LMCU Basketball Blitz Week 8

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to head to the hardcourt. Here on ninety
six won the game with the only weekly high school
basketball show in West Michigan.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Packed up high the clayment, down the left sideline with
the dribble. That's lee by Stewart over the hatt and
good looking a free docks and got it. Dial it
up another trip o'brooks hat and he's their leading score
coming in at twelve points per game.

Speaker 3 (00:20):
Kicking right side wy pitch. That's Addison leaving at short.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
And a y pitch. Don't flying through with a rebound
and off the window with a ballow Markers went up,
lots of contact, got it stripped. Here comes bond bought
in transition for a bread a Carol the Alliop slam.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
That might be your.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Ten X Family Stores highlight of the game. Pretty basketball
there that's going to afford.

Speaker 4 (00:40):
The CC timeout.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
This is the LMCU Basketball Blitz presented by Lake Michigan
Credit Union and also brought to you by J and
H Family Stores, Vandor Lon Holme Improvement, Kids Food Basket,
Trinity Health, Sporting You Wing, Doozy Hals, Jepson Physical Therapy, Discount, Door,
Straight Line Fence, Repid Radios, Uptown, Cheapskate stores in Grenville,

(01:05):
kent Wood and Holland, MKD Funeral Homes and Meyer.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
We got a special guest for our c standing edition,
the MCU Basketball Blitz. I say that because he really
doesn't need any introduction, you know him, and he worked
with me for so many years, appreciated it with our broadcast,
even hoping Calvin broadcast we did. He is former mister
Basketball on MSU. Great true Knight. So Drew has now
retired from broadcasting momentarily and he is now going to

(01:33):
be a head coach officially. Is for his son in
their YMCA group, Drake. And he's got a daughter, Chloe,
and he's being mister mom right now. How's that going
for you, mister Knight? So, because I know how much
you love the madness of March.

Speaker 5 (01:47):
Oh it's amazing, right. I Mean the tough thing is,
you know, I love working with you for the six
seven eight years that we worked together. We had called
so many great games and the road to the Breslen
Center and Friday night hoops. But uh, you know this
this time with the kids, you just can't get back.
So I trying to soak up every minute is that
I can with them and coaching, coaching some hoops, making

(02:11):
my coaching debut with first and second graders this winner.
So that's been, you know, a learning experience for me
as well as the players, but having a lot of fun.
And uh have made my way into a few high
school games from time to time with my son and
and trying to make sure that that he gets gets
the itch as well now to uh to want to

(02:34):
want to bounce the ball.

Speaker 6 (02:35):
You know, Drew, It's funny I I left TV and
so now I'm kind of, you know, trying my best
to fill your shoes a little bit here with Brett
on the radio. And people see me at these games.
They can't believe I'm there. Like I thought you got
out of it. Why, I mean, I just can't turn
it off, Like it's too fun, Like are you still
going to games? You're still seeing games, right even though
you're not doing them on the radio.

Speaker 5 (02:51):
Once you you're a you're a hooper. You live in
the gym no matter what, and I I try to
stay there as much as possible. And what it's at
the Breslent Center for Michigan State games or high school
games or you know, there's always a game on TV
at the house, so that's that's never going to leave me.
And I wouldn't say I'm forever retired from broadcasting, but

(03:12):
for the time being, you know, I definitely miss it,
but enjoying the more family time as well.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
Drue, when you.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Look at it, you know, in some of the teams
and players you've seen, do you agree with us just
you know, in following the box scores and stuff, Jane,
I think, and it was good last year, but I
think this is one of the better years we've seen
in a while as far as individual and team talent.
I mean, it's so deep boys wise here in West
Michigan this year.

Speaker 5 (03:37):
Yeah, I mean you look across the board. I mean
even like a Unity Christian who've got knocked out early
by Catholic Central. They had a heck of the season.
And you always hate to see those those teams that
you know, maybe only lose one or two games, you know,
go up against a very tough opponent in first first
round of the districts. And but you look across all divisions, right,
you know, whether it's Tri Unity, whether it's Rockford, Northview, Hudsonville,

(04:01):
Byron South, Christian Catholics. I mean, every division was very
solid and some great players in the area. Maybe not
a you know, a Power five or a high major
Division one one talent. I obviously eat Cam Ryan's Who's
Who's coming up, Who's just a junior and will probably
be a favorite for mister Basketball next year. But you know,

(04:22):
but just a lot of a lot of great talent
and teams and it's been fun to watch. And you know,
I'm in the Forest Hills Northern District at the moment
and had a chance to check out that district final
against Northview, and I've watched them a couple of times
this year and see the progress that that Forest Hills
Northern's made. You know, that was an unbelievable game. They
probably should have won that game, but uh, the horses

(04:44):
for for Northview at the end kind of stepped up
with cam Ryan's put the team on his back, and uh,
you know, schworts at the Big three to win it.

