Senior Bucs Lead 3rd Straight Title Run
March 25, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
EAST LANSING – The generations of Flint Beecher basketball rolled over again Saturday at the Breslin Center.
From the stands, stars of recent championships Monte Morris and Aquavius Burks cheered on the current Bucs, whose seniors were finishing the most impressive run in the program’s storied history – and preparing the next group to continue the tradition for years to come.
Four senior starters – Malik Ellison, Jordan Roland, Levane Blake and Edrice Hardnett – helped Beecher put the finishing touch on its third straight Class C championship and fifth in six seasons with a 73-58 win over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Ellison, Roland and Blake all were four-year varsity players for the Bucs, joining the team after Morris led Beecher to the 2012 and 2013 Class C titles. Hardnett saw the floor briefly in the 2015 Final and joined the starting lineup this winter. Filling out Saturday’s first five was freshman guard Jalen Terry, the presumed next star in a growing list.
“When I was in the eighth grade, Monte took me under his wing, and he was showing me all the rights and wrongs to get to the championship,” Ellison said. “Basically, that’s what I was trying to do with Little E (Earnest Sanders) and Little Jalen. So when the new set of guys come in, they can sprinkle a little joy and education to them.
“Basically, it’s just a slippery slope. Just tell somebody else, and everybody else is going to adapt to it.”
Beecher finished this season 23-5, and coach Mike Williams said he believes Roland, Blake and Ellison finished with 109 varsity games, which would tie at least Powers North Central’s Jason Whitens, and possibly Morris for the most in MHSAA history.
Morris, who just finished a fantastic career at Iowa State, had FaceTimed Ellison earlier Saturday, nothing new in a relationship that has continued since the mentor left for the next level.
Ellison talked after the win about comparing his life to a book, and his “big brother” Morris certainly played a big part in writing this chapter. Ellison finished it by scoring 32 points as the Bucs held off a spirited push by Covenant Christian, which was playing in its first MHSAA championship game since 1994.
Unranked entering the postseason – while Beecher was tied for the No. 4 slot – the Chargers (21-6) played the Bucs to a tie in the first quarter and trailed by only three points heading into the fourth.
“I’m really proud of our guys. We had to believe to start the game we could win it, and I thought they showed that,” Covenant Christian coach Tyler Schimmel said. “I thought we got over the biggest challenge right as we left the hotel, and stepped off the bus. We knew a lot of people (in the media) and the arena didn’t think we had a chance, but we knew we did.”
Beecher’s seniors stepped in once more to close the door. After Terry opened the quarter with the Bucs’ first three points, the seniors scored the next 18 as their team pulled away.
Covenant Christian, meanwhile, made only 4 of 13 shots during the fourth quarter and tallied 10 of their 19 turnovers over those final eight minutes. Blake had nine points, but also 12 rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots while providing the most sizable obstacle to the Chargers’ comeback attempt.
“We talked about in the huddle, we have eight minutes left in your playing life, and what are you going to do about it?” Williams said. “And the whole thing is our identity is our defense. When the kids sit down, start applying the pressure, I think it really got to them.
“(Blake’s) been doing that for us for four years. He anchors our defense. He talks to everybody, and he’s one of the best defenders in the state. We wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in, winning our third state title, without this kid anchoring the defense, cleaning the glass. A lot of things that he does do not show up on the stat sheet.”
Roland added 15 points in his final game, and Terry had nine and six rebounds.
Junior forward Carson Meulenberg led Covenant Christian with 20 points and eight rebounds, while junior guard Tyler Cammenga had 13 points and junior forward Trenton Koole added 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
They’ll lead a lineup that should challenge again next season and won’t surprise anyone – including Beecher, if their paths should cross.
“There were a couple of times this season where probably people wrote us off, … but these guys have a ton of fight,” Schimmel said. “I think our fans and community have a lot to be proud of.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Flint Beecher’s Levane Blake (22) dunks during Saturday’s Class C Final as Carson Meulenberg tries to obstruct his path. (Middle) The Bucs’ Malik Ellison goes hard to the basket, but Covenant Christian’s Trenton Koole (20) gets in the way.
Breslin Bound: 2023-24 Boys Report Week 2
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 11, 2023
We're always on the lookout, especially at the start of a season, for teams on the rise – maybe they are bouncing back from a tough run last year or continuing to build on recent success and attempting to take the next step.
We spotted a few more as we looked back on the second week of this boys basketball season, and others are sure to emerge as we continue looking forward to more early-season big-time matchups and the showcase events that fill the December calendar.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Grand Ledge 64, Saginaw 55 The Comets are off to a 4-1 start, and this win over Saginaw (3-1) – a Division 2 semifinalist last season – was the headliner from the Moneyball Classic at Holt.
