Article - High School Sports Scene

Quinn Tyson is 0-2 on the floor where he’ll be playing his college basketball.

But the Big Rapids senior, who couldn’t quite lift his team to victory in this season’s Class B quarterfinal game against Cadillac at Ferris State University’s Wink Arena, is going to the next level on a high note.

Tyson fouled out in overtime in a a key moment when the Vikings were able to put the game away. He was the team leader with 21 points, although it wasn’t his best shooting night. He hit six of 24 from the floor and three of seven three-point shots.

Tyson, who will be playing college basketball for Ferris, averaged around 23 points, five rebounds, and three steals a game, similar to his stats from last year.

It was the second straight season Cadillac had to deal with Tyson and the Cardinals in the quarterfinal. “He’s a load,” Cadillac coach Jeff McDonald said. “We did a great job on him last year, and he was more effective this year. I thought we made him work for everything. In the third quarter, he wasn’t quite as aggressive. I don’t know if that was by design or he was tired. He’s a dangerous player, because he can shoot so well from the perimeter and he can also put it on the floor.”

“It’s awesome to play in something like this,” Tyson said after the quarterfinal loss. “Only eight teams in the state get to do it. We just didn’t get over the hump. You just go out and try to keep the momentum up.”

The Cardinals were far more competitive in the quarterfinal this year than last year. “I wouldn’t say [we were] much more confident, but I would say we were more prepared,” he said. “Last year, we were kind of shocked by the whole environment. This year, we knew what to expect, but we fell a little short.”

Big Rapids coach Kent Ingles has coached some high-quality players in his career, including his son Zach, an all-stater at Greenville who went on to be a Division I standout at Eastern Kentucky University. Coaching Tyson has been a delight for Ingles.

“It’s nice to coach someone you know that will get you that 16 to 18 or 20 [points] every night, regardless of what happens,” Ingles said. “He’s been with us three years, and we’ve won three districts and have gotten a couple of regionals. That leadership he provided…he’s all we had. We lost everybody from last year. He was a nice one to build around. I wish him luck at Ferris. I hope he grows a little more.”

Tyson led the Cardinals to a 20-5 record this year, which culminated in a 55-49 overtime loss to Cadillac in the quarterfinal.

“It’s awesome,” Tyson said. “We had a couple of bad losses at the beginning of the season, and everyone was doubting us. A loss to Newaygo was when our team started clicking. From there, we went 8-0. It’s good to come together as a team when the tournament starts. That’s what we did. We made a run.”

Tyson was a key member of teams that grabbed three straight district crowns and two straight regional titles, something no other player in Big Rapids hoops history can claim.

“Playing in games like this, big games, big student sections, I’ll miss it all,” Tyson said. “Our plan as a team was to keep the championships coming. We did our best.”

Looking ahead to this collegiate career, Tyson said it will be his goal to get “bigger, faster, stronger, and keep staying in the gym shooting.”

Back

The Big Rapids Cardinals came extremely close to their first-ever appearance in the Class B semifinals.

Kent Ingles, a veteran of 44 years of head coaching at Cedar Springs, Greenville, and now Big Rapids, will enjoy memories of this season for a long time.

When Ingles came to Big Rapids in 2004, he took over a struggling program that had won only two district titles in 36 years. This season, he guided Big Rapids to its third straight district title and second consecutive regional title.

In 2013, the Cardinals struggled and lost to Cadillac in the state quarterfinals at Ferris State University.

In a rematch of the same two teams in the same place, this year it was a different ballgame. Big Rapids led late in the fourth quarter, couldn’t hang on, and got outscored 11-5 in overtime for a 55-49 loss.

A capacity crowd of 2,400 filled the home of the Ferris State Bulldogs for a game that had all the drama that fans could want.

“It was different than last year,” Ingles said. “We got off to a better start this year than what we did last year.”

“Two years in a row, it was the most fun game of the year,” said Cadillac coach Jeff McDonald. “It’s a local game for Big Rapids, and our fans travel well.”

Big Rapids ended the year at 20-5, which was still remarkable for a team that was 12-4 at one point and had only one returning starter from last season. That starter was Quinn Tyson, who had 21 points and three assists from his guard spot prior to fouling out in overtime.

Free throws were of paramount importance in the game. Cadillac beat the Cardinals from the free-throw line, hitting 24 of 36, while Big Rapids was only 9 of 11. Referees called 23 fouls on Big Rapids and 14 on Cadillac, and the Vikings got into the bonus earlier than the Cardinals in the second half.

