach Mark Keeler had a game plan to try and contain Brooks II, who averaged more than 30 points per game this season.
“We threw the kitchen sink at him,” Keeler said. “We knew that Randle and Brooks were keys to their team, and we tried to make (Brooks) earn every point he got and I think we did a pretty good job of that for the most part.”
The Defenders shot only 33 percent from the field and 20 percent (5-25) from beyond the 3-point line.
“We had a bad start to the second half, and then we had to play catch-up,” Keeler said. “We didn’t take care of the ball at critical times and that cost us, but we were excited to be here and I’m proud of my team.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit Douglass’ Pierre Brooks II (1) reaches high to grab a rebound during Saturday’s Division 4 Final at Breslin Center. (Middle) Douglass’ Damonn Tiggs (3) makes a move toward the lane with Tri-unity’s Brady Titus defending. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)