Fremont came into the game, ready for an all out brawl. With the help of Fremont Schools, the student section was able to get a bus ride down to Spring Lake to support their Packers. “These two student sections are the best in the area; not just the conference, the whole area.” Core went on to say. With both student sections boasting their best chants; while taking pot shots at one another along the way; this game had a different feel to it. The winner would be determined by who could do a better job of honing the adrenaline and playing sound, fundamental basketball. Both teams were doing a fantastic job of feeding off their well-voiced student sections. The black out by Laker students was the final touch that truly set them (just slightly) ahead in terms of intimidation. The battle of Core’s Crazies vs. the Grateful Red was only outshone by the phenomenal game that also took place.

The game started with Fremont jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead, before Spring Lake was late to start, but held a 16-13 lead after the first quarter. Michael Hankinson of the Lakers had 9 points in the first quarter. The Packers scoring was a bit more spread out, with Sophomore Mike Seigel dropping 5 first quarter points to lead the way. When Spring Lake realized it could out-rebound the smaller Fremont post players, the Lakers began looking to shoot much more often than visiting Fremont. After a better defensive effort out of both teams in the second quarter, the teams went into halftime with Spring Lake leading 26-24. Spring Lake hit on 10 of their 21 first half two point shots, while Fremont connected on 7 of their 9. Fremont was a bit more adventurous with their shot selection, and actually ended the first half with more three-point attempts (10) than two-point (9). The Packers hit 3 from distance, while Spring Lake only got one of their five attempts to fall. Tyler Goeglein had six points in the first half for the Lakers, while senior guard Tyler Krim led Fremont with 9. Both teams made half of their respective foul shots, with Spring Lake attempting 6, and Fremont trying only twice.

The second half picked up right where the first half had left off. The fans were loud; the teams were excited. The third quarter was again a struggle of the two mighty defenses. With a 38-35 advantage heading into the fourth, the Lakers were more than willing to slow things down and finish the game at their own tempo. Fremont had other plans. The Packers still had plenty of fight, and even more to play for. As the lead narrowly expanded for Spring Lake, the shots started raining from all over by the three-point happy Packers of Fremont. The visiting Packers finished with 9 successful three-pointers out of 21 attempts. Even with under a minute to go, and the lead seemingly insurmountable, Fremont fought hard to stay within striking distance. Fremont’s Krim had 13 in the final quarter, including three three-pointers and a clutch basket-and-foul scenario for an old fashioned three-point play. Krim was the game’s leading scorer with 24. Krim also hit a three pointer as time expired to set the final score at 56-55. Hankinson of Spring Lake finished with 22 points.

Spring Lake won’t have a game Tuesday, but will face Grant next Friday. Fremont will try to rebound from the loss next Friday against Muskegon-Orchard View.

Ty Mason and the Comstock Park Panthers have been making noise early on this year in the OK Blue. Tonight the Fremont Packers came in via the Lakes 8 Conference and were up to the task. Fremont started early with their outside shot falling via little defensive pressure from Park, Mike Siegel knocked in two to get things going for the Packers. The first half was a fairly even matchup with Fremont ruling the boards, including Lucas McKian who had 16 rebounds and Comstock slashing to the rim to get their early scoring. Andrew Ejsmont and Zach Crittendon paced the Panthers early as Mason only had 7 first half points. Tyler Krim led the way for Fremont in the first half with 3 blocked shots and 16 points, including a pretty sweet steal and breakaway dunk.

With the second half came the defensive adjustments for Comstock Park to get back into the ball game. Coach Scott Berry moved to one form or another of a full court press for the remainder of the game, in an attempt to slow down the Packer offense who started the half with a 34-26 lead. The Defense helped as it led to some easy buckets for the Panthers as well as turnovers for Fremont. Ty Mason was the story in the second half however (during regulation that is), Mason poured in 22 second half points to will his squad back into the game and even into the lead as the half was winding down. As the Packer defense was doing it’s best to avoid fouling Mason he still found a way to get to the line a handful of times including 2 “and one” conversions.

As Comstock looked to have the game sealed up, a missed free throw gave Fremont a chance with 11.8 seconds left in the game inbounding from right in front of their bench. Chase Curtice was able to get open on the left wing and drill a deep 3 to tie the game, Park with no timeouts was unable to get a shot off and we went to over-time tied at 62. Fremont was able to bomb 12 triples throughout the course of this game, twice as many as Comstock Park. Park led for the entire OT period until another missed free throw gave the Packers a chance down three. You know who, Chase Curtice grabbed a board off a missed 3 by Krim, dribbled through a few defenders, spun and faded away as he heaved a prayer of a 3 that banked in from the top of the key as the horn sounded. Double over-time.

A back and forth second over-time followed a back and forth game as the teams traded baskets and free throws. Again Park was at the line with a chance to make it a three point game and again the Panthers missed the second free throw and only led by two with 9.6 left to play. The clock never started after the Fremont rebound gave the Packers a chance so after a quick break it was Fremont ball on the far sideline at half court with 7.6 to play. Curtice again got the ball in his hands but this time dribbled the ball off his foot, Mr. Comstock Park Ty Mason was there to scoop up the ball and hang on to it as time expired giving the Panthers a 78-76 victory.