“It’s pretty hard to win when someone shoots 25 more free throws than you do,” Ingles said. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I thought we struggled with free throws and layups,” McDonald said. “At the end, we stepped to the line and hit some big ones. Those give you such a cushion and put so much pressure on the other team. That was huge for us. When you miss free throws, you give teams chances.

“Our guys did a great job following the game plan and knowing their players,” McDonald said. “That’s a good team we beat.”

Demetri Martin, who led Big Rapids with 12 rebounds against Cadillac, and Jake Hayes, who had 10 points and five rebounds, had solid seasons.

Cadillac and Big Rapids are only 40 miles apart, but they are in different conferences and no longer play each other during the regular season. But for two straight seasons, they’ve played for the right to go to the semifinals at Michigan State University.

“It’s good experience for the kids, but we wanted to go one step further,” Ingles said. “It was a good atmosphere. I’m proud of the fans and the community.”

“It’s been great here in this gym. It’s a great atmosphere” McDonald said. “It’s an easy travel for us. We’re used to tough travel in the Big North. Our kids will never forget it.”

Ditto for Big Rapids. “I’m disappointed we lost, but I’m not disappointed in the effort,” Ingles said. “They took some bad shots here and there, but that’s high school basketball.”

Ingles called 2013-14 a “topsy-turvy” season for his team. “Practice [the day before the quarterfinal] might have been the second day all year we had everybody back,” Ingles said. “We’ve had broken legs, dislocations, suspensions, and sicknesses. We couldn’t get them together all year long. We revamped our lineup about three different times this year. But it was a nice year for the kids. It’s great to get to the quarterfinals. The kids should be proud.”

Ingles commented on coaching a Class B school. “The difference between what happened here and those last many years at Greenville is that we were two students into Class A and were playing Rockford with 3,000 kids. The difference was a couple of kids. It’s neat. It’s been fun. I feel really blessed to be able to have this group of young men like this after all these years. I hope they had as much fun as I did.”

Back

Co-Players of the Year

Jess Walter, Midland High School / Rachel McInerney, Nouvel Catholic Central High School

The Jess Walter File

Walter, who will take her talents to Indiana University in the fall, was a four-year starter for the Chemics and finished second in this year’s Miss Basketball voting. The 5-foot-11-inch Walter averaged 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 3.9 steals per game this season.

The Rachel McInerney File

The 6-foot-1-inch senior guided Nouvel to a Class C state championship. She averaged 14 points a game this season. She had a monster championship game, scoring 22 points and pulling down 23 rebounds in the win over St. Ignace. McInerney, who will play for Ferris State University next year, scored her 1,000th career point during a quarterfinal win over St. Louis.

First Team

Tania Davis, Goodrich High School

Davis averaged 19.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game while shooting 78 percent from the free throw line this season. She scored 25 points or more in five regular season games this year, including a 41-point outburst against Beecher in the fourth game of the season. Davis eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark against Durand on Jan. 30. She holds offers from Iowa, Kansas, DePaul, West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan.

Cori Crocker, Grand Ledge High School

At 6 feet 3 inches, Crocker is the tallest member of the Sports Scene Dream Team. A junior, she helped lead the Comets to the Class A semifinals before losing to Canton. Crocker is headed to the University of Michigan play volleyball.

Sara Hansen, Sacred Heart Academy

One of the top all-around athletes in the state, Hansen made the Sports Scene Dream Team for the second year in a row after leading the Irish to an upset Class C state final victory over Forest Park. Hansen, a 5-foot-7-inch guard, set the Sacred Heart girls’ basketball career scoring record this season.

Maddy Seeley, Alma High School

Seeley, a 5-foot-8-inch guard, will play her college basketball in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at Northwood University. She set school scoring records with more than 1,300 points. She averaged 25.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals this season.

Ally Haran, Powers Catholic High School

For the second consecutive year, Haran helped lead the Chargers into the Class B state semifinals, but this time, Powers came up a game short and lost there to Grand Rapids South Christian. One of the finest soccer players in Michigan, Haran will continue her soccer career at Wake Forest University.

Coach

Damon Brown, Sacred Heart Academy

Brown led Sacred Heart to a Class D state championship with an upset victory over Miss Basketball Lexi Gussert and her Forest Park team.

