Packers, Lions face off in District final
By Ken De Laat Photos by Alexis Mercer Newaygo vs. Fremont 7 pm, Fremont High School While leaving Wednesday's games I happened to bump into the esteemed Editor Wheater of our local print news source known familiarly as the T-I. We had just covered a pair of basketball stories that proved to be rife with dramatics, both featuring improbable comebacks by teams that seemed destined to be playing their final game of the season. The cat fight between Lions and Tigers had the added attraction of a pair of student sections entertaining the crowd and taunting each other while the tide of the game shifted back and forth and back again. In the battle between the Pack and Spartans there was an intensity on the court and a rising to the occasion by several wearing the Fremont colors to rally back against a strong Sparta squad. Two seriously entertaining games. Thus as we exchanged pleasantries, both wearing our tournament media passes, Editor W. considered our lanyard clipped photos (mine could easily be mistaken for a character from a movie about retired gangsters) and said “After those two games it feels like we should go back to the gate and pay for tickets.” Well said and well put as always RW. Those games were certainly worth the price of admission. Not that I offered to pay, of course, but definitely worth the entry fee. And now they face each other with a shot at a little hardware for the case as well as a bus ride to Allendale to face either the Spring Lake team that knocked previously undefeated Whitehall out Wednesday or the Cinderella team Fruitport who limped into the tourney having lost 14 of their last 15 and then won twice this week to get to Friday. But as for Friday’s final, this is truly anyone’s game. Both squads are loaded with talented players that can make the game seem easy at times. And other times…. Since they play with a bit of reckless abandon, when the Lions are hitting on all cylinders the downcourt passes, the crafty kickouts and opportunistic attacks on the basket work to give them the ability to be explosive. To score in bunches. When the 3 pointers are off target and makeable shots are rolling out they sometimes struggle to break out of their funk. The Pack have had to battle inconsistency, They played both Big Rapids and Ludington tough in early season road losses then fell at home to Fruitport. They also lost to Orchard View when the Cards came into the game having lost 12 of their last 13. The Packers need their outside shooting to come through and to spread the wealth offensively if they’re to keep teams honest. As said, this one is up for grabs big time. And from what has been witnessed this week, you’re not likely to see anyone leaving in the 4th regardless of the score. Both teams have proved that anything can happen when they get hot. See you there.
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