Moment: Orioles' Winner Unforgettable

March 24, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Ludington’s Joshua Laman couldn’t have picked a better time to drill his first 3-pointer of the 2016-17 season. 

Today’s #MHSAAMoments highlight relives a shot we said the Orioles, and River Rouge, likely would never forget. 

On March 24, 2017, Laman made his first 3-pointer that winter to send Ludington – playing in its first Semifinal in this sport since 1971 – to its first MHSAA boys basketball championship game since 1953 with a 51-50 win over the Panthers.

Ludington coach Thad Shank after: “He’s thinking that when I get back in that locker room, he’s going to look Coach Shank in the eye and say, ‘Told you coach I should be shooting these 3s all year long.’ I know that’s what he’s thinking.”

Click to read Second Half's coverage – Stunner Sends Ludington to Saturday – and watch the shot below with coverage from the NFHS Network.

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."

Tyler Davis (11) launches a jumper from the top of the key during the Eagles’ Division 2 Semifinal win.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."

Click for the full box score.

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.)