Read the full story with The Grand Rapids Press: “Union boys show balance in OK Black…”

The first boys’ basketball games of the 2010-2011 season will kick off next week, but several west Michigan teams got an early taste of competition on Saturday at the 2010 Ottawa Hills Big Time Scrimmage. Here’s a preview of what you can expect to see this season from five local teams:

Western Michigan Christian

The Warriors solidified their place in Michigan high school boys’ basketball history last year when they claimed their third state title in a row. The last team to accomplish such a feat was Detroit Rogers, who won three Class D titles from 2003-2005. While few teams can claim a state title three-peat, even fewer can claim that they’ve done better. In fact, the only team to ever win more than four state titles was River Rouge, who won four consecutive titles from 1969-1972 and five consecutive titles from 1961-1965.

Western Michigan Christian’s first scrimmage on Saturday pitted them against Robichaud High School from Dearborn Heights. Roubichaud not only has three times as many students as Western Michigan Christian, but according to the Dearborn Press & Guide, 6-8 junior Khaliq Spicer and 6-4 sophomore Lorenzo Bonnam have both already received significant attention from college programs.

Though Robichaud gave the Warriors trouble early in the scrimmage, Western Michigan Christian adjusted and came out on top, 57-48. Part of the Warriors’ strength came from their depth: no less than seven of their 11 players scored during the scrimmage, and six different players grabbed rebounds during the game. Look for the Warriors to have another strong season this year.

Muskegon

Photo courtesy of David Chandler Photography

Muskegon’s season could have gone better last year, going 8-13 overall and 4-10 in the OK-Red. Their first scrimmage on Saturday had them up against Lansing Sexton, whose mascot coincidentally is also the Big Reds. Sexton, last year’s Class B state runners-up, wasted no time in demonstrating why they made it so far last season, playing high-intensity ball and keeping Muskegon from making much of an impact during the first half. The Big Reds from Muskegon came back strong after the break, though, tying the game up 35-35 at the final buzzer and coming out on top, 37-36, after a two-minute overtime. Will this be Muskegon’s season?

Lee and Belding

Lee, like Muskegon, could have had a better season last year, winning three games overall and not one conference game. Belding fared slightly better, with a 9-15 overall record and 3-11 OK-Blue record. When the two teams met on Saturday, they had already played one scrimmage: Lee against Olivet, Belding against Grand Ledge. Having already warmed up, both teams played strong throughout the game. Lee’s physical play and zone defense proved to be a challenge for Belding, but Redskins used solid ball movement to stay on top throughout much of the game and finished just one point ahead of Lee, 33-32. Both teams demonstrated their potential, but will have to overcome last season’s conference demons in the coming months.

Creston

Photo courtesy of David Chandler Photography

Though Ottawa Hills’ name appeared in the title of the scrimmage, the event actually took place at Creston High School. The Polar Bears, another team with conference trouble last season, took on Eaton Rapids in their second scrimmage of the day. While Eaton Rapids took time to work around Creston’s defense, the Polar Bears played a quick offense and converted many of their possessions into points. Creston defeated Eaton Rapids, 52-36. Creston will not see the likes of Eaton Rapids for the rest of the season, however, and will have to continue to play strong on offense and defense in the OK-White this year.

Photos from the scrimmage can be purchased through David Chandler Photography.

Today we breakdown two teams looking to rebound from last season and have a promising run in Class B in 2010. The Wyoming Park Vikings led by 15 year coach Thom Vander Klay took an uncharacteristic step back last year as they finished 5-16, 4-10 in the OK Green. The Vikings are coming off their worst season since 1982 and are looking to rebound back to Vikings form. Vander Klay had led Wyoming Park to six of the last twelve conference titles and looks to regain that form in 2010.

The Vikings return three starters from last season and five of their top seven contributors from last season and look to be led by 6’2” Senior guard Brock Vander Klay. Vander Klay averaged 16 points and 6 assists per game last year and was recognized as a Top 100 player by both the MHSAA and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) two years in a row. Shane Thurkettle a 6’2” Forward also in the senior class at WPHS is a three year starter and averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds last year; he will be joined up front by Devonta Guydon who went for 10 pts and 4 reb a game last year in his sophomore campaign.

With Coach Vander Klay working hard to right the ship and an experienced nucleus ready to re-gain the form they have become accustomed to, we expect the Vikings to find their way back to the top of the OK Green this season.

On the lake shore in Class B the Eagles of Oakridge grabbed the rebound last year and now look to turn it into offense. Coach Tracy Ruel is entering his second season and looking to build on the drastic improvements his squad made last season in the West Michigan Conference. Ruel led the Eagles to 13 victories last year which was a huge improvement from the 15 games they won the previous 4 years combined. The Eagles return a good nucleus from last year’s team, along with a couple players that sat out last year concentrating on other sports.