Speaker 6 (04:53):
So, you know, drew different this year for the first time,
as they seeded the entire district. We ever had that
before last few years, we'd had just the one in
two seeds seed and everything else random and of course
before that it was all random, So I would call
it progress. But I know there's a lot of people
calling for the seed the regional, right, and we look
at districts just kind of like you mentioned. I mean,
you get Rockford and Mischigan in the same district in

(05:14):
that division two district at Calic Centric, at Catholic Central Unit,
Christian Aly DWN Covenant Christian. I mean, if you see
the regional, these things look a whole lot different. Do
you are you in favor of seeding the regional and
do you think that's a realistic option in the near future.

Speaker 5 (05:26):
I think so. I mean I obviously I'm not. Don't
work for them, HSA or you know, know exactly, you
know all that goes into the seeding process and the
time and work that leads leads up to that. But
you know, I think they're they're making progress. But yeah,
just to make it make the games as best as possible.
The further you get in the tournament, right, I mean,

(05:48):
sometimes you get some uncompetitive, non competitive games in the
quarterfinals or even semi finals. So trying to seed it
definitely makes sense in my opinion. Maybe I'm a little biased.
It was always us and so Christian. You know a
lot of times playing the first game of the district
and you know, I think three out of four years,
you know, one of our teams made it to the
Bresln Center, right, So it just you know, it's the

(06:10):
way it works in high school basketball. You can't have
teams in the district driving all over the state. But
you know, I think there's definitely progress and hopefully it
continues to evolve to make the games even more competitive
for mister.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
Basketball on MSU great, my former partner back in the day,
Drew Knizel, has joined us. We're going to ask him,
of course about the big Michigan Michigan State showdown and
for seniors kissing the Spartan Head that's coming up on
Sunday at the Brezident Center. But before we get to that, Drew,
there's some guys that can really stroke it out there
and some lefties, which I know you love. But I'm
looking at our matchup that we're going to have tonight

(06:45):
to Key and Hinkel. Fantastic senior can really stroke it.
He had thirteen points in the third quarter alone, and
he's going to match up with a guy that I
know that you've trained a little bit and has gone
to your camp in Joe Von Daniels, who is really blossom.
I think this year as a junior, he's going to
be fun to watch as he continues for Hudsonville. But
what is the mindset of those type of players that

(07:07):
can really take over a game like you did now
that we're in March, and when to do that in
a in a big game.

Speaker 5 (07:14):
Yeah, And both those guys, Kean and Jovon both both
have have come to the camp over the years, and
a lot of those kids on the Byron Center roster
have have as well, you know, running at the courthouse
right in their their backyard. So it's awesome to see.
I think ages me a little bit seeing when these
kids were coming to my campus third fourth, fifth graders

(07:36):
and now they're you know, heading off to college. But
you know, it's fun to see their development. You know, Kean,
he's been a great shooter athletic guard since since he
was young. I'm saying with with Jovon, and he's really improved.
Daniels that is, you know, being on the varsity now,
I think this is his third year on the varsity

(07:57):
and he has had a couple of thirty point games
and really kind of putting the team on his back.
And he's got a great coach and Eric Elliott, a
guy I used to play, played some pick up with
and looked up to as a younger player. So you know,
it's a it's a small the basketball community in West
Michigan is is small, and it's great to see, you know,

(08:17):
all these kind of personal connections, you know, have a
lot of success. So it should be fun to see
those two matchup tonight. And what's what's going to be
a huge game there at Hudsonville.

Speaker 6 (08:29):
Seeing with that game Byron Center, Hudsonville, you played in
so many big games, especially in the state tournament, it's
a little bit of a shorter turnaround, just the one
day off in between. And you've got Byron Center coming
off a thirty two minute battle with Northview, and you've
got Hudsonville coming in off a thirty nine point win
where they have to play their starter as much in
the fourth quarter. Does that kind of thing matter in
a regional final game like this?

Speaker 5 (08:49):
Do you think Obviously Hudsonville has got the home court advantage,
which I think you know definitely has a role in that.
And then yeah, an emotional, grinded out game for Byron center.
You know that that you know, quick turnaround at this
stage in the season. You know, I think you saw
that maybe with Rockford a little bit coming off that

(09:09):
emotional win against the Skeigan and I don't know how
tough Carmen Ane's or it was, but maybe maybe a
small let down coming off in an emotional win. So yeah,
you never know how it's going to play out. But
the matchups are great, I mean, great guard play, the
the bigs inside. You know, obviously Cam Carroll, who's who's

(09:31):
headed the bowling Green next year's had a had a
nice season. So I had a chance to see Byron
play against Rockford earlier in the year, and sounds like
they're they're continuing to improve and getting new contributions from
from other guys outside of those you know kind of
core two or three.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
So, mister basketball, finalists were announced will find out obviously
traditionally the week of what are the championships, which you
know for girls and boys the boys are first this
year usually around that Monday or Tuesday with the quarterfinals,
were you surprised?

Speaker 3 (10:02):
I mean, I know there's good talent.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
Trey McKinney leads the way from more to Lake Saint
Mary's going to Michigan over on the east side of
the state. But no West Michigan representation, especially with guys
like Brady Schwartz putting up big numbers or even Carson
vis at South Christian.

