LMCU Basketball Blitz Week 1 2025

LMCU BB Blitz Week 1 2025

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 to claiment down the left sideline with
the dribble. That's lee by Stewart, over the hat 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. Kicking right side
WI pitch. That's Addison leaving at short and a y pitch.
Don't flying through with a rebound and off the window
with a ballow Marsers went up, lots of contact, got

(00:28):
it stripped. Here comes bond bought in transition for a
bread a Carol the Alliop slam. That might be your
teens Family Stores highlight of the game. Pretty basketball there
that's going to afford 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, Rapid Radios, Uptown Cheapskate stores in Granville,

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

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Well, it's after the holidays, we're into a new year,
twenty twenty five, but the high school basketball season is
right smack Dad pretty much in the middle as we
start to go through conference play and set you up
for the road of the Bresident Center. Brought to you
again by MKD Funeral Holmes. Welcome into our first edition
of the new season of the LMCU Basketball Blitz. My

(01:32):
name is Brett Pikeita joined us always in studio with
Jason Hunton, and we have coaches conversations coming away, top
ten rankings, you know the drill. We break it down
and split the show evenly. Boys conversations, girls conversations about
the teams that we like in the area and also
players we like. At the end of the show with
our Uptown Cheapskate players of the week. Are you ready,

(01:54):
Jason Hutt?

Speaker 3 (01:54):
You know I'm ready, Brad. And it's different from football,
right because we dive in before the season even starts,
so we kind of give we think is going to happen,
and of course that never even compares to how it
really happens. Well, in basketball, we have a full month
of data here to use and look at when we
make our decisions, so I feel like we're a little
more informed. But of course these things always end up changing.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
And before we get into our top ten rankings. On
that note, I think this year we talked about that
last year. No, two years ago it was a different story.
I thought it was a very heavy girls' basketball year
two years ago in the West Muscan area. Lots of
individual town as well. Look what's happened in the mist
of basketball awards the last few years, certainly from the
Grand Rapids area, and we've covered a lot of those players.

(02:36):
Not that it's down at all this year, because you've
got the Annay pitches out there from Rockford, You've got
Siana Wolf we've yet to see yet from Rockford, great pikes. Yeah,
from West Catholic and South Christian. But I will say this,
I think in going through our rankings that you hear
in the show the girls' side has more parody. Let's
say four through maybe twelve or fifteen, where teams can

(03:00):
knock off teams. It's just any given night right where
maybe there's two or three we feel elite teams at
the top for the boys whole different animal. I think
it's a very deep boys field again this year. Would
you agree, Yeah, no question about it.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
I mean one through twenty here, I think you can
make an argument for all of these teams. I mean
there's a little separation at the top, and you talk
about the top maybe three or four, But yeah, I
totally agree in the way and we'll get into where
we have these teams. But I have heavy D one
at the top of my rankings, which isn't always the case.
But that's not to say D twos down. I think
there's some real good teams in D two as well.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
And what we love that we've seen happen the last
couple of years with the way they change things as
far as how you're awarded playoff points in high school football.
We're seeing awesome matchups in high school basketball. And every
weekend for a guy like Jason Hutton, there's somewhere you
can go, especially even locally, and watch great action, not
just one game, games all.

Speaker 3 (03:50):
Day, yeah, games all day. This weekend it'll be East Kentwood.
We have to showcase that are coming up at Aquinas
College in a couple of weeks as well, and back
to back weekends, and there's always big ones on the
east the state. And it's not just Fridays and Saturdays.
I mean you can find games Mondays and Thursdays and
basically every day of the week besides Sunday.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
And a new one in our backyard we're excited about
that's going to happen this Saturday on the girls side. Right.
They're calling it the Platform, and that's going to be
at the beautiful new Special Olympics of Michigan Center that
they have there. It's right off the sixty eighth street.
It's the old South Christian high which, by the way,
had one of my favorite games of all time. You
and I were talking about this off the air growing up.
So many great games that we watched as kids then

(04:29):
got to cover as media members.

Speaker 3 (04:31):
Yeah, I haven't seen the gym since they've redone it,
but so many memories in the old place, playing there
as a high schooler and then covering games there in
the media, and all the great games that have been
there and the great teams that South Christian had, and
so this is a really nice showcase and a good
schedule they have there coming up Saturday.

Speaker 2 (04:46):
Coaches Conversation four Week one. We're going to the Coaches
Corner brought to you by Montell Construction. My home team,
Oh Boy, Kyle Kluff, Rockford Boys high school basketball coach
sky High. After Tuesday at at Cornerstone University to wrap
up the high School Hoops Holiday Tournament, they had that
showdown with the Bulldogs at Byron Center. Two one loss
teams going in and Rockford pulls it out in overtime

(05:08):
as they improved to eight and one on the season.
They will host He's Kent with an Okay Red play
coming up tomorrow night. We'll give you that schedule games
for Friday games and weekend games coming up at the
end of the show. Jay, I'll take you through that
after our uptown cheapskate Players of the Week for the
Lake Shore in the Grand Rapperts area. But let's dive
Friday in before we talk to coach Kluff on the
boys side and Jay, as we dissect this, I'll let