Oakridge will look to play pressure defense and run the floor when possible and that is where the play of Nick Eely will become paramount. Coach Ruel noted that Eely will need to be an extension of a coach on the floor and will be in charge of distributing the ball to the trees that Oakridge has inside. Jamie Potts (You might have heard of him) averaged 10 points and 11 boards last year although he played much of the season injured while 6’6” senior Cody Chase will provide the Eagles with the inside presence they need to make a run at the West Michigan Conference.

1. Zeeland West’s Shane Tiemeyer will play basketball at Cornerstone -The Grand Rapids Press
2. Grandville tops Rockford at postseason tourney for share of OK Red boys golf title -The Grand Rapids Press
3. Oakridge pulls out win in resumption of baseball game over Ravenna -The Muskegon Chronicle
4. Rogers splits doubleheader with Unity Christian, wins 16th consecutive league softball title -The Grand Rapids Press
5. Aggressive Plainwell girls soccer team seals Wolverine Conference title with shutout over Gull Lake -Kalamazoo Gazette
6. Jace Mitcham plays for final time as Forest Hills Northern blanks Coopersville in girls soccer -The Grand Rapids Press
7. Zeeland East open OK Green Conference Tourney with 2-1 victory over cross-campus rival West -The Grand Rapids Press
8. Fruitport tennis hopes rest with Ann Pohlman, Rachel Hulka -The Muskegon Chronicle
9. Holland Christian boys golf team seals second consecutive OK Green crown -The Grand Rapids Press
10. State-ranked Forest Hills Central holds off Reeths-Puffer 3-2 in girls soccer -The Muskegon Chronicle
11. Coopersville Battles Huskies Until the End -The Grand Rapids Press

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1. OK Conference Executive Council has variety of reasons for nixing early realignment -The Grand Rapids Press
2. Muskegon Western Michigan Christian beats Hudsonville Freedom Christian in baseball -The Muskegon Chronicle
3. Kevin Koeman hired to replace Mike Phelps as Holland Christian boys basketball coach -The Grand Rapids Press
4. East Kentwood gains the split with Rockford -The Grand Rapids Press
5. Spring Lake beats five-time defending state champ Unity Christian for first time in girls soccer -The Grand Rapids Press
6. Stevensville Lakeshore walks to victory against Kalamazoo Central -Community Reporter
7. Vicksburg hopes strong finish at tough Bedford Valley Gold Club serves as springboard for stretch run -Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Northpointe Wins a Close One Over Covenant Christian -WestMichiganHighSchoolBaseball.com
9. 3 HR’s Power #3 Forest Hills Central to Mercy over Mona Shores -WestMichiganHighSchoolBaseball.com

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1. Hudsonville softball team beats Jenison for Northview Invitational championship -The Grand Rapids Press
2. Tendon replacement and rehab are career savers for Middleville pitcher Josh Hays -The Grand Rapids Press
3. Reeths-Puffer beats Mona Shores for third time this week to win county baseball tournament -The Muskegon Chronicle
4. Oakridge survives two scares to win GMAA Tier 2 baseball championship -The Muskegon Chronicle
5. Zeeland West, West Catholic boys and girls track teams finds success at Von Ins Relay -The Grand Rapids Press
6. Experienced Whitehall downs youthful Mona Shores in softball county championship game -The Muskegon Chronicle
7. Katie Gibbs’ defense, home run helps lift Kalamazoo  Central over Mendon in Bronze Division finals at Gull Lake Softball Invite -Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Whitehall boys set two meet records, win West Ottawa Relays -The Muskegon Chronicle
9. Jared Dalga and Christian Huempfner carry Forest Hills Central boys golf team to invitational title -The Grand Rapids Press
10. Holland Christian girls soccer team earns fourth consecutive win with shutout of Grand Rapids Christian -The Grand Rapids Press
11. Tri-Unity Christian’s Nick Mascorro will play basketball at Spring Arbor College -The Grand Rapids Press
12. Byron Center girls soccer team will face Wayland in Kickin for a Cure event May 7 -The Grand Rapids Press

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1. 2/16 high school basketball scores (boys)(girls) — Associated Press
2. 2/16 boys basketball rankings — Associated Press
3. 2/16 girls basketball rankings — Associated Press
4. 2/16 competitive cheer rankings — Associated Press
5. Area prep basketball rankings — Kalamazoo Gazette
6. Forest Hills Eastern upsets Comstock Park — Grand Rapids Press
7. Inaugural State Games of Michigan info (very cool) — Grand Rapids Press
8. Girls bball league races down to the wire — Who’s the Bos?
9. SWMHSHL tournament preview — Kalamazoo Gazette
10. Ottawa Hills beats Muskegon Heights – Grand Rapids Press

Keep up with the latest action and analysis by becoming a WMA fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMA on Twitter.  Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.