This was an amazing game to watch and if you would like to see more check out David Chandler Photography to see more of his shots from this nail biting affair. Curtice and Krim both poured in 22 with much of Krim’s coming early. Comstock Park scored a very impressive win tonight and Coach Berry has to be happy with the way his squad battled back.

As you’ve noticed West Michigan All Star is ramping up for the boys basketball season as only we know how, and that is to give you as much in-depth analysis as humanly possible. How are we doing so far? Tonight we focus in on a pair of teams that had great runs last year but came up short of their dream and look to change that this year.

Mike Hudson’s Wayland Union Wildcats posted a 23-0 unbeaten record last winter only to see that dream season come to an end in the regional opener against Holt. The Wildcats were outpaced and beaten inside by the Rams. Wayland made a few runs in that game but wasn’t able to ever take a lead and eventually went home after a 70-62 loss.

This however is a new year and this team will be determined to make a run again. The Wildcats move to Class B this season and that could make their run a bit easier as Class A is a gauntlet come playoff time. Coach Hudson won’t have his team looking forward however, “It will be hard to hit last years mark, but this is a new season and we must be up for the challenge in this tough league.”

Justin Pepper will be back on the low post for Wayland standing at 6’7” for his senior season. We expect Pepper to be in the area of 15 pts and 9 boards a game for the Cats and he will be joined up front by 6’4” senior forward Travis Rader making the rest of the OK Gold coaches crazy. The Wildcats will be guided by the point play of Zak Kasper who also runs on the cross country team so endurance will be no problem for this up-tempo guard who can also but the ball through the net.

We fully expect Wayland to repeat in the OK Gold, maybe not in such incredible fashion as they did a year ago but the post season will be the major hurdle for the Wildcats this year. Coach Hudson will have them focused on the task at hand but when you’re a team like this your building for March basketball and something tells us Wayland will be around come St. Pattys day.

Next on our insight of successful programs that look to take the next step we float down the river to the Spring Lake Lakers. Bill Core has been at the helm for 8 seasons and he and the Lakers expect to make his 9^th a memorable one. The Lakers took home second place in the Lakes 8 conference last year behind Ludington while splitting those match-ups with the Orioles, winning at home and losing by 5 on the road to the champs.

Where the Lakers may lack size outside of potential scholarship player Michael Hankinson (6’6”), they make up for with athletic versatility and depth. Early season inexperience is a concern for Coach Core and will we tested early on as the Lakers travel to Ludington on Friday Dec 17^th for a huge battle that could set the stage for the Lakes 8 in 2010.

Hankinson is being recruited by almost every D2 college in the state and was a 2009 honorable mention for both the conference and area as a junior. The only other returning starter is Trevor Tidswell a 6’1” senior guard who is an exceptionally athletic defensive player. Look for Austin Johnson to arrive as an offensive threat in the Lakes 8 as the season develops as he is just a sophomore. Jaren Miller and Justin Weirsma will also be critical to the Laker attack as the seniors look to provide the leadership Coach Core is looking for.

Core and the Lakers will contend and we suggest that no one misses that match-up with Ludington early on this year while also keeping an eye on Tri-County in the Lakes 8. Core’s Crazies give the Lakers a great home court advantage and supply a great place to watch a game if your out on the lakeshore.

1. March 4 boys basketball scores — Associated Press
2. Ludington boys basketball captures Lakes 8 title — Muskegon Chronicle
3. Boys basketball district from hell — HSBB
4. Hopefully Rockford’s City Manager gets overtime for this — Grand Rapids Press
5. Climax-Scotts’ Beau Langs heated up in the fourth — Kalamazoo Gazette
6. Holt ends Portage Central‘s hockey season in 2OT — Kalamazoo Gazette
7. GR Christian beats Mattawan in another 2OT — Grand Rapids Press
8. Gull Lake has Otsego’s number, once again — Kalamazoo Gazette
9. Skee-town wrestlers had a pretty good day — Muskegon Chronicle
10. Oh that Weatherspoon, what a game — Grand Rapids Press

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1. Feb. 5 high school basketball scores (boys) (girls) — Associated Press
2. Feb. 6 high school basketball scores (boys) (girls) — Associated Press
3. Friday’s stars in high school basketball — HSBB
4. Muskegon gets new football coach, again — Muskegon Chronicle
5. Muskegon Heights loses first game to SAH — Muskegon Chronicle
6. Comstock Park wins O-K Blue wrestling (vid) — Grand Rapids Press
7. Rockford rolls in O-K Red wrestling tourney — Grand Rapids Press
8. Spring Lake wins Lakes 8 wrestling tourney — Muskegon Chronicle
9. Lowell captures O-K White wrestling tourney — Grand Rapids Press
10. Zeeland West sophomore Meppelink rules the track — 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.