(05:30):
you start first kind of going through our top ten rankings.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, I have to go Puskegan number one. I mean,
the Big Reds are undefeated eight to oh they got
a really nice win at home against Hudsonville on Tuesday night.
Hudsonville's obviously very good as well and played them tough.
I mean, this game was right down to the final minutes,
Miskegan pulls it out sixty three to fifty six. But boy,
they've just been destroying teams one hundred on Lansing Everett
at the Muskegan Hall of Fame Classic, they beat Ferndale

(05:54):
by thirty plus at their Miskegan Showcase. They held Jennison
to three points last Friday night in the first half.
I mean, they've just been so impressive. And this was
really the East Lansing they beat East Lansing in overtime
back in December. But outside of that, this is what
kind of This Hudsonville game on Tuesday was the first
time they've really been testing. I just think Daryl Tompkins Junior,
coming over from East Kentwood, has been exactly what they

(06:16):
needed the point guard. He's outstanding facilitator. He can score
it two, but he loves to set up other players.
And with guys like Keishawn Johnson and James Martin and
Elijah Langston, I mean, they've got talent and obviously Keith
guy coaches really well. So I just have the big
Reds number one, which is saying something because you know,
it's really good. At the top, I have Rockford two.
The Rams are eight and one. We'll talk to coach

(06:37):
Kyle cliff here in a few minutes. Their only loss
came in a close game, a game they had to
lead in the second half against Orchard Lake Saint Mary
and Trey McKinney, a team that won the Division one
state championship last year, a team that's heavily favored to repeat,
although they do have a couple of losses.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
And by the way, slam dunk that he will be
mister Basketball he a Michigan.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
Next year, Yeah, no question sure. And then so but
I do have Rockford two and that Rockford Byron Center
game on Tuesday, which the Rams pull out in overtime,
despite the fact that they never really led until the
end of overtime, effect even trailed by five and overtime.
That was kind of who's going to be number two
because the other one was going to be three and
it was such an even battle right down to the end.
So I have Byron Center three. And it's interesting because

(07:15):
Miskeegan and Byron Center now in the same division in
the ok Green they play tomorrow night. Talk about a
huge game. Byron Center's at home. They got to kind
of bounce back here and get ready. But this is
a great week for both of these teams when you
look at it talking about Byron Center, Mskegan Miskigon plays
Hudsonville on Tuesday, Byron Center Friday, and then Brother Rice
on Saturday. That's like a state finals week, right, Same

(07:36):
for Byron Center, Yeah, because they had Rock for Tuesday,
Miskegan Friday, and then Grand Blank at the Guy to
get a Hoops Classic on Saturday. So as you talk
about these Saturday tournaments, it's working to the advantage of
these teams at the top because they want to make
runs to East Lansing in March.

Speaker 2 (07:50):
Coaches love it, players love it, fan bases love it,
and it sets it up for possible rematches, which we
love on the road to the Bruslim Center because of
the divisions and the it's set up. So that's your
top two or three teams, and I look at it,
I'm not much different. I have a Skegan unbeat at
seven and zero, the ranked number two this week in
the state and Division One as my number one team,

(08:11):
and then I've got Rockford right behind them their number five.
This week in Division one at eight and one, you
talked about their loan loss and then Byron Center now
eight and two of the loss in overtime to Rockford
at number three for me, and you know, it still
leaves like Unity Christian out there, Grand Haven out there.
South Christian, you know, is better than their record. They're
just gonna get better. I mean, it's amazing the depth.

(08:32):
But those top three, I think when you look at
their body of work and the schedules, they played very impressive.
And I'm telling fans right now you want to go
out and if they face off against each other, like
Friday nights at Bulldogs Gymnasium at Byron Center, make sure
you get a ticket. I mean, this is like old
school basketball that you and I grew up with because
you have the individual talent and the gyms are packed.

(08:55):
It was packed Tuesday night at Cornerstone for Byron Center
and Rockford.

Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, and why not. I mean, it's it's great. It's
great hoops, and you know, I'm sure it's going to
be packed from the Skeigan and Byron Center on Friday
Night as well. So yeah, I have Northview four. You know,
the Wildcats I think are really good. I think they're
really underrated. I mean we all came into the season
with big expectations for north You'm sure they lost to
Rockford at the invite by eight, you know, but if
you look at this D zone and I respect what

(09:19):
the DE zone does in the rankings, I mean, they're
nowhere to be found in their top twenty five and
I'm like, this surprises me. What happened to north View?
I mean they still have cam Ryans, who's a big
time talent. They have Brady Schwartz who put up fifty
on Tuesday against Wyoming, and a good basketball team. So
I have Northview at four. They did lose to anderber
Huron in December. Heroes really good as well. I do
come in with Hudsonville at five. You know, the Eagles

(09:41):
really impressed me, even in the lost. Muskegan Javon Daniels
is outstanding. Joey Miller had seventeen in that loss. Isaiah
Hamlet has been a great addition to this team. So
I like Hudsonville a lot. We know Eric Elliott will
get his teams ready to play. I have Unity Christian
at six, South Christian at seven. I think we all
kind of forgot about South Christian, right, I mean they
lose big the Granpitt's Christian the opener coming right off

(10:03):
the long football season. They lost to Byron Center at
the invite. That was Byron Center's first game fully together.
Nobody I think understood how good Byron Center was at
the time, like just kind of sneaking along there. South
Christians got it Roland now and this had thirty three
Carsaphiss had thirty three last Fridaygainst Wyoming. So I think
South Christian's a real deal. Grandma's coych Central's playing really
well out of them. Eight how about Whitehall. Whitehall has

(10:24):
been super impressive to me, The Hammer Hammer, Reese Buffer,
they beat Cooper's ViLTE Miskigan Holiday Classic. They've been really good.
And then I have Grand Haven in at number ten.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
And Grand Haven took a part Grand Affitts Christian, Grant's Chritian.
I would put in that category of South Christian where
you know they're better than their record right at four
and four. I mean they are. They've played some very
good teams. They've had some tough losses, beat Hudsonville, who
beat Unity Christian early on. So I mean, this is
what we're talking about. It's so much fun because no
one's staying away from anyone, not that like they did
in the past. But you really it makes our job tough.