Speaker 5 (10:15):
Yeah, I was, I was. I was a little shocked
and disappointed. You know, I think there should be you know,
representation from you know, both sides of the state, and
if you're trying to grow the game, and you know, kids,
kids look up to these these varsity players, and I think,
you know, especially you know, Brady Schwartz was deserving. His

(10:36):
team had a lot of success this year. He put
up you know, at least one fifty point game that
I know of, and numerous forty point games, so you know,
I think he was worthy. You know, Carson VISs is
fantastastic player, a really good talent. Maybe got off to
a little bit of a slow start, but you know,
those guys, you know, we're we're right up there with

(10:56):
the other guy for for finalists. And you know, I
think Trey mcamy me with all the hype that he's
got in success and especially you know, going to Michigan
next year is probably going to win it, but it
would have been nice to see at least, you know,
one one guy from the West Side be represented. So
you know, hopefully, I know, we got some good young

(11:17):
talent coming up. Hopefully, hopefully we get a mister Basketball
potentially coming out of here next year.

Speaker 6 (11:22):
Let's transition to the college game in Michigan State, obviously
with a huge matchup against Michigan, potentially the Big Ten
championship on the line. We'll see what happens with Michigan
State and Iowa tonight, but just your thoughts on this
Michigan State team and especially this matchup with Michigan is
it's fun to see Michigan and Michigan State as those
top two teams in the conference.

Speaker 5 (11:41):
Yeah, it's been a battle. I mean, the Big Ten
always is, and they always seem to beat up on
each other. And you know, I know when Michigan State,
you know, didn't lose the game for I think it
was two months straight. You know, even Coachizo was still saying,
I still think four or five six losses will win
the Big Ten, and sure enough, here we are. You know,
Michigan has had their struggles they've been kind of squeaking

(12:03):
by with some you know, single digit wins and and
had a tough one against Illinois, but still a lot,
a lot to play for here these last last couple
of games. And for my Spartans, it's it's been a
remarkable year, right, I have to be honest, I didn't
didn't see this coming, you know, the first first few
weeks of the season. But that's a credit to coaches

(12:24):
on the staff and the players just continuing to work,
continuing to work on that chemistry. And you know, I
think pretty much every guy has has gotten better and
playing their best basketball at the right time in the season.
And that's that's the month of March.

Speaker 2 (12:38):
Sure are you going down on Sunday? And my other
question is it really has become as it always is,
a family affair at Michigan State when you go because
Jace Richardson with his dad being there, but Tina's been
there a ton, it seems like there's more and more
MSU alumni at the home games with this run.

Speaker 7 (12:54):
Oh yeah, And.

Speaker 5 (12:55):
That's always been the case. I mean, that's that's one
of the reasons I went to Michigan State, you know,
coming out of high school in two thousand and four
is the family atmosphere, right, and that's only continuing to get,
you know, bigger and better, and you know, the more
success the programs had. But guys want to come back,
they want to support coaches. Though obviously a huge year
for him and you know, surpassing you know, Bobby Knight

(13:16):
for the big ten win total. And but yeah, these
these guys, it's pretty cool to see, you know, Jason
and now his son playing for for Michigan State. There's
some other you know, former players whose kids are coming
up the ranks that we could potentially see in the
Spartan uniform. And yeah, I was down there for the
Wisconsin game with my wife and son and had an
awesome Breslan was rocking, And I can't imagine what it's

(13:39):
going to be like on Sunday. It's it's going to
be crazy likely for either a share or outright Big
ten title on Senior Day. You know, you could couldn't
draw it up any better.

Speaker 2 (13:51):
Hey, we're so proud of you. Enjoy the family time.
You're right, it goes so quickly. Jason's doing a solid
job filling in for you. Buck Geno and all those guys,
I missed your court side partner, but I know you're
at a better place, and say hi to your dad
and every one of the night.

Speaker 3 (14:05):
So family for us.

Speaker 5 (14:07):
Absolutely, those guys are doing great. I tune in from
time to time when I'm driving around town and I
appreciate you guys having me.

Speaker 1 (14:21):
This is the LMCU Basketball Blitz on your home for
high school hoops and West Michigan's home for Sports, ninety
six to one the Game WMAXFM, Holland Grand Rapids.

Speaker 2 (14:35):
Well, if you've been tuning into the high School Basketball
Blitz brought to you by my friends at Lake Michigan
Credit Union here on ninety six to one the game
every Thursday night. We've been doing multiple coaches for the
coaches corners because we want to congratulate a lot of
teams and their coaches for success in the regular season
as well as diving into the road to the Brezlon Center.
And that is the case on the girls side is
they are now in district action. With our next guest,

(14:57):
he is the Forest Feels Northern Huskies girls head coach
jam Sprague in his seventh season, fresh off and outright
Okay White Conference championship and coach, I know it was
down to the wire with you and Catholic Central. Congratulations.
So twenty and two in the regular season nine and
one division play, and the girls were just outstanding, especially
on the defensive end.

