January 17, 2012
Another snowy, cold night in West Michigan greeted both the Holland Dutch and the Greenville Yellow Jackets Tuesday night as they took to the hardwood for a non-conference match up with a lot on the line. The 9-0 Yellow Jackets came into the night fresh off a huge win against OK-White conference rival Grand Rapids Christian while the Dutch were also riding an impressive win over their conference foe Forest Hills Central to take the lead in the OK-Black at 3-0.
Greenville, now in sole possession of the OK-White lead, travelled to Holland ready to unleash their four headed monster of senior stars in Chris Mickey, Torrey Davis, Austin Somerfield, and Aaron Crebessa. The talented four-some combined for 69 of their team total 74 points last Friday night @ Grand Rapids Christian with Mickey leading the way with 30.
The Dutch featured a couple stars of their own in seniors Trent Windemuller and Coreontae Deberry who combined for 34 of their teams 57 against FHC Friday night.
This game was huge for both teams as Holland tried to go above .500 on the season keeping their momentum heading back into conference play while the Yellow Jackets focused their efforts on going 10-0 and winning their third straight game away from home.
The table was set for a heated match up inside “The Dome” as the few fans who made it out to the game braved the piercing winds and drifting snow.
The Dutch came out of the gates with an obvious game plan to stop the high powered Yellow Jacket offense and it worked. Using three first quarter 3’s by senior gunslinger Trent Windemuller as well as a ferocious 2-3 match-up zone on defense, the Dutch hung tough and trailed by only 2 at the end of the 1st. The 2nd quarter featured runs from each team. Yellow Jackets Head Coach, Mark Haist, decided his team needed to force the issue a little bit as he directed his team into a 3-2 half court trap mid-way through the second quarter. Using the trap, the Jackets built up an 8 point lead with 1:34 to go in the half only to watch it melt away to just 3 at the break. A 5-0 run by the Dutch capped off by a monster slam dunk by 6’8 Center Coreontae Deberry plus the foul and a lay in by Jake Helm as time expired cut the lead to 30-27 at the break.
The Dutch continued to battle as the second half progressed but the Jackets began to pull away taking a 9 point lead after 3 quarters.
With 6 minutes to go in the game, Greenville took a 54-39 lead as the Dutch began to unravel and all in attendance seemed in agreement that this one was over.
Boy, were we wrong!
As the Jackets tried to put the game away with clock management, the Dutch furiously pressed and scrambled forcing Greenville to turn it over three times in four possessions. A 13-2 run led by Windemuller put the Dutch right back into the game with just 1:33 to go as the deficit was cut to 56-52. After timeouts by each team and some strategy by Dutch Head Coach Steve Windemuller, the Yellow Jackets cemented the game at the free throw line quietly exiting “The Dome” with a 63-54 victory to move to 10-0 on the season.
In the end, the balanced attack of Greenville was too much for Holland as they won their 3rd straight game away from home and proved that they can win in any environment. Led by the 20 points of Austin Somerfield, 16 from Torrey Davis and 11 from Mickey, the Jackets began the long trek back to Greenville victorious and maintaining their spot as one of the top teams in the area this season. They truly are a tough team to stop. A smart, heady bunch of seniors who feed off each other mixed with good size and nice complementary players, this group of kids from Greenville is for real.
Holland was led by Windemuller who nailed six 3’s and was lights out from nearly everywhere on the court scoring a game high 33.
Greenville will put their 10-0 record on the line Friday as they again hit the road this time traveling to Lowell to face the Red Arrows.
The Dutch will again play host inside “The Dome” as Grand Rapids Union pays a visit Friday night.
Greenville Head Coach Mark Haist talking about his team after the game.
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