Friday Hoops (Boys): Red Devils Secure Silver Crown

Injury Halts Packer Contest; Cards Fight Off Lions; Cloud Clips Panthers

Holton 56 Morley Stanwood 45
The Red Devils took an early lead and were knocking at the door of an undisputed title Friday night but the ‘Hawks, led by a 3 point barrage by Justin Cranney, refused to go away. 
Fortunately  Holton has sharpshooters of their own on the court. Austin Fowler provided some breathing room just before intermission with a three and after MS fought their way back into the lead late in the third Wyatt Monette answered with a triple.  That basket gave the Devs the edge they would hang onto for the remainder of the night thanks in part to another Monette shot from distance early in the 4th, a score that proved to be a backbreaker for the hosts.
Coach Swanson: “We had a battle tonight at Morley Stanwood. The game was tight all the way through. We had a nice run in the early 4th quarter that ended being the difference tonight.  
“I'm so blessed to be able to coach the guys on this team.  They had to persevere through a lot tonight, and this season, and in the end they are rewarded with an outright Conference title.”
Aidan Poling finished with a game high 21 points and delivered some key shots from the charity stripe. Monette and Fowler each nailed an even dozen and Brodrick Fialek knocked down 8.
Hesperia (12-5, 10-0) Morley Stanwood (9-5, 8-2)

Big Rapids 60 Newaygo 50
The Lions hung  tough as they battled a Cardinal team bent on securing an outright title. For 3 quarters the hosts held off  DeMarcus Lee & Co. throwing everything they could at the Cards including firing in 6 from distance. 
Clinging to a 1 point edge entering the 4th, Newaygo saw BR kick it into high gear with a combination of opportunistic defense and pinpoint shooting to outgun the Lions 18-7 and grab the crown.
Gabriel Schillman hit for a team high 15 points, Josiah Long rang in 8 and Wyatt Mortenson banked 7. Bryce Decker proved to be strong in the paint once again taking down 9 tough rebounds to go with his 10 points.
Coach Long: “The four Newaygo seniors, Hayden Makenna, Hudson Harkness, Wyatt Mortensen, and Ashton Stephens,  played their last home game and competed hard.  "It was a pleasure and an honor to coach them and have them be in the program."
Big Rapids (16-1, 13-1)  Newaygo (6-10, 6-8)

Fremont 57 Central Montcalm 27
The game was called at 4;06 in the third quarter because of a bad injury to a CM player. Joshua Zerfas drove the length of the court and one of their players went up to block the shot,came down and had a compound fracture in his leg. Because of emotions running high it was agreed upon by everyone to end the game.
Braiden McDonald began working on his second thousand as he finished with a game high 17 points while Jordon McDonald dropped a dozen, Martin Curiel hit for 11, and Payton Mansfield netted 9. Zerfas had another strong game at the point with 8 points, 8 assists and 7 steals.
Central Montcalm (4-12, 3-10)  Fremont (13-4, 12-2)

White Cloud 63 Hesperia 18
Eleven players found their way into the scorebook for the Indians led by Alex Elder who finished with a game and season high 21points and  Sam Venema who knocked down 12.
Coach Jones: “ I’d like to send a big shout out to Coach Worcester and the young men from Hesperia. They always play with such heart and passion no matter the score.” 
WC (6-8, 4-6) Hesperia (0-13, 0-9)

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