Friday Hoop Shots: Boys

Coyotes Take Title, Tigers Thump Eagles, Cards Curb Lions, Packers Snap Streak

Photos by Cassie Rickert

Reed City 49 White Cloud 40
The gym was packed to the rafters for the final regular season game, a game that would determine if the Coyotes would claim the undisputed title or if White Cloud could crash their party by snaring a share of the crown.And while  the visitors were able to hold off a relentless WC team and add to their trophy case, it certainly didn’t come easy.
As they have all year, the Cloud players competed to the final buzzer against the conference champs in a matchup of two talented teams that could have gone either way until late in the game. The hosts jumped ahead in the first 10-8 thanks to the 8 points being chalked up by KJ Strait. The 2nd quarter saw the Coyotes take the lead but WC battled back to forge a 39-all score at intermission. In the second half RC put a stranglehold on the potent White Cloud offense holding them to just 7 third quarter points and going up by 9. In the final frame the Cloud tossed out a press leading to turnovers by the visitors but they didn’t translate enough of them into the points they needed to catch the Coyotes. Forced to foul as time was winding down the RC players hit the needed points from the line and came out on top in the game and in the conference.
Coach Jones: “Unfortunately we came up a little short. Credit to Reed City. They are well coached, very talented and play very tough defense. We had our opportunities but our shots just didn't fall. Proud of the team and how hard they worked and the great season we've had so far but we're not done yet. The revenge tour starts next week”
Strait finished with a game high 16 points while Jared Robinson canned 15, Jared Watson scored 8 and Noah Robinson added 4.
White Cloud (16-4, 8-2)  will travel to Big Rapids (14-6, 8-2) Monday in hopes of avenging an early season loss to the Cards.

Grant 62 Kent City 42
The Tigers grabbed a share of second place in the conference with a convincing win over the Eagles. The hosts jumped out early taking a 17-8 lead after one  then pushing the advantage to 14 points by the half. Intermission did nothing to cool down the Tigers who pushed the lead to 20 entering the 4th and coasted to the win. All 9 Tiger players made it into the book led by Lucas Swanson who scored 10. Zaiden Phillips and Ethand DeLong each hit for 8 while Oakley Obenauf and Aiden Booth finished with 7 apiece.
Grant (13-5, 8-2) will get another shot at top seeded Reed City (17-3, 10-0) in the first round of the conference tournament Monday.

Big Rapids 65 Newaygo 50
The Cardinals rained down a deluge of triples on the Lions with 7 of the 14 hits from distance belonging to Riley Vennix and the Cardinals cemented  their spot in the top tier of conference playoff with the win.
Logan Klomp scorched the nets for 25 points to lead the Lion offense while Caris Nelson delivered a team high 5 assists to go with his 11 points. Josiah Long led the Lions on the glass with 9 boards.
Newaygo (12-8, 6-4) will host Chip Hills (5-15, 3-7) Monday in the conference tournament.

Fremont 49 Montague 41
The Packers snapped a 5 game skid on the road with a comeback win over the Wildcats. Down 10 points heading into the 4th the Packer Dl came up huge.  They stifled the Wildcat offense, holding them to just 2 points while pouring in 19 to snatch the lead and eventually the game.
 Coach Bowen: “This was a gutsy effort from our boys tonight!  We struggled to find any rhythm offensively for the first three quarters.  Montague is a very good defensive team, and Atchison makes it almost impossible to score near the basket with his length and athleticism.  I thought our defense was very good also.  We executed our game plan really well, and because of that we kept the game close.   Kyler DeKuiper led the way for the Pack  scoring 11 points to go with his  4 steals, and 4 rebounds.  Will DeBlake finished with 10 points and 3 steals.
Fremont (8-12, 4-6) will host Whitehall (20-0, 10-0). The D2 4th ranked Vikings can clinch the Lakes conference crown with a win.