Speaker 8 (15:17):
We thought, yeah, you know, we really do again, thanks
for having me, but we really do try and lead
with our defense. Offense is going to come and go
on every night, and we talk about that. Certainly, we've
shown the ability to put a lot of points up
on the board, but we lead with our defense, and
my assistant coach Aaron Case and Mallory Green really focus

(15:37):
on that and they take that off of my hands.
And I'm so proud of the girls. They bought into it.
This is really our third year with Aaron and Mallory
of working the defense, so we've got a lot of
experience in this and they picked right up where they
left off last year and we were able to roll
into the season and get some great defensive efforts this year.
For sure.

Speaker 6 (15:57):
Coach, every team sets goals and has different goals. How
big of a deal was it for your team to
win the Okay White Championship out right right? I mean
you lost it home to Catholic Central, at the end
of January, so you were kind of playing from second
place there, but you go to their place right at
the end of the regular season, you get the big winning,
you get the Outright title. Just how big of a
deal was that for your team?

Speaker 8 (16:15):
Oh, it was a huge deal. We talked about it
after that Catholic Central loss, and we talked about the
fact that, you know, reaching your goals and success isn't
always a straight line. It's not always linear. There's going
to be some bumps and we can't get too high
and we can't get too low. But the girls on
this team just love to compete and it doesn't matter

(16:36):
what we're doing. They love to compete. So they had
it on their mind. They knew what they wanted to do,
and they knew how they wanted to accomplish it. And
to go to Catholic Central on that Friday night and
get that win and get that Okay, White Outright Conference
championship was just kepta. An incredible regular season for us,
for sure.

Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jim, As you've seen the progression of what the MHSA
is doing with our rankings and seeding and everything. I
love it from a competitive standpoint, I think Jada is too,
because you know, in basketball especially it's not as tight
as football, where you have more games. You can play
in Saturday tournaments across the state. But I just love
to see the competition. And as you know, it doesn't

(17:16):
get any better than this. You could stay just in
the Okay Conference and put it together a non conference schedule.
It's unbelievable. With the rock Fridge of the world out there.
Cedar Springs had a great year. I mean, Catholic Central's
in your division, Hudsonville another one, Grand Haven. I mean,
the list goes on and on, and I know you
appreciate that because of the coaching battles you go up against.

Speaker 8 (17:34):
Right absolutely, I think the West Michigan coaching staff, especially
on the girls side, the coaches that are out there
are some of the best in the state, is not
the best in the country. I love interacting with them.
We go to the same clinics all summer long, and
we have text messages and chains and stuff that go
back and forth. So we've got a great support group
out there as well. But we certainly love to either

(17:55):
on a Tuesday or Friday night, get in some of
those non conference battles and have some great matchups. It's
great for the game. It's great for our younger programs
to be able to see that type of competition and
that level of success that you have when you go
up against those types of teams. And it's shown that
we've been able to put more people in the stands
because of those things. So we're not shying away from

(18:15):
it at all, whether that be scrimmages, preseason or regular
season games. Sometimes these schedules are set a year two
in advance because you want to do a home and
away type of thing. And every school goes through highs
and lows where they have players that you know, one
year they're the okay, whatever color champion, and then the
next year they're struggling to get a couple of wins

(18:35):
because a couple of their top players may have gone
off and played college basketball somewhere. So but yeah, I
love competing in West Michigan. I think it's some of
the best basketball, especially girls basketball in the state.

Speaker 6 (18:46):
Forces Northern girls basketball coach Jim Sprague joining us in
the coaches corner. Coach, let's talk about your roster, a
little bit of a nice mix of juniors and seniors and
even a freshman and sophomore in there. How has this
group come together, learned their roles and developed into a
twenty win team conference champion.

Speaker 8 (19:01):
Well, you know, it's not hard when you look at
our team, and I'm sure look at everybody's scouting report
on us and who you're going to start with. But
I always take it back and talk about four years
ago when I had Heavy Brown and Lylah Fuss as
freshman and they both started for me, and this is
their senior year, and if you don't have senior leadership,

(19:22):
And we talked about the continuity and coaching, but if
you don't have that senior leadership, you're going to struggle
at times throughout the season. So when we talk about
building this team, we started at the my number one
guard and my number two guard, and we were able
to add certainly some good junior players in there. When

(19:42):
you look at Abby Sisima, fantastic young lady, hardest worker
on our team, and when she goes on the offensive side,
our team goes. Her younger sister is an incoming freshman
or as a freshman for US this year, and Molly's
done a fantastic job. But without the m O'Connors, the
Bethany Jennison's the Tylly Hurts, the Mattie Earls of the world.

(20:04):
Those things are so important to have in a twenty
two game season, and for over a four month long stretch,
you need to have contributions from everybody. And they've all
bought into this, and they love each other, and they
trust each other and they believe in each other. So
that's really been the key to our success this year.

Speaker 2 (20:19):
You know, it's interesting, and I know we see it
on the boys side. For whatever reason, it just seems
like we've gone through a stretch in the last decade
on the girl's side where you have a lot of
sisters in programs, And I want to ask you if
that's something else that you have to deal with as
a coach, or if it kind of takes care of itself,
especially when you have in your case like a senior
and a freshman. But I look at the why pitches
for Rockford, they're going through the third generation.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
Of that really.

