Carson City-Crystal, Vestaburg Staging Unique Basketball Rivalry
By John Raffel
Carson City-Crystal and Vestaburg are two small Montcalm county schools right next to each other, and both have had strong sports programs for many years.
Now that CC-C is in the Mid-State Activities Conference with Vestaburg, the two schools have developed a unique rivalry. The rivalry is present in all sports, but especially basketball this season, with both teams having outstanding success.
“As for the basketball rivalry, that is a relatively new thing between us and CC-C,” Vestaburg athletic director Matthew Walderzak said. “We had great, competitive games last year, which led to an MSAC championship game. They are definitely a team we prepare for and look forward to playing. The rivalry between our schools also stems from the Salute the Soldiers football game we have been playing for the past several years.”
“This rivalry is a new thing brought on by the league change to the MSAC,” Carson City-Crystal athletic director and girls’ basketball coach Larry Farmer said. “The two things that seem to be genuine rivalries are football and boys’ basketball.
“The football rivalry has been enhanced by our Salute Our Soldiers game. This game is very popular, as we honor our veterans with a ceremony and by wearing camouflage uniforms. This big event has brought out the best from both sides.
“Boys’ basketball is also becoming a rivalry, as both teams have been playing for the league title the last two years. The games are close and meaningful.”
This year, they’re even more meaningful. The week of Jan. 24, the Wolverines and the Eagles were slated to meet, with both teams undefeated in the MSAC.
The Wolverines started out 7-0. “The key behind our success has been the returning veterans and our experience inside,” Vestaburg coach Todd Halcomb said.
“Ever since they came into the league a couple of years ago, we’ve always had real good battles with them, and the kids, I know, look forward to playing their kids, and I think their kids look forward to playing ours,” Halcomb said. “We’ve always had good games and good competition with them. Cory [Schneider, CC-C coach] and I have had a good relationship. We’re very competitive, and we both want to beat each other. But when it’s done, it’s done. We want to play the right way and play with good sportsmanship, which I think both programs do when we get together, no matter how close the game is.
“Right now, we’re two different styles. Our emphasis is on big guys inside, and their emphasis is the three-point shots and the guards outside.”
But the fact that both teams are undefeated makes for an extremely unique situation, Halcomb admitted.