Sports Scene Girls Basketball Dream Team

Co-Players of the Year

Rachel McInerney, Nouvel Catholic Central, 6’1″, senior

Jessica Walter, Midland, 5’11”, senior

First Team

Cori Crocker, Grand Ledge, 6’3″, junior

Tania Davis, Goodrich, 5’5″, junior

Maddy Seeley, Alma, 5’8″, senior

Sara Hansen, Sacred Heart, 5’7″, senior

Ally Haran, Powers Catholic, 5’9″, senior

Coach of the Year

Damon Brown, Sacred Heart

Second Team

Payton Birchmeier, Corunna, 6’1″, senior

Lindsey Winter, Clare, 5’7″, senior

Reyna Frost, Reese, 6’0″, junior

Aaliah Hill, Hamady, 6’0″, junior

Makenna Ott, Haslett, 5’10”, junior

Third Team

Mikayla Terry, Lansing Christian, 6’0″, senior

Mikayla Duflo, Carson City-Crystal, 5’5″, junior

Laurel Jacqmain, Nouvel Catholic Central, 5’7″, sophomore

Bri Alspaugh, St. Louis, 6’1″, senior

Breanna Mobley, Waverly, 6’1″, junior

Honorable Mention

Sydnee McDonald, Carman-Ainsworth; Leah Humes, Bay City Central; Allie Miller, Heritage; Lindsay Orwat, Grand Ledge; Karson Tripp, Haslett; Claudia Reid, DeWitt; Hannah Stoll, DeWitt; Kamrin Reed, Holt; Logan McCane, Rockford; Leah Somerfield, Greenville; Aubreigh Steed, Lowell; Hannah Evo, Fenton; Michela Coury, Powers Catholic; Sarah Ruhstorfer, Powers Catholic; Isabella O’Brien, Goodrich; Alexis Sevillian, Goodrich; Halee Nieman, Bullock Creek; Ellie Juengel, Bullock Creek; Taryn Taugher, Freeland; Jenai LaPorte, John Glenn; Kalle Martinez, John Glenn; Keri Frahm, Frankenmuth; Hannah Guy, Chippewa Hills; Hannah Yesmunt, Shepherd; Taylor Bovee, Ionia; Sarah Swartz, Ionia; Allie Grys, Portland; Allie Dittmer, Eaton Rapids; Ayren Parrish, Charlotte; Sarah Schultz, Williamston; Chavon Tiggs, Flint Southwestern; Emily Severn, New Lothrop; Jalisha Terry, Hamady; Erika Wendling, Breckenridge; Paige Gotham, Reese; Sarah Miller, Montabella; Taylor Smith, Montabella; Jordan Schneider, Beal City; Bri Alspaugh, St. Louis; Mackenzie Geister, Carson City-Crystal; Averi Gamble, Sacred Heart; Courtney Wolf, Morrice

Special Mention Coaches

Elaine Mahabir, Midland; Jason Gray, Goodrich; Matt Rodenbo, Clare; Keith Smith, Hamady; Larry Farmer, Carson City-Crystal

Back

By GREG CHRAPEK

After having its string of district titles snapped last year, the Fulton basketball team bounced back in a big way. It not only reclaimed a district title, but it also advanced to the Class D regional finals before its season came to an end.

The Pirates turned in a 21-3 record this year, and with plenty of talented players due back next year, the future looks bright.

“As a whole, you can’t be too disappointed about 21-3,” coach Todd Walden said. “We finished a game out of first behind Pewamo-Westphalia in our league and split with Pewamo-Westphalia this year. We are still a pretty young team, and all in all, it was a pretty good year for us.”

Fulton won its fourth district title in the last five years.

“The kids were disappointed we didn’t win the district last year,” Walden said. “That was a big goal for us this year, and when we won it, that was a big weight off our shoulders. It was a good year, and we were playing our best basketball at the end of the year.”

The year would have included a regional title if not for an incredible buzzer-beating shot by Sacred Heart Academy in the regional championship game. The shot was highlighted on ESPN’s Sportscenter that night. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, but we had some missed opportunities,” Walden said. “We were up by five with three minutes left, but we missed some free throws and missed some assignments that put us in a bad position at the end of the game.”

The Pirates were led by sophomore Colton Antes, who averaged 13 points per game, and senior Dalton Trefil and junior Gregg Jones, who both averaged 12.5 points per game. Senior Nathan Davis added 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while junior Talon Hyde and sophomore Jake Litwiller both added six points and six rebounds per game.

Trefil earned honorable-mention all-state honors this year. Trefil and Antes also earned first-team all-conference honors. Davis and Jones both earned second-team all-conference honors, while Hyde was honorable-mention all-conference.

With players like Antes, Jones, Hyde, and Litwiller returning, the future is bright for the Pirates.

“Obviously, we are going to miss the seniors,” Walden said. “We do have a great group of young men coming back. We have four key guys coming back and a lot of offense coming back. Our junior varsity team also went 16-4 or 15-5 this year. We have 10 kids coming back from this year’s team, so we are excited about next year. Some of the guys have already started playing spring AAU basketball.”