Speaker 2 (20:41):
And then you've got obviously the Dychster sisters at wes
Cathoic and now you know, the older sister moved on
and she's playing at Toledo. The younger sister is going
to be there eventually, but it is kind of interesting,
and I just want to get your perspective on do
you have to do anything different coaching wise?

Speaker 8 (20:57):
No, you really don't have to do anything different. You know,
when you look at the number of families you have,
I've got twelve girls on my team, I've really only
got eleven families, so that kind of makes dividing up
team dinners a little bit more difficult. But from a
continuity standpoint, you know, and with the kids, no, it's
not a lot. Remember, you know, in Abby's a junior
and Molly's a freshman. But their sister Lane played for

(21:18):
me for three years on varsity and she graduated last year.
And so I've known the seats and families and been
blessed to coach their daughters for a number of years.
But when you look at our team, you look at
Ebbie Brown, her sister Addie played for me and she
was on our last Okay White Conference championship and she
graduated in twenty twenty. You look at Lily Stevenson, her sister,
Mattie Stevenson was on our twenty nineteen district championship team.

(21:41):
You look at Tolly hurt. Her sister, Shayla was on
our twenty nineteen district championship team. So you know, we've
got a lot of families within the program, and that
means a lot to me because one, I get a
chance to coach the kids that I saw when they
were younger as their sisters might have graduated. But secondly,
it means the family have trust in the program itself
and love to contribute to the program.

Speaker 6 (22:03):
Coach, let's talk about Abby seatsm a little bit, your
leading score at nineteen A games. She's a junior, already
committed to Grand Valley, and I think it's important to
note that when players go to Grand Valley. Sure, Grand
Valley is a Division two school by you know, metrics,
but they get the best I mean, they're the best
program in Division two in my opinion, So I mean
they get D one level talent. Just take me through

(22:24):
Abby's game in just what kind of player she is,
So you.

Speaker 8 (22:28):
Know, Abby can score at all three levels and has
shown the ability to be able to do that. She's
the hardest working player on our team. And she's got
goals personal goals. But more importantly than the personal goals
and the fact that she's our leading scorer on that
she makes everybody else on our team better. She wants
the ball in key situations, but she also understands the
need to get everybody involved in that. She's a leader

(22:50):
both on the offensive side and on the defensive side.
She fell in love with Grand Valley when she went
out there and met with Mike and the coaching staff
and stuff out there. Her older sister, Lane graduated last
year as a student out at Grand Valley, so she
loves it out there and she wants to play right away.
And I think she'll be able to contribute there. But
you know, she scored a thousand points for us, you know,

(23:13):
just earlier this year and as a junior, so more
than likely, knock on wood, she'll be the Forest Hills
Northern girls basketball all time leading scorer when it's said
and done, because she's got an entire year left on this.
But most I think the most important thing about Abby
Sizima is she loves to win and she hates losing.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Jim, one of the things I want to talk to
you about, and it's perfect because you started at Forest
Hll's Northern, as you know, Jay and I probably the
last five years have really brought girls basketball to a
part of our coverage doing games as well as you know,
being a part of the Basketball Blitz for half of
the show.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
And I've enjoyed it. I love it.

Speaker 2 (23:50):
I love watching the athletes and just now the explosion
I think of college basketball, what happened with Caitlyn Clark
the WNBA. I continue to see women'sport rise, but especially basketball.
Has that been enjoyable to you because I feel like
the younger players now have mentors, they have players that
they can watch on TV, not just guys, and I

(24:11):
think the whole sport of women's and girls basketball has
just gone to a whole nother level.

Speaker 8 (24:16):
If not too well, I agree with you to a
certain extent, but I also agree that it's very it's
very cultural within the schools itself. We've got some large
schools around the area that haven't had the ability to
feel the freshman team. I think it's so important. It's
educational athletics, right, It's about that experience to be able
to play for your school team. And so we're very

(24:38):
fortunate in the fact that we've had three girls basketball teams,
a freshman, a JVNA varsity team for a number of years,
and so that type of growth has been really good
within Forest Hills Public schools. But I think what you're
seeing from a girls sports standpoint, and this is just
completely my opinion, but I think what you're seeing is
your best basketball players right your Abbey Seats, your Molly Seats,

(25:01):
the Moos, your Lilah Fuss is the best basketball players
are are still playing basketball and continue to play basketball.
Then you're also having the players that just want to
be part of the team and want to basically play
the game of basketball and love it for just doing
whatever they love to do and being with a team,
and that's great. The gap I think in when I'm
looking at these schools is you're missing those players that

(25:24):
would have been your sixth player, your seventh player, your
eighth player, that are not playing basketball because they wanted
to focus on maybe another sport and specialize in that.
So my hope is that the Caitlin Clark effect, the WNBA,
the Michigan State Women are having a great year as well,
and Michigan women are having a great year as well,
that it becomes more of a cultural thing and you

(25:44):
start getting people that are playing consistently playing most of
our athletes are multi sport athletes, you know, and and
we have to adjust for that. And that's okay. I
love adjusting for it because I want to make our
gym open during basketball season for our best female athletes
in the school. And that's not always easy to do,
but I do love the growth of it, for sure.