(10:57):
But at the same time, coaches love it. You think
Taylor Johnson is disappointed that we might have his team
a little lower rank than you know we should with
what we know they're capable of. No, because he wants
to peak in February and March.

Speaker 3 (11:09):
Right, and that's what every team wants to do. And
that's even though we're sitting here early January. I mean,
you can't help but think ahead to these district tournaments
that are going to have Unity Christian and Granpit's Catholic
Central and Covenant Christian now in Division two, and you
talk about South Christian and Grand Rapids Christian. I mean,
these districts are going to be I mean, they're going
to be musty stuff. I mean, I already can't wait.

Speaker 2 (11:28):
All right, So there's your top ten finished up. I'll
pick up at number four. I left off member Byron
Center was three. I have Hudsonville at four. I know
they just lost to a Skegan on Tuesday night, but
on the road came back because they were down double
digits in that game. Then I have Unity Christian five,
who Hudsonville did beat in their annual meeting right around
Christmas time. And then I have at six Norfew, So

(11:49):
you and I kind of have the same teams. There
are just mixed as far as the order, and Northew
could certainly make a case where you flip them.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
And also Hudsonville, you're in line with everybody else. Right,
you don't have Northew rank nearly asiz as I do.
Just kind of like nobody's ranking Northew all of a sudden,
I just don't understand where that came from.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
Grand Haven I have higher than you. I have them
at seven. They just got walloped though by Rockford. But Rockford,
I mean they threw everything in fifteen triples as a
team last Friday night. Azarita, I know, then you've got
but then again Grand Haven beat Grand Rapids Christian by
double digits earlier in December. Then at number eight, I've
got Grand Rapids Christian in there. I go South Christian nine.

(12:27):
Grandpit's Christian beating South Christian. That was one of their losses,
I think, the very first game of the year. And
then at number ten, and I know they haven't played
as tough a schedule as other teams out there, but
there's still now ten and oh and they did get
a nice one on Tuesday night over a Coopersville team
who I saw over the holidays beat Cadillac. Is one
of our game of the week broadcasting. Coop's not bad.

(12:47):
I know they lost a good senior class. So I
have Greenville rounded out my top ten, the Yellow Jackets
at ten and O in your backyard?

Speaker 3 (12:56):
Can you hit me with seven through ten one more
time for you?

Speaker 2 (12:59):
Grand Haven?

Speaker 3 (13:00):
Uh huh?

Speaker 2 (13:00):
Grand Appet's Christian? Uh huh, South Christian Greenville?

Speaker 3 (13:04):
So you have Greenville ranked ahead of Grandarpit's Catholic Central, yes,
and Whitehall yes. Can we compare strength to schedules?

Speaker 2 (13:11):
You can?

Speaker 3 (13:12):
I mean, listen, let's get them to play. Listen. I
live in Greenville, and it's awesome that they're ten. To
know and their last two wins, you know, Cadillac in Coopersville,
those have been good quality wins. But my goodness, they
they have not played anywhere close to the schedule that
some of these teams have and maybe Greenville is maybe
they're top ten team. It will find out. I mean
they're in a district of Micechige in Rockford.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
The one thing I will tell you about is another
team to see when they come to the erechs. Doesn't
happen too often, but it's happening more now the way
they're scheduling Whitehall in camp Thompson absolutely got to put
that out of your must see list this year before
he heads off to play both sports at Western Michigan.

Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, I just I Whitehall has been so impressive. I'm
shocked that you didn't have them in your top ten.

Speaker 2 (13:52):
They did have a nice win over Coopersville. Coopersville's played
a tough schedule as well. I think it's going to
help them. And can we speak. They be Force Central,
can we speak for a second? And forest Field Central
not in either of our top tens.

Speaker 3 (14:05):
But I have them eleven, Forestfield Central eleven.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
Can we speak just for a second, because it is
new this year, like we talked about in football, and
I think it's gonna be very similar on the River
City's alliance in the fact that I don't know if
there's an elite team. I know Greenville's unbeaten. I think
there's a lot of parody in those games. Are gonna
be fun this year in the basketball season, especially when
you play everyone twice.

Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yeah, I mean you talk about Kenawall Hills I think
is a team to watch. They're pretty talented. We talked
about Greenville and Coopersville are certainly in that mix. Allendale, Sparta.
I mean there's five teams there that I think could
all make a run at that title. So that's gonna
be fun to watch. By the way, well we're doing
honorable mentions here. This is a team I'm sure you're
not even considering, not even on your radar. Mona Shores
I have thirteen. Mona Shores is three and six. Okay.

