After logging over 15-victories during the regular season, there are certain expectations placed on a team regarding how they will perform in the state tournament. The higher that number, the higher the expectations. But apart from one or two teams each year who are simply out of everybody else’s league, the nature of the state tournament dictates that every team is expendable.
On the flip-side of that coin, no matter what your season looked like to this point, the state tournament is a chance to throw all that out the window. It’s an opportunity of the kind that only exists in sports — the chance for a real do-over.
In the district semifinal round of the boys basketball state tournament, much went as expected. Wayland won, Muskegon Heights advanced, Rockford rolled, Otsego is going on, etc. But much went awry. Both positively and negatively, depending on your perspective. Two games in particular served as a potent reminder that in the state tournament, anything can happen.
Such is the beauty of playoff basketball.
East Grand Rapids-57, Grand Rapids Union-49
East Grand Rapids (13-9) held Union (19-2) scoreless for a stretch of more than 7 minutes late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, turning a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead. The EGR defense held the usually explosive Red Hawks to six points in the final 10 minutes.
After running all over their competition during the regular season to a record of 19-1, Grand Rapids Union had made a name for themselves as one of the top teams in the area. Standouts Ladon Carnegie and Xavier Watson had never had trouble scoring the rock. One bad game, one poor shooting night, and they won’t get another opportunity.
East Grand Rapids was pegged as a preseason favorite in West Michigan based on the talent on their team. But until the tournament they hadn’t found a way to consistently put their best game out on the court. Well, they seem to be figuring it out now (although it seems like you never know from game to game with EGR). Lead by Colin Voss, AJ McEwen and Deon Jobe, the Pioneers are a perfect example of a team who can be incredibly dangerous throughout the tournament, despite a mediocre record.
Forest Hills Central-66 , Grand Rapids Christian-58
At East Kentwood, Darrin Nesby sank four 3-pointers, made 12-of-14 free throws and finished with 30 points to lead FHC. Alex Mustert and Jaylen Staten scored 17 points each for Christian.
Christian had one of the more well-rounded and talented teams in the area throughout the regular season. A trendy pick to advance far into the tournament, the Eagles seemed to have all the pieces with Jay Staten, Javin Hardley and James Slagter, and an unselfishness characteristic of the best teams. An uninspired performance coincided with Nesby’s second consecutive 30-point outing, and Christian is done early.
As for Forest Hills Central, they are not to be overlooked. At 13-8 overall, they are 5-1 over their last six outings. As long as Nesby keeps shooting the way he has been, and keeps relentlessly attacking their opponents, he gives them a chance to win one game against even the best teams. They play Wayland on Friday, which is the best team in West Michigan. But Forest Hills Central doesn’t need to prove themselves the better team, which would be near impossible next to Wayland. Whether it be due to luck, skill or whatever, they only need to beat the Wildcats once.
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