Packer D Stifles Lions

Story by Ken DeLaat
Photos by Alexis Mercer

Packer D Stifles Lions
Fremont heading for Regional matchup with Spring Lake

Fremont 50 Newaygo 45
It was most definitely a packed house at the Fremont gym. Not just the two overflowing student sections jammed into their areas, but a crowd that filled the seats as well as the balcony area and anywhere else they could find a spot to watch this one.
District Finals, Fremont and Newaygo. It was on.
The Lions drew first blood when Hunter Yearsovich stuck one from distance but Ben Mellema responded with a triple for the Packers. Yearsovich would can 2 more 3’s and along with a Blake Kerr free throw it was a 10-3 lead for the Lions.

Then came the first of a pair of runs that would spell trouble for Newaygo. 10 straight points for the Packers highlighted by a pair of triples from Wil DeBlake and Gavin Richards took the game to quarter one’s end and the hosts in front 13-10. In the second Richards and Kyler DeKuiper each dropped a pair of buckets for the Pack  while Logan Klomp scored 7 of his team’s 9 points in a low scoring run-up to intermission that ended with Fremont in front 24-19.
After a Dekuiper bucket to open the second half, Kerr scored twice making in a 3 point game.
Then the Packer defense shut down the Lions and another run ensued, this time a 14 point sweep that put the Lions in a 17 point hole. Kerr rang one home from beyond the arc just before the quarter ended and the teams went to the 4th with Fremont holding a 14 point lead.

Once again as they had been in both previous District contests the Lions were staring at a double digit deficit with 8 minutes to play. The Packers took the air out of the ball forcing Newaygo to foul and Fremont’s foul shooters were able to keep the Lions at bay despite a trio of late 3 pointers by Josiah Long that allowed the Lions to pull within 3. With seconds left Chaz Miller was sent to the line and his 2-2 iced it for Fremont and delivered the Packers their second straight District title. 
Coach Bowen: “ Our defense was excellent for the second game in a row and that was the difference in the game.  We are working so hard and communicating well on that end of the floor right now.  I am so proud of these boys for how they have come together as a team this week.  We've worked through a lot as a team this year, and to have it all finally come together at the right time is great to see.
Richards notched 11 points and took down 10 rebounds, Miller finished with a dozen points and 4 steals and DeBlake also scored 12 points and added 6 boards.  Mellema hit for  8 points and DeKuiper tallied 6.
Klomp led the Lions with 13 points, Yearsovich scored 11, Long finished with 9 and Kerr added 8.
Fremont will move on to the Allendale Regional where they will face Spring Lake Tuesday at 7pm.

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