Back

By BUTCH HARMON

After years of playing both the baseball and softball state finals at Bailey Park in Battle Creek, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has moved them to a new stage, as they will now be played at Michigan State University.

A vote by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) at its annual meeting authorized the move of the baseball and softball finals to Michigan State University beginning this spring. The move ends 24 years of softball and baseball finals being held in Battle Creek.

“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to play our Finals at Bailey Park for the last 24 seasons, and grateful to the athletic directors, additional staff and volunteers who annually helped make our events an impressive showcase,” MHSAA Executive Director John E. “Jack” Roberts said in a press release. “We’ve reached a time now when many of our college facilities have been upgraded, and we have many more options to consider for our Finals than we did decades ago. We believe Michigan State University offers us the best situation and an opportunity to continue playing our Finals for both sports at adjacent venues.”

The baseball finals will be played at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, while the softball finals will be played at Peter F. Seccia Stadium at Old College Field.

“We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from the baseball and softball coaches association about looking for other venues for the baseball and softball finals,” said MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl. “Battle Creek has served us very well for a long, long time, and there are some great people in Battle Creek.

“At Michigan State, you’ve got identical, brand-new, side-by-side baseball/softball facilities centrally located. They are million-dollar college facilities. We are playing the finals at the best venue possible. We considered all the other options and ultimately decided to move to Michigan State University.”

With the move to Michigan State, the MHSAA is also going to change the way the finals take place. Instead of cramming all eight final games and 16 semifinal games into a two-day window, the finals will be spread over three days as a way to showcase the event. The semifinals will take place on Thursday and Friday, similar to the basketball semifinals, with two divisions playing on Thursday and the other divisions playing on Friday. All four championship games will take place on Saturday and give baseball or softball fans the ability to view all the games at one location.

“We are going to a three-day tournament, and by having one game at a time, we are able to showcase each game,” Uyl said. “We will have all four of our championship games on Saturday.”

Michigan State’s facilities will also be able to deal with rain delays better than the facilities in Battle Creek. With only one softball and baseball field being used, a tarp can be immediately used to cover the field, unlike in Battle Creek, where there were two baseball diamonds and four softball diamonds.

Parking will also be plentiful, as the lots at The Breslin Center and Spartan Stadium are only a few minutes walk to the baseball and softball fields.

Back

Two girls from Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s basketball squad recently received all-state honors to the Associated Press Class D All-State girls basketball team. Sacred Heart recently won the Class D state title. Sara Hansen, a 5-7 senior was on the first team. Averi Gamble was on the honorable mention list.

Back

Mount Pleasant’s boys basketball team will be playing in the Class A state semifinals later this week. The Oilers secured their spot in the final four with a 69-39 win over Howell in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Mount Pleasant was up 16-6 after the first quarter, 38-19 at halftime and 54-28 after the third quarter. Jaleel Hogan had 21 points, Aaron Leasher 15 points and T.J. Johnson had 12 points to lead Mount Pleasant.

Back

Wayland’s basketball season came to an end Tuesday in the Class B state quarterfinals with a 62-53 loss to Midland. Wayland trailed 9-5 after the first quarter and 29-16 at halftime. Wayland was outscored 37-33 in the second half. Lacey James had 16 points and six rebounds while very Hudson had 16 points while Dilon Aten put in 13 points for Wayland.

Back

Goodrich’s season ended with a 39-28 loss to Detroit Douglass in the Class B quarterfinals on Tuesday at Marysville. Goodrich was up 12-9 after the first quarter but trailed 20-18 at halftime and was outscored 19-10 in the second half. Grant Smith scored nine points and Jaylin Fordham had seven for Goodrich.

Back

The season is over for Flint Beecher following a 42-41 loss to Pewamo-Westphalia on Tuesday night in Class C quarterfinal boys basketball action. It was tied 11-11 after the first quarter and Beecher led 26-18 at halftime and found itself in a 28-28 tie after the third quarter. P-W had a 14-13 advantage in the final quarter. Amariontez Ivory scored 11 points for Flint Beecher and Tommy Johnson added 10 points and Sammie Tons had nine points for Beecher.

Back

Tyson closes sensational career at Big Rapids

Big Rapids ends another season just shy of semifinals

Sports Scene’s 2013-14 Girls Dream team

Fulton Middleton boys basketball enjoy big season

MHSAA baseball softball finals moving to Michigan State

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart girls basketball player earn all-state honors

Mount Pleasant advances to the state semifinals

Wayland falls in quarterfinals

Goodrich falls in quarterfinals

Flint Beecher falls to Pewamo-Westphalia