Speaker 3 (26:05):
Coach.

Speaker 6 (26:05):
Then to follow up on that, does that make you
appreciating Heavy Brown right? Because she's a Division one soccer player,
but she's still out there helping you guys win games.

Speaker 8 (26:13):
Oh my goodness, you know, for for four years now.
I think she's probably done a lot of homework by
the light and the dashboard and the car because oftentimes
oftentimes she's she's driving, she's leaving our practice and going
right into soccer and or coming from soccer right right
to our practice. We miss her a little bit from

(26:34):
time to time because she might be going to Texas
or might be going to California something for soccer. And
that's okay. We understand that it comes with the territory
and being able to do that, and if you want
to do it, you can make it happen. If you
don't want to do it, you can say, yeah, it's
too tough to do. So for her to be able
to do that for four years for our varsity basketball program.

(26:55):
And yes she's a Division one soccer player going up
to Central Michigan University, following in their footsteps who also played. Look,
it's not easy to do, but it does make me
appreciate it a whole lot. You're absolutely right, Jay.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
This is the Montel Construction Coaches Corner on the girls sign,
brought to you by Montel Construction, my home team with
fifteen years in the business, five thousand plus projects completed.
Check him out at Montelconstruction dot com. He is Jim Sprague,
head coach of the Forestills Northern Girls Basketball and as
we tape this coach, congratulations again on a great regular season,
the OK White Division championship and best of luck in

(27:27):
the tournament.

Speaker 8 (27:28):
Guys, thank you so much, thanks for your support of
not only girls basketball in the area, but just the
West Michigan sports team for sure, and really appreciate all
the time. And I've whatt you guys get into this Thank.

Speaker 4 (27:38):
You around it out basket with a rebound basket. Will
bring it up himself across the hotline with board with
three check out.

Speaker 2 (27:57):
Nick Kaiper for three, got it, got its fucking to Kaifer.
It's the triple to win it and Rockborn is your
district champion.

Speaker 3 (28:06):
Sixty four sixty two.

Speaker 2 (28:13):
Let's go into the Montel construction corner on the boys
side and this will be a part of our preview
of our game broadcast tonight. Here on ninety six won
the game Division one Regional Final. It's the hudson Illeagals
at home taking down the Bulldogs at Byron Center. They
did meet in the regular season. It was a dandy
Bulldogs pulled out and their head coach, Jill Rodriguez joined
us right now fresh off of win Tuesday night in

(28:35):
Hudsonville over Northfew sixty to fifty five. Coach, unbelievable atmosphere there.
Jay and I were both there just taking to the spectators.
But congratulations and what a ball game?

Speaker 7 (28:45):
Yeah, still catch my breath, man, I appreciate its Heck,
football game doesn't get any better. It's March basketball.

Speaker 6 (28:52):
Hey, coach, take us back to the beginning of the
season if you could, because Brett and I are big
believers in all our years of following high school sports man,
the fall can really set the tone for for a
school as a whole, but especially in athletic department. So
your football team had an unbelievable year, goes to the
state championship game. I'm sure that momentum kind of helps.
But you played a game that week before the football
team even played in the state championship game. I mean,

(29:13):
you got at least three key guys and your team
that run that football team. So just take us through
that early part of the season and how you were
balancing obviously the great thing of your football team, but
also you know, trying to manage your roster.

Speaker 7 (29:25):
Yeah, no, absolutely, it's a great point. You know, I
didn't want to leave out our soccer teams was also
playing in the state finals this fall. We had a
couple of guys on the team that are you know,
makeup that hacker roster. So yeah, you know, we you know,
we never used it as a crutch. You know, we
talked about it being a blessing. You know, we got
some other guys, some some valuable minutes to experience, you know,

(29:46):
step up in some leadership positions, you know, before we
receive those football players back, and then when they came back,
it was just a matter of hey, you know, let's
let's figure out how we can all, you know, make
this work and get on the same page. And you know,
sometimes I takes a little bit, but it was it
was never. It was never you know, a disadvantage or
crutch that we leaned on. It was something that we
wanted to spin into a positive and you know we

(30:09):
we mentioned it in our pregame. You know this week,
you know, we got guys in the slacker room that
have that have been on this big stage before. You know,
we gotta we gotta be the veteran. We got to
be the uh, the experienced team and go out there
and play like it. You know, I thought last night
was a big indicator of that. Just a group of
guys that you know, the moment never got too big
for them.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Joe, I like, how the pieces to this bulldog puzzle
fit for you guys, And it seems like you and
your coaching staff have done a really good job. And
maybe it's just experience too. Of the guys know their rules.
For example, Cam Carroll, you know, playing with some final trouble,
did fall out with about two minutes left to go
last night.

Speaker 3 (30:43):
I know he was.

Speaker 2 (30:44):
Missed for a couple of games due to injury. But
there was no panic, There was no worry. The guys
knew what to do. And because of that and the
different guys who can have big nights for you, like
a Lee, like a Hanko, like a Bond, there's guys
that can lean on when it's not night and you
guys can still get it done.