(14:47):
I don't think anybody has played a tougher schedule than
Mona Shores. They've lost to Flint, Carmenaine's Worth, Hudsonville, Northview, Granpits,
Catholic Central, Rockford and Byron Center. And don't forget Jonathan
Pittman missed I think three of those games and he's
back now and they beat Greenville or excuse me, Granville
on Tuesday night. So don't sleep on Mona Shores. Listen.
I realize Miskegan and Byron Center are the cream of

(15:09):
the crop in the ok Green, but Mona Shores is
I think better than people realize.

Speaker 2 (15:13):
Saw Mona Shores against Rockford at Cornerstoning, You're absolutely right, No,
Jonathan Pittman and yeah, very athletic. And they had one
other player that was out in that game. They said,
when I was talking to someone from Mona Shores, they
had another player besides Pittman.

Speaker 3 (15:24):
Jordan Blodsoe played and that guy's a real deal.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
Yeah, so keep an eye on the Sailors in that mix.
And then of course we've got the Okay Conference all
shuffled up different than football if you don't know that,
as far as the basketball divisions and the way they
laid them out. We'll get more into that on the
girls side coming up, but right now we've got to
take a break. Montel Construction Coaches Corner coming up. Rockford
boys head basketball coach Kyle Kloff will be our guest
right here on this first edition of the LMCU Basketball Blitz,

(15:49):
exclusively on ninety six to one, the game D three.
It's another one that was in the Byron Center student section.
Oh man, boy, if you remember from our high school

(16:12):
football show in the fall, maybe the basketball Blitz last year.
One of our favorite parts of the show is coming
up right now. It's the Montel Construction Coaches Corner. We
talked to an area coach. It's brought to you by
Montel Construction. And by the way, you can see my
home team, Montel Construction this weekend. They'll be at the
remodeling a new home show downtown ground Rapids at de
Vos Place. Check them out or you can find out

(16:32):
more at Montel Construction dot com. We welcome in a
guy who is very happy after a huge victory on
Tuesday night, battle of one loss teams and two of
the top teams. I think jan I agree in the area,
at least at this point in the season. Kyle Cluff,
Rockford boys basketball coach, joins us right now. Coach, congratulations,
overtime thriller, huge crowd on a Tuesday night, kind of

(16:52):
on the back end of the holiday, but as you
shared with us when we hooked up with you this morning,
a game that you love kind of has that tournament
feel on the road to the Brezon Center, but also
a learning game for your team win or lose.

Speaker 4 (17:05):
Right, Yeah, it was, you know, I mean two really
good teams going at it. And you know, those are
the types of situations you want to be in and
and really just try to find out, you know, some
areas that your team can improve on and really put
your team under the test of fire. And yeah, Joe
and I and I we talked before the game. Both
of us are going to take a lot away from
that experience. And you know, I'm just thankful that our

(17:26):
guys found a way to win, because it's always a
little easier to come in and learn from it after.

Speaker 3 (17:29):
That, coach, I know, I saw in your Rockford ram
Hoops social media TPW, which I believe stands for Tough
Players Win. You know, I love that addedge. You know,
it goes back to Tom Izzo and players play, tough
players win. And I want to ask you about toughness.
First of all, how important is toughness in a game
like that last night? And can you teach toughness or
how does your team become tough enough to be successful?

Speaker 4 (17:52):
Yeah, you know, I mean I've grown up anizo guy
my whole life, so I think come by those things
quickly and naturally, but it is something that we find
to be really important our program, and you know, we
we've gotten to the point now. You know, I think
over the over the nine years I've been here, early on,
I think we were demanding that, we were expecting it,
we were trying to coach it, we were trying to
teach it. And you know, one of the one of

(18:12):
the really neat parts of our program and in my
time is I feel like, now are you know, our
players kind of expect that and when you're you know,
when you're playing varsity basketball for us here, you know,
our guys kind of are are in tune with the
fact that they better be tough. You know, I mean
we demand them to play both ends of the floor,
and we expect them to rebound and be physical. And
you know, last night was just a great example of that.

(18:33):
I didn't feel like we played great in certain areas,
but you know, there was never we were talking about
this as a staff, you know, right after the game,
there was never a moment where you know, our players
seemed rattled or if they didn't believe they were going
to find a way to win the game. And so, uh,
that's pretty cool. To see, you know, and I guys
like Jake Bascom and guys like Michael the Kuiper, they've
been around here a little while and they embody that

(18:53):
they know that it's important to get stops, and certainly
just gave ourselves enough chances at the end there where
we were finally able to make a couple big shots.
It's a big free thrills, so definitely a staple in
our program, and our guys have really embraced that. So
that's been really fun to see.

Speaker 2 (19:07):
Coach. It seems like in the last four or five
years they've expanded out the schedule. Obviously more regular season
games you can play. There's a lot of weekend events,
especially around the holidays, where teams travel, they challenge themselves.
But how important is it from the philosophy of building
towards March for you and your coaching staff and your
players to come off a high like you did open

(19:29):
up Okay Red play I think against maybe the next
best team of the ok Red behind you in Grand Haven,
a great rivalry there. Seventy six thirty seven, a game
where you hit fifteen triples as a team. Everything was
falling in but then your sky haigh after that, and
you have to get ready for Byron Center non conference,
just like you would in a tournament field, going from
districts to regionals to semi finals, right.

