Butch Harmon
Sports Scene
ITHACA BASKETBALL
While it may not be as impressive as back-to-back state football championships, the seniors on the Ithaca boys basketball team were part of an impressive accomplishment in their own right, as they claimed their third consecutive district championship this season.
The Yellow Jackets earned the district title the hard way, by defeating an 18-4 Beal City team 61-59 in the district title game.
Senior center Lucas Slater led the way for the Yellow Jackets with 20 points, while seniors Jake Greene and Charles Schnetzler added 12 points apiece.
The win sent the Yellow Jackets to the Class C regional at Shelby, where they faced a state-ranked Shelby team that came into the game with a 21-2 record. Shelby’s size and athleticism proved to be the difference, as Ithaca lost to the Tigers, who eventually advanced to the state semifinals.
Senior Jon Rayburn led Ithaca with nine points against Shelby, while Greene and David Brown added eight points and Slater seven points.
With the loss, Ithaca ended the season with a 16-7 record.
“These kids play hard,” coach Jim Thompson said. “They gave everything that I asked them for. They are a bunch of good kids. To win three districts in a row is a great achievement. I’m very, very proud of this group of kids. They have been a joy to coach.”
WAYLAND BASKETBALL
Throughout the girls’ basketball season, the Wayland Wildcats went to practice every day and were reminded of their ultimate goal by a banner hanging on the gym wall.
“Every day in practice we looked at that regional banner hanging in the gym,” said senior center Molly Lameyer. “It’s been a real long time since we won that, and we wanted to change that.”
Wayland’s last title came in 1989, and the this year’s Wildcats accomplished their goal when they defeated St. Joseph 48-41 to win the regional title at Hamilton. Wayland moved into the regional final after defeating Parchment 61-44.
Lameyer, who earned all-state honors this season, led the Wildcats with 19 points in the regional title win against St. Joseph, while fellow senior post player Jenna Jamieson added nine points, and senior guard Autumn Anderson added 10 points.
Lameyer also led the way with 20 points in the semifinal win against Parchment, while freshman sharpshooter Presley Hudson added 12 points and Anderson scored eight.
Wayland’s season came to an end in the state quarterfinals, when it fell to eventual state finalist Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
LOWELL/CALEDONIA HOCKEY
The Lowell/Caledonia hockey team enjoyed its finest season in program history.
The Red Arrows and Fighting Scots put their skills together to set a new program record with 20 wins for the season. In conference play, Lowell/Caledonia turned in a 10-2 record.
Lowell/Caledonia ended the season with a 20-6 record after falling to East Kentwood 5-2 in the second round of the playoffs. East Kentwood eventually advanced to the Division 1 state semifinals.
“I had asked my players before the game to play with “no regrets” and leave everything out on the ice,” coach Tim Beurer said. “I am very proud that all of my players did exactly that in this game. Each of them never quit on each other and still kept battling until the very end.”
At the end of the season, a trio of Lowell/Caledonia players were recognized for their accomplishments, as they earned all-state honors.
Forward Collin Finkause and defenseman Kyle Jansens both were named first-team all-state. Defenseman Cam Bathum was selected to the second team.
While the team graduates six players from this year’s squad, 10 players will return next season.
“I think we will have a pretty good core coming back,” Beurer said. “We have our leading scorer coming back and some other good players, so we are looking forward to next season.”