Speaker 7 (31:02):
Yeah, it's a great play. I mean, it's a compliment
to our guys to uh just play on selfish and
to be ready, you know, in the moment, stay prepared.
They prepare like it's going to be, you know, their
time to shine and it's gonna be their moment when
their numbers is called. So exactly. You know, last night
we went to some adiversity with some foul trouble out there.
Our big guy goes down and you know, the blessing
in disguise again silver lining if you will, is you know,

(31:24):
we we played a handful of games without him this year.
He was going through some injuries earlier in the year.
That Hudsonville game in particular, he didn't play, so you know,
we've we've been there without him, you know. So it
wasn't it wasn't a panic, It wasn't a you know,
I don't know what are we gonna do with that
big camp. We plugged the next guy in who you know,
Land and Conrad played some starter minutes for US a
lot this season, and I had to still in and

(31:44):
you know, we we we stay confident, we stay prepared.

Speaker 6 (31:47):
Coach district championship, I mean that's a big deal, right,
I mean, I Byron Center had won a boys basketball
district championship. I believe since nineteen ninety four. To win
that game against these Kent would last Friday and do that.
How big of a deal was that for your program?

Speaker 7 (32:00):
Yeah? I think it was ninety five, So everybody, Yeah,
I heard that a lot. You know that that phrased
a lot this week. You know, it's been thirty years.
It's been thirty years, and uh, you know, we we
definitely celebrated that, you know, after the game pointed out,
but we didn't talk about it going into it. You know,
this is this is a new year, this is you know,
you know, an opportunity with this group. You know, just
stay focused. But you know, it's absolutely it's exciting for

(32:23):
the community, exciting for a lot of our alumni, a
lot of guys that you know, reached out in the
last couple of days, just congratulating the boys and us,
and you know, it's something that we're very proud of.

Speaker 1 (32:32):
You know.

Speaker 7 (32:32):
I think last night, you know, we had a really
great moment with our coaching staff after the game. I mean,
four years ago, that Northfiew team had us down thirty
five to five at halftime, and you know, we're getting
laughed at going into the locker room and their fans
let us hear it. We were, you know, feeling like,
you know, we got we tend this around quickly, you know,
it might not be here too long. And then here
we are, you know, four years later, playing them in

(32:53):
a regional championship and take them down, and this is
a full circle moment. So I'm proud of our guys.
You know, they put a lot of work in to
get here. You know, it hasn't been overnight success. You know,
we've seen we've been through some challenging times and I'm
just so proud of our guys.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
People always talk about, whether it's the NBA or the
NCAA making a tournament run, or in high school, how
important guards are on Tuesday night against nor Few, and
sometimes the matchups didn't favor him on the defensive end
trying to guard you know, guys like Brady Schwartzer's got
size on perimeter or Cam Ryan's who can play out
there then likes to drive and depending if he's got
a smaller guy, take him inside. But I thought your

(33:28):
combination of Keyan Hankle who went off for twenty two,
Isaac Lee who didn't really score till late but does
so many different things for you, especially defensively and getting
out on the break, and then Cashus Bond I had
him coach unofficially perfect from the line, and he got
there a lot.

Speaker 3 (33:42):
I mean, these guys just were just gamers for you
and leaders.

Speaker 7 (33:45):
Yeah, now I love that. I mean that's I think
I woke up with the smile on my face just
thinking about how we got it done right. I mean,
if there's a definition of what play the right way is,
you know, you look at last night's game where we
were just scratching and cloning a step two guys and
you know, the defensive end, and you know we did
stop and we contained them. We you know, we weren't
going to shut them down, but we were trying to

(34:06):
contain those two players. And you know down the stretch,
we knew the ball was gonna be in one of
their two hands. And then he left at our side.
You know we have Cash who you know goes eleven
for eleven from the line. You know, all game long,
just mister consistent, right, just slid, didn't turn it over,
just played really well. You know, Cam who was in
solid trouble, still picked his points to you know, really
dominate in the paint. You know, Ken Hinko goes for

(34:29):
thirteen in the third quarter. I mean you talk about
a heat check. You know, he's he's just lighting it
up there the third quarter at thirteen points. And then
Isaac Lee finished the game all seven is all seven
of his points were in the fourth quarter. You know,
a couple of clutch free throws and you know, probably
the biggest bucket of the night with that and one
drive with like thirty seconds left. So you know, I'll
wake up, but I think about those things. You know,
we're not just doing it with one or two players

(34:50):
and one superstar. This is this is a group effort.
This is a team that you know, trusts the system,
trust that we can get it done with multiple multiple players.
And you know, we look for our matchups and what
I'm most proud of with this group.

Speaker 6 (35:01):
You look at Isaac Lee and I don't know his
season average, bron guessing he didn't get it in that
game with those seven points, But I don't think you
can put a number on the defense he played on
Brady Schwartz.

Speaker 3 (35:10):
Your thoughts on that?

Speaker 6 (35:11):
And does he draw the assignment of Javon Daniels in
the championship game?