Speaker 4 (19:51):
Yeah, I mean that is the challenge, right And we
talk about this all the time with our guys. You know,
we knew going back to the summer that we were
going to have a nice group here and so we
you know, we've obviously loaded this schedule up and there's
not a lot of games that you go into where
you just feel like you cannot play very well and
still win. And so when you play at Rockford, you know,
and I know this is the case in some other

(20:12):
places well, like Byron Center. You know, for twenty two games,
you got to come ready to go, And so that
is the challenge. You can play great in the game,
you know, in a certain style like we did against
Grant Haven, and then you've got to turn around and
sometimes at a totally different game plan, a totally different
you know, approach, and and you've got to be ready
to execute under those circumstances too. So you know, that's

(20:34):
why you do it, because you know you're right. You
get to March and you could play a team on
a Monday and then turn around and play another team
on a Wednesday that plays a totally different defense or
a totally different offensive approach, and you know, so it
was great to see our guys kind of be able
to make that quick turnaround, and like I said, maybe
didn't play as sharp as we had obviously in the
last couple of games, but really grinded out the game
plan late in the game there and we're able to

(20:55):
make enough stops and big plays, especially in overtime.

Speaker 3 (20:58):
Rockford Boys basketball head go Kyle Cloff joining us in
the coach's corner and coach, you know you you just
touched on it. You play such a good schedule, but
I want to take you back to the orchard like
Saint Mary's game on December twenty first you go over
to Clarkston playing the Dzone Invitational, play against the defending
state champion, play against a player like Trey McKinney. What
are these kind of experiences kind of do for your
program as you sort of build towards March.

Speaker 4 (21:19):
Well, you know, especially this year when you know, we
got moved over to the Skegan's District and obviously everybody
knows how good they are and so we felt like
it was going to be important to play some really
really high end caliber teams with some incredible talented players,
a really strong defensive team, and obviously Orchard Lake checks
all those boxes, you know, the defending champs with almost
everybody back on that team. And it was great, you know.

(21:41):
I mean it's one of those games you talk about,
the polar opposite of how we're feeling this morning. You know,
you play in a game like that, you have everything
in a great position to win. I mean, you know, defensively,
I thought we played exceptional in that game. I mean,
the holy guy like Trey McKinney to zero points in
the first half and then and even fourteen I think
points overall or whatever it was as to hold them

(22:01):
in the in the mid forties, you know, with two
minutes to go in the fourth quarter, like everything was
just outstanding for us defensively, and you know, at the
end of the day, we shot five to twenty three
from the three in that game, you know, LA seven
in the fourth quarter. So basketball is one of those
fickle games where you can do everything right and you know,
and lose, and then you can have a game like
last night where you know, you maybe don't feel like
you play your best and then you find a way

(22:22):
to win. And so it was a great experience for us.
And you know, like I said, we learned a lot
from that, turned around and really made some great improvements
over the next couple of practices. And you know, that'll
be the challenge for our guys today is that can
we can we have that same approach as if there's
room to grow and things to get better with here
even though we found a way to win a really
big game like that. And you know, if history shows

(22:44):
us anything with this group, they're going to come back
in here today ready to get better, just like they
always do.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Kyle, Let's talk about the players that make up your squad.
I think the deepest squad that you've had since you've
been there, in the deepest squad of the boys side
that Rockford has seen in a while. But I want
to ask, is something that I think has kind of
changed in the last decade, and you see it on
the girls side too, maybe even more on the girls side,
is younger players being varsity ready. Obviously, these kids play
a lot of basketball, They play aau, they might play

(23:11):
you know at local gyms, throughout the summer, they're playing
basically twelve months year round. But when you're trying to
as a coach, as you know, build those bonds, build
those relationships freshmen through seniors, which you have on your
squad right now, and two very good freshmen that contribute.
How hard is that? As far as the team building
in the offseason, like you talked about with the summer,
it is, you know.

Speaker 4 (23:31):
And I think you learn a lot about those dynamics
in the offseason. But a unique year for us in
the sense that you know, I think in my nine
years so we haven't had a freshman play varsity, and
here we come into the season and we have two
of them, not only you know, with us, but also
in the top seven eight rotation, and so yeah, those
are interesting dynamics and those you know, it takes some
ture young players to understand that their roles are going

(23:54):
to be slightly different, you know. I mean, these two
kids sit, like you said, I've played so much basketball
at the highest level, not only locally but nationally, and
we feel like they're two of the most talented freshmen
in the whole state. But now you're coming into experience
where Okay, you're telling these guys you're you know, early on,
especially you're not going to start. Your minutes are going
to be a little bit more limited because of the
strength of this group that we have, and there's certain

(24:16):
things we're going to need from you that maybe you've
not had to do, you know, And so those challenges
are hard for the young players. These two guys have
really embraced that. They're working at those things every day
and they're trying to find, you know, the right pieces
to become for this team. But as you mentioned more importantly,
we just have such a tremendous group of leaders and
experienced players here that have just welcomed them with open
arms and they trust them, you know. And I think

(24:38):
I got our text message from Greg Mitchell Hope last night,
who was at our game, and that was the first
thing that he said to me. He just said, it's
really neat to watch your team embrace two freshmen come
into the game like that and big minutes and trust
that they're going to make some important plays for your team. So,
you know, it says a lot about these young kids
for us, but it also says a lot about you know,
guys like Michael de Kuiper and Jake Bascom and Lucas

(24:58):
pitch to trust them, to embrace them and know that
they you know, certainly we feel like they're going to
be a big piece of our winning formula here and
so far, so good, you know, and they they're those
two kids are going to only get better and better,
which is a good exciting thing for our team.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
Real quick, before Jay hops in there, Eli Wolf, we're
talking about in Josh Bascom, the younger brother of Jake,
and that's an interesting dynamic because Sienna on the girls side,
it's Eli's older sister, and then you've got Josh with Jake,
so any sibling rivalries.

