Bruinsma leads WMC to third straight Class-D state championship

Evan Bruinsma blocks a shot | Powers Media

It was never supposed to go the distance, when Western Michigan Christian took on Marine City Cardinal Mooney for the Class-D state championship.  After sneaking by Covert, the Warriors were supposed to waltz into their third consecutive title — something a greater Grand Rapids area team hasn’t accomplished since Grand Haven did it in 1933-35.  So when the Warriors found themselves up only four points (50-46) in the first minute of the fourth quarter, after leading by double digits most of the game, a once-rowdy WMC crowd was notably quiet.

It didn’t take long for the Burris brothers to amp up the volume.

Jeff Burris looks to dish | Powers Media

In the span of just under a minute, the Burris brothers double-handedly engineered a 10-1 run that included a triple and a layup each by both London and Jeff.  And just like that it was 60-47, and sanity was restored to the Universe.  The Warriors went on to win their third consecutive Class-D state championship, 66-56, securing their spot among the best ever from West Michigan.

London Burris finished with 21-points for Western Michigan Christian, and Jeff added seven points and five assists.  Together the pair accounted for 38 of the Warriors 66 points, and yet theirs was a distant subplot when compared to the performance of senior teammate Evan Bruinsma.

Bruinsma tallied a double-double — twice — finishing with 25-points and 20-rebounds.  Then he threw in five blocks, three steals, a behind-the-back half-court pass and a poster-dunk as seasoning.  Because, you know, lots of people were watching.  The state championship became a skill showcase for the as-yet-unsigned prospect, who will surely not remain so for much longer.  He was simply unstoppable.  Quite the swan song for the 6-foot-7, all-state senior.

Prior to Saturday’s game, the status update on Bruinsma’s facebook page said, “One win away from being legendary.”

After their performance on Saturday in front of a Breslin Center packed with basketball fans from around the state, the Western Michigan Christian Warriors are now, officially, legendary.

Cannonball

A brief aside, but anyone interested in what it takes to win three consecutive championships should talk with DeMario Harris.  The senior guard hustled himself silly on Saturday morning, careening into one media table and diving over another in an attempt to secure a loose ball.  Harris’s effort was inspiring.

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