Speaker 7 (35:15):
Yeah, And we won't give away any of our our
plans yet. Joke, come on, you know it's we're still
on the giant board basins, right, We're trying to explore
all that. But absolutely, I mean he's I always joke him.
He reads passing lanes like he does on the I'm
the great iron on the football field, right, I mean,

(35:35):
he intercepts those passes. He plays off the ball so well.
So you know, sometimes when I have to put him on,
you know, a Brady Schwartz for example, and I have
to lose that, I'm just I just tell him, Hey,
I need you to stay in front of a kid,
and you know, go out there and play shut down defense.
You know, I know that we're taking away some of
his strikes of just kind of playing free in Rome
and getting those interceptions if you will. But you know
he will never complain. You know, he always tells me,

(35:58):
the coach, that's what I do. I take care of business,
hand the business, and you give me the assignment. And
I'm wanting to do it. And you know, to his
credit out to say this. You know, yesterday morning, you know,
he texted me and said, coach, you know this is
the matchup I want. You know, he gave me the
conference to you know, put him out there and and
you know it makes it a lot easier for us
and we don't have to worry about that assignment.

Speaker 2 (36:18):
So Joe, as this is airing, we're counting down to
chip off for the regional final. You were there with
Norfew on Tuesday night. It was electric. Now you get
Hudsonville in their home barn for a regional title and
you faced them with the regular season you mentioned.

Speaker 3 (36:32):
Without Cam Carroll.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
You guys beat him in a great, tight game kind
of dissect from a coaching standpoint, Hudsonville and going up
against Derek Kelly Doo, I think is one of the
better high school boys coaches in the area.

Speaker 7 (36:44):
Yeah, I'm gonna sat there I mean, in my opinion,
one of the best. It's not the best in the area.

Speaker 1 (36:49):
You know.

Speaker 7 (36:50):
One of the reasons why I just love matching up
with those guys in the non conference game every year
is because I get to watch a lot of this, so,
you know, I like to I like to see what
he does. I like to, you know, kind of just
be a stud another game for a second and try
to learn from him because he's been doing it for
so long at such a high level. And uh, you know, so, yeah, absolutely,
it's gonna be a great matchup. Talking about going into
their into their Barron, it's nice as barron in the

(37:13):
in the state for sure.

Speaker 3 (37:16):
Maybe I should have called it a condo.

Speaker 7 (37:18):
Right, Yeah, the University of Hudsonville is going to be
rocket tomorrow. But uh no, we love it, man, I
mean we we It's a close trip for us, you know,
I feel like we travel better than than a lot
of schools. You know, our fans are great. They want
to go out there, they want to support us, get
a nice short trip down the road and to an

(37:38):
environment that's a stair of the art facility. You know,
it's it's gonna be great. It's gonna be great, It's
going to be exactly what March basketball is. You put
a definition on on that on that game and that
environment of March madness. You know, just you just have
to look at that game and that that environment to
be pumped up and be ready to go.

Speaker 6 (37:54):
Will you take a look back at that game when
you when you beat Hudsonville by two in the regular season,
what jumps out to you? What kind of things you
want to you know, take over carry over to this
game and what kind of things do you want to
be better at against them this time?

Speaker 7 (38:06):
Yeah? You know, I mean you never want to be
over confident. You know, sometimes you do. You win a
game and you don't want to go into it thinking, well,
already beat these guys and we got to keep our
guys humble. You know, there's gonna be some adjustments made.
I think, Uh, you know, they got some guys that
have really elevated their place since last time we played them,
you know, and then obviously we didn't have Can last time.
So it's gonna be an adjustment for them to see,

(38:28):
you know, a new player if you will. So, yeah,
there's gonna be there's gonna be adjustments buff way that
you know, obviously having that one under our belt gives
us some confidence early. But we know, we know they're
going to give us, you know, everything, they can give
us their best shot, and uh, you know we'll be
ready to go for sure.

Speaker 2 (38:44):
Byron Center, head boys basketball coach Joe Rodriguez of the
Montel Construction Coaches Corner Coach, Congratulations on a great regular
season in the district crown like Jay was mentioned in earlier.
Now for the regional championship tonight, best of luck against
Hutsonville and thanks for taking time.

Speaker 7 (39:00):
Thank you so much us.

Speaker 1 (39:01):
This has been another edition of the LMCU Basketball Blitz,
presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union and also brought to
you by J and H Family Stores, Vanderlown Home Improvement,
Kids Food Basket, Trinity Health, Sporting You, Wing, Doozy Hauls,
Jepson Physical Therapy, Discount, Door, Straight Line, Fence, Rapid Radios,

(39:22):
Uptown Cheapskate Stores in Granville, Kentwood and Holland, MKD Funeral
Homes and Meyer. Be sure to join us next Thursday
night starting at six or another edition of the LMCU
Basketball Blitz, And just a reminder if you miss an
episode or want to hear one of our Game of
the Week broadcasts, go to the Trinity Health Michigan High
School basketball page at ninety six one, megame dot com

(39:45):
and search under the podcast section. You're listening to West
Michigan's home for sports ninety six one the Game