Friday Basketball Results: Boys

Photo of December Grant/RC game by Mike Gesler

​We have a race.
The Packers were in cruise control with a 2 game lead in the conference standings before falling to the Cards on Friday a loss that allowed both Grant and Central Montcalm to pull within a game of the top spot. Should the Tigers get past Chip Hills and Tri County they will be on their home floor February 21st for another shot at the Packers. Fremont will play a cross conference game Tuesday at Kent City before returning to league play on the road with games at CM and Newaygo. Big Rapids is likely out of the title race with their 4 conference losses but they can continue to play the spoiler as they did Friday with games remaining against both the Hornets and the Tigers. 
In the Silver it will come down to next Friday’s matchup between Kent City and Morley Stanwood.

Big Rapids 60 Fremont 50 
The rematch went to the hosts as the Cardinals came from behind in the second half to take a 3 point lead entering the final frame then held off the Packers to avenge the early season loss on the Fremont floor.
The loss snapped the Packer 20 game conference win streak and delivered their 3rd defeat in the past 4 games.
Cach Zerfas: ”The story of the second half is we did not execute our plays or defense.  We always had one or two people out of position and Big Rapids capitalized on that. They were far more physical and energetic in the second half.  We kept the game close in the 4th though we missed many wide open 3 point shots and at least 4 lay-ups in the 4th alone. With 1:30 to go we had the ball and we were only down 55-50, but we failed to get any closer.”
Chris Kennedy fired in 7 from distance to finish with 21 points and Braiden McDonald added 11.
DeMarcus Lee led the Cards with 20 points.
 Fremont  (8-1, 11-3) heads for Kent City Tuesday and Big Rapids (5-4, 7-5) will visit Manistee.

Grant 63, Reed City 48
The defense did not rest.
The Tigers played great team D, holding Reed City to 29 points for 3 quarters.as the Tigers thrust themselves into the heat of the Gold race with a convincing win over the Coyotes. 
Coach Schuitema: "Defeating the Coyotes at their gym is always tough, so we are pleased with the win."  
Carter Chase and Seth Schuitema led the scoring with 22 and 20, respectively while  Orion Evans and Diesel Rose added 5 apiece. Brett Long added a bench pleasing dunk in the first half.
The win combined with the Packer loss to BR puts Grant (7-2, 7-7) in a second place tie with Central Montcalm a game behind conference leader Fremont. The Tigers return home to face Chip Hills on Friday.

White Cloud 61 Hesperia 35
All eleven players saw quality minutes for the Cloud  with 10 players scoring. Dexter Cox led the team with 12 points and Steven Holt fired in 10 while Sam Venema scored 9 and Jake Foster hit for 8. 
Panther Coach Worcester: ”1st half offensively was a great improvement for our guys. The second half was challenging for us to stay fundamental. Free throws were 10 for 26 which hurt us down the stretch. However I’m proud of the improvements we have made. The scores and record does not reflect how hard these kids play.”  
Logan Balkema led the Panthers with13 pts
White Cloud (2-4, 5-7) will host Wyoming Lee on Tuesday and Hesperia (0-6, 0-14) gets a visit from the Spartans of Mason County Central.

Morley Stanwood 43 Holton 35 
The Devs fought the ‘Hawks to an 18-18 tie at the break but MS pulled away in the second half to hold off the RD’s and capture the road win.
Nathan Slowik and Drew Trygstad hit for 9 points apiece while Lukas Ramaekers scored  7 and Wyatt Monette added 6. 
Holton (4-3, 8-6) will host Tri County Tuesday while Morley (6-1, 13-1) visits Tri Unity Christian.

Central Montcalm 69 Newaygo 61
The Hornets held onto second place in the Gold with the home win over the Lions.
Newaygo (3-6, 4-9) will host Big Rapids on Friday and CM (7-2, 8-4) visits Lakeview.