Moment: Future Pro Stars Clash in Class A
April 16, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The 1958 Class A Boys Basketball Final pitting Detroit Austin and Benton Harbor has been considered among the classic MHSAA Tournament games of the 20th century.
The matchup featured two of the state’s all-time great prep players, Austin senior Dave DeBusschere and Benton Harbor senior Chet Walker. Both would go on to memorable college and professional careers, Walker playing 13 season in the NBA with seven all-star selections and DeBusschere playing 14 seasons with eight all-star selections. DeBusschere later would be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
They would close their high school careers with DeBusschere scoring 32 points and Walker 25 as Austin won its only Finals championship in boys basketball with a 71-68 victory.
MHSAA historian Ron Pesch recalled the game for the "Legends of the Games" celebration honoring both teams. As Pesch noted, "it was the key contributions by some unsung teammates in the final minutes of the title game that would leave a lasting impact and set the game apart."
Carrollton Dedicating Basketball Court to Longtime Coach Vondette
December 19, 2023
Retired Carrollton High School boys basketball coach Ron Vondette spent 30 years on the sidelines leading the boys basketball program – and after tonight will forever be a visible part of Cavaliers hoops, even as his days on the sideline ended three decades ago.
The school’s playing surface will be dedicated as the Coach Ron Vondette Basketball Court at Carrollton High School prior to tip-off of tonight’s varsity home game against Frankenmuth.
Vondette led the Cavaliers from 1965-94, building a record of 425-164 with 20 league championships, seven District and four Regional titles, and a Class B runner-up finish in 1970.
Tonight’s varsity game is scheduled for 7 p.m., after the conclusion of the junior varsity contest and dedication ceremony.
(Photos courtesy of Jack Tany.)