2. Grand Rapids Northview 70, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 67 Northview (2-0) reaffirmed its spot among teams to watch in West Michigan with this early win over the Cougars (1-1) at The Invite at Calvin University.
3. Detroit Cass Tech 58, Holt 51 The host Rams gave the reigning Division 1 champion Technicians one of their closer regular-season games of the last two seasons at the Moneyball Classic, but Cass Tech hung on to move to 30-1 since the start of 2022-23.
4. Ferndale 60, River Rouge 57 Since losing its opener last week to Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Ferndale (2-1) has downed Davison by eight and handed River Rouge (2-1) this first loss of the season.
5. Grandville 59, Hudsonville Unity Christian 56 Grandville (2-0) may not be known as much for boys basketball, but could be soon. Defeating a Division 2 quarterfinalist from last season in Unity (3-2) at The Invite certainly deserves some attention.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (2-0) The Rockets have improved from nine to 13 to 15 wins over the last three seasons, respectively, and a 38-34 victory over Grand Haven on Friday avenged one of the 10 losses from last winter. Reeths-Puffer previously opened with a 74-67 victory over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, still FHC’s lone loss.
Saline (3-0) Sophomore Jonathan Sanderson has opened this season scoring 40, 30 and 51 points, the 51 to lead Saline past Canton 74-72 in overtime last week. The Hornets were a solid 16-7 last season and tied with two others for second in the Southeastern Conference Red, but might be on the verge of more.
DIVISION 2
Freeland (4-0) The Falcons are the lone team to hand Grand Ledge a loss (see above), doing so to win the Petoskey Invitational before taking a major early step in the Tri-Valley Conference Red on Friday with a 54-49 win over rival Frankenmuth. After reaching the Division 2 Semifinals in 2022, Freeland finished 17-7 last season.
Grand Rapids Christian (3-0) A 60-50 win over Hudsonville on Saturday as part of The Invite at Calvin University topped off a nice run of three victories over five days for Grand Rapids Christian. The Eagles also defeated Wyoming 58-53 and Grand Rapids South Christian 58-48 as they work to build on last season’s 20-6 finish.
DIVISION 3
Laingsburg (3-0) The Wolfpack finished 25-1 last season, its only loss in a Division 3 Quarterfinal as Daniel Morrill finished his run as coach. New leader Tim Beebe has Laingsburg continuing to roll, with a 59-55 overtime win over Pewamo-Westphalia on Wednesday especially notable as P-W had won the last four Central Michigan Athletic Conference titles before the Wolfpack prevailed last winter.
McBain (3-0) After a rare down season in 2021-22, the Ramblers bounced back to go 20-6 last winter and have already avenged one of those defeats with a 63-56 win over Boyne City last week; Boyne also won 20 games last season. McBain opened Highland Conference play with an 80-49 victory over Manton as it looks to repeat as league champion.
DIVISION 4
Britton Deerfield (4-0) The Patriots have shown they can win the close ones already this winter, with Friday’s 42-41 win over Petersburg Summerfield adding to a 60-58 edging of Adrian Madison during opening week. The Summerfield win avenged last winter’s season-ending District loss to the Bulldogs as Britton Deerfield finished 9-14. B-D also has wins over Pittsford and Concord, both avenging close losses from last December.
Fruitport Calvary Christian (4-0) The Eagles earned three wins last week, perhaps most notably their 62-57 victory over Fruitport High that was reportedly the program’s first over their neighbor and avenged a 73-36 loss from opening night a year ago. Calvary also has early wins over Holton, Grand Rapids Sacred Heart and Kent City after finishing 14-10 in 2022-23.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Friday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (3-0) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-0) – The matchup is circled every season. Brother Rice won all three last winter to clinch the Catholic League Central title, with Jesuit placing second.
Friday – Iron Mountain (3-0) at Norway (3-0) – The Knights have handed reigning Division 4 champion Munising its first loss this season and will attempt to do the same for a Mountaineers team that finished 21-2 last winter.
Saturday – East Kentwood (1-1) at Saginaw (3-1) – Michael Thomas brought East Kentwood an 18-7 record in his first season as coach last winter, and this should tell some more about how much the Falcons are progressing.
Saturday – Zeeland West (2-0) vs. North Farmington (2-0) at Northville – After improving to 17 wins last season, Zeeland West has lined up an early-season matchup with one of the top teams of the last few at the Northville Winter Shootout.
Saturday – Ann Arbor Huron (0-0) vs. Detroit Edison (1-1) at Northville – After finishing 23-3 last winter, Huron will cap its first week of games this season with this 8 p.m. matchup at the Winter Shootout.
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PHOTOS (Top) Cadillac works to clog the lane during its 53-38 win over Mount Pleasant. (Middle) Goodrich and Clio face off Friday, with the Martians going on to a 71-34 victory. (Top photo by High School Sports Scene. Middle photo by Terry Lyons.)