Speaker 4 (25:26):
Going on there, you know, it's interesting because we talk
about that a lot. Jake. You know, Jake is a
great big brother. I mean, and that sounds so simple,
but he you know, he takes care of Josh. I
think that's helped the emergence of these two within our
team obviously, but you know, he holds them accountable too,
and he does it in a positive way and Josh
really responds well to that as well. So it's it's

(25:48):
a great dynamic there. I think those two believe in
each other a lot and our guys see that relationship
piece being a positive. And you know, Eli just comes
from such a basketball family. Obviously, Nick was an incredible player,
and Katie playing in Oakland and in Sienna clearly is
a Division one girl, you know, talent, and so you know,
he just comes from great experience there, and I think
he understands a lot of things that go along with

(26:08):
high expectations, which is something he's dealing with and so
far dealing with it really well. So yeah, it's been,
it's been fun, it's been. It's been, you know, in
some ways challenging because they're they're slowly kind of getting
to the point where in a game like that last night,
neither one of them probably played as well as they
probably thought they could. But again, and there's some big
moments and our guys trusting them at the end when
when we needed to go win.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Couse, we talk a lot about your young players, but
you touched on it briefly on your seniors. Just how
important is this group because you've got a good group
of them, right, I mean, obviously Mikey and and Lucas
have played a lot of basketball for you, but Poot
is such an important player for you ty blistone came
off the bench and really played well for you last night.
Just how much do you still rely on your seniors
despite the fact they have so many good young players.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
Yeah, these guys are incredible, you know. I mean, you
talk about a group of guys that is really all
just about one thing, and that's winning. You know. I
mean Mike the Kuiper, he's having a great year. He's
shooting in like fifty seven percent in the three he's
handled the ball. You know, we've moved him off the
ball a little bit more because of Eli and Dylan,
but he just does everything for us, you know. I mean,
he's he's been passed now for like three games in

(27:10):
a row guarding you know, the Bledsoe kid from Mona Shores,
the Plumber kid from Grand Haven, and last night the
Hinkle kid, who was playing as good as anybody in
the state of Michigan. And he just has a very,
very very impressive way of being able to neutralize those guys.
And that is such a relying, a beautiful presence for
our team defensively because we know that we can start

(27:30):
to take certain players out of the game with him.
You know, he talked about Isaac Pood, who was a
guy going to play college football, who's just been all
in for us, does some very important things for us defensively,
you know, Tid blistone, a kid that played less than
a minute a game last year and now all of
a sudden, he's just been an incredible boost of energy
off our bench and scoring seven eight points a game
for us. And then of course Lucas Pitch and so yeah.

(27:50):
I mean this senior group has played a lot of
basketball together, and like I said, I think the most
important thing about them is they're just about winning. They
don't care who gets credit, they don't care who's you know,
getting talked about him newspapers, and they just they just
want to go out and do whatever they can to
help us win. And you've got a bunch of seniors
that do that. That's a pretty powerful thing.

Speaker 2 (28:06):
I will leave you with this. We always like to
ask the coaches questions and put them on the spot
final thirty seconds. If you could change one rule moving
forward in high school boys basketball, extending quarters to ten
minutes or a shot clock, what would it be.

Speaker 4 (28:20):
I think it's got to be a shot clock, you know.
And I say that kind of kind of humorously because
if you had asked me that nine years ago when
I was in Indiana and we weren't very good or
we weren't underachieving team, I would have said, don't put
a shot clock, because we've got to take this thing
and shorten the game. But you know, I think I
think shot clock really starts to you know, put basketball
where it's supposed to be. You know, it puts you
in a game that you know, we're starting to see

(28:42):
this in some of these showcases obviously, where you know,
if you're down eight nine points in the fourth quarter,
you still feel okay, you still know that you're going
to get a certain amount of possessions and you're not
going to see teams holding the ball, And you know,
I think from a product standpoint, it makes it more
enjoyable to watch too. So for me, that would be it.
I'd love to see it. I don't think we're that
far away from and hopefully, and you know, I think
it'd be a great change for Michigan high school basketball.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
He is Kyle Kluff in his ninth season Rockford boys
varsity basketball coach rams big win on Tuesday Night over
Byron Center and overtime now, so the eight and one
on the season, one to zero in okay, red play
and Kyle, I can guarantee you this. We'll be seeing
you for a game of the Week soon down the road.

Speaker 4 (29:21):
Yeah, we appreciate it, guys. You guys are awesome, and
you know, I know it's a great honor obviously you have.
I listen to your show every week and there's always
so many great coaches and programs, and we appreciate you know,
on the phone call this morning. And we're looking forward
to some other big matchups here down the road.

Speaker 2 (29:34):
Hey with us, We've got plenty more of the Basketball
Blitz coming your way, brought to you by Lake Michigan
Credit Union. Here on ninety six to one the game,
good hands defensively to knock it away momentarily, but Adison
why pitched the freshman, picks it up, kicks to her
sister Anna, and she knocks it down a three pointer

(29:55):
deep right in front of the Big Reds bench. Welcome
back to the LMCU Basketball Blitz, our first of eight
shows this season. As we take you down the road
to the President Center, don't forget our LMCU Games of
the Week, girls and boys as well. It's all available
at one touch of the button. Just go to nine

(30:16):
to six one the game dot com and click on
the Trinity Health High School Basketball page. You'll see our
game of the week schedule. It will change as we
get through towards February, trying to give you the best matchups.
Our podcast section there, our sponsors, and everything that comes
with high school basketball, including the podcast of this show
each and every week. As Jason Nutton joins me again

(30:38):
and we taught girls now we switch sides from the boys,
and we mentioned in the opening that the girls may
be not as deep one through ten like the boys are,
but they certainly are very good on the high end.
With about three teams in the area, and then four
through eight or nine or ten, you certainly would put
up against anyone else across the state of Michigan. It's

(30:59):
just good basketball. I think we disagree a little bit.

Speaker 3 (31:02):
To me, there's a clear number one, and then a
pretty big gap before number two, and then another big
gap after two. I think there's clearly Rockford one, West
Catholic two, and then everybody else is kind of after that.
That's my opinion. I do have Grand Haven at three
I know, you kind of throw Grand Haven in that
top three. And yes, they did give Rockford a pretty
tough game last Friday at Rockford. That was a game

(31:23):
where the Rams kind of jumped out to a double
digit lead up for one quarter and then just kind
of treaded water the rest of the game. But you know,
I just think Rockford is clearly the best team in
the area and it's not close. I mean, once they
get Siena Wolf back in. She hasn't played with the
ACL injury that she suffered in the district tournament last
year against Mskeigan since, but she is practicing again. They're
expecting to ghet her back in a couple weeks. Even

(31:44):
without her. I mean, they're outstanding. We've seen them twice
already in person against Catholic Central at Cornerstone and then
Tuesday night against Mskeigan. I mean, yeah, they've got Anai Pitch.
She could very well win Miss Basketball she's that good.
But they've got Kate Higgins who's really good. We have
Addison wy Pitch, the freshman who's really good. And we
were impressed with the players like Jordan Mattier I think

(32:05):
has been really good for them and the list goes on.
I mean, they're super talented, and I just think Rockford's
head and shoulders number one.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
The one thing we do know, Anna Y Pitch likes
when we show up because she's twice been our uptown
cheapskate offensive player of the game. I think she had
twenty four in the victory that we had against Granup's
Catholic Central over the holidays at Cornerstone, your courtside with
me for the broadcast of that one. Then she had
twenty five to lead the Rams and really didn't play
at all in the fourth quarter in that victory over
Muskegan fifty nine twenty four to improve Brad Wilson's clumb

(32:35):
to eight and one. Now is they try to make
it four straight trips for that program to the Final
four in the Breslin Center to end their season. Twice
they've lost in the semi finals, once winning the state
championship two years ago. And how about Anna Y Pitch
to put this on her resume for Miss Basketball as
a candidate if she could make it to the Breslent
Center four times in her four year career. Because she

(32:59):
was up, as you know, as a freshman about halfway
through the season.

Speaker 3 (33:02):
Of course they're gonna announce miss Basketball before we find
out who makes it. To the Reslin signer and listen
to Troit. Edison has a long history of winning Miss Basketball,
and I think it's kind of between Anna and Isis
Mussa Johnson. So we'll see what ends up playing out there.
But wouldn't that be incredible four years and go to
the Breslent Center every single year? I mean, she's unbelievable,
all right, So.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
We both start with Rockford clear cut number one at
eight and one right now in the season. One to
erho In, Okay, red play, I'll let you go next.
Then take me your two through five.

Speaker 3 (33:29):
Well, I just like Wes Catholic. You know, Jill vander
Andy stepped down after last year, and she of course
built that program at an incredible level. And Derek Piees
has stepped in. He never know what's a coaching change
is gonna do. But they haven't really missed a beach
or they have a lost to a really good part
of a Western team way back in December sixth. But
Alicia Deikstra the Toledo signees outstanding, Alexis Sasacome, the sophomore

(33:51):
was so good lessures a freshman. I think what's been
a difference maker for them is Kenley Slanger, the freshman
who's come in. And this is what we see more
and more now is these ninth graders just ready to
play and she's a difference maker for them as well.
So just seeing them at Cornerstone they played right before
we did the Catholic such a Rockford game in Hammerdy
Scruen Rapids. I just really like West Catholic. You know,
they're in a really deep division in the okay goal,
but I think they're the team to beat there.

Speaker 2 (34:11):
And I walked away as did you impressed with Catholic
Central under their new head coach and the talent they have,
And West Catholic handled Catholic Central later on in that term, No,
I totally agree.

Speaker 3 (34:20):
I think we both agree that Grand Haven is the
number three team and they're only loss coming to this
point at Rockford. Mallory White desk at six foot three
as outstanding, was a great player last years a freshman.
She's a double double machine twelve and sixteen in the
win over Midland. Right now, Midland's only loss is to
grand Haven twelve and thirteen in their win against Luddington,
so she's outstanding. Jillian Sorel had nineteen in the losing

(34:42):
effort to Rockford. I mean she can hoop just like
her older brother can hoop. So they're really good. And
then yeah, I have Catholic Central at four, and even
in losses to West Catholic and Rockford, who we agree,
of the top two teams in the area, I still
think Grantarf, it's Catholic Central is right there. I think
the team to beat in the Oka White although I
want to talk my number five team, which is another
Okay White school. And how about Forest Fills Northern. Yeah, nine,

(35:05):
and oh Jim Sprague outstanding head coach. They've got the
seats of my sisters. Abbey a junior already committed to
Grand Valley. She had thirty one earlier this year against
Unty Christian. I'll tell you what sold me on this
Husky squad was that win Monday night over a really
good Portland team that came in undefeated. So I have
for Steels Northern at number five. I have South Christian
at six. This was a really tough one for me.

(35:25):
I mean I was flirting a couple of weeks ago
with South Christian as highest three, and then they lost
to Hudsonville at Cornerstone over the break and they just
didn't shoot very well. But at the same time, like
I don't think I was giving Hutsonville enough credit. Like,
as we'll continue here, I have Hutsonville in my top ten.
So I go with South Christian at number six. I
mean they're loaded. Sophia Prince, I mean, that's what you want.
You got a senior, a point guard. She controls that team.

(35:48):
And for Erica Brown, that's exactly what you want. Natalie
and Lizzie wold Heights, the sisters are outstanding. Meredith Helmets
another sophomore. I mean the Sailors. They've got Town. I
have Holland Christian seven. Holland Christian's only lost come to
South Christian back in December. They have cam vanden Bosch
who's signed to play at Toledo. Like Alicia deikster is,
They've got the Phelps, Brooklyn Phelps and Paige Phelps running

(36:09):
that team. Kiara Smit's has been good at len Nihoff.
I have Wyoming at eight. The Wolves have been so impressive,
especially Tuesday night with the win over Northview because I
was flirting with Northview right in that eight to ten
range as well, because Wildcats are having a good start
to the season. But Wyoming's only lost coming last Friday
at home to South Christian, that being part of that
deep okay gold that we talk about. But the Wolves

(36:29):
junior class is unbelievable. I mean, to me, at Gales
twenty three in that loss to South Christian on Friday.
Maya Neighbors, another junior has been outstanding. She had thirteen
in the win over Northview on Tuesday. How about MICHAELA. Moore,
another junior, fifteen in the win over Northview. So I
just really like this Wyoming team at seven and one,
and then I went with Hudsonville at nine. Now the
Eagles have three losses, but they played a tough schedule.

(36:51):
They lost to West Catholic Wyoming and Forest Hills Northern,
and of course they've got two big meetings coming up
with Rockford as well. But they did beat Unity Christian.
Josie the Smith's standing point guard. She's going to Hope.
And then I have Caledonia in at number ten. I
mean the fighting Scott's Todd Bloomers, They're getting done. Seven
and two they lost to Wyoming in Rockford. They've beaten
the likes of Whalen and Kenawa Hills on Tuesday night.

(37:12):
So I got Caledonia at number ten.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
Here's how old I'm getting. Some of those players that
you mentioned. Leah Hailman, I'll give her a shout out,
sophomore that is up on varsity for Caledonia. And Meredith
Helmus played soccer with my daughter. She's now a sophomore
by instead of they're growing up before my eyes. But
really good basketball players have a lot of basketball time
on the hardcourt as their favorite sports and tearing it

(37:33):
up for those teams locally. But here's the thing. You
get to that point, and we haven't even talked about
a Greenville team yet, or Kenaway Hills or Norfew, who
is shocked everybody because Norfew hasn't been very good the
last couple of years, really has struggled Mona Shores on
the girls side as well. And so here's the way
I laid it out. Three, I've got Grand Haven. Two,

(37:55):
I've got West Catholic like you, and then I go
South Christian at number four. For me, Forestfill's Northern is
five at nine and zero South Christian eight and one,
as you alluded to. Then at number six, and this
is where it gets it's tough. Catholic Central really impressed me.
I know they have the two losses, but you talked
about West Cathy and rock for the two best teams
in the area. They're at number six. For me. Miskegan,

(38:16):
who we saw Tuesday night, I should say, against Rockford
when they get everybody back, I think you can't discount them.
I know you did the same thing with the Miskeigan
football team member with all the losses, but you look
when they play. Miskegan showed me something with the group
that did play against Rockford, and again there are two
guards that are arguably Division one talents. You know when
they're done their juniors when they get them back. So

(38:36):
I put them at seven. Wow. I put Wyoming at eight,
and then I went Hudsonville nine, and Holland Christian run
out my top ten. I could easily flip Holland Christian
Hudsonville because I'm like you love vanden Bosch watched her
since she was a freshman. Congrats to her going to LEO.
She can really fill it up and they're well coached.
Holland Christian is always a tough outcome tournament time.

Speaker 3 (38:55):
Well, it's interesting the Miskegan topic because healthy Miskegan is
easily number three for me, and you could probably make
an argument for number two. I think with a healthy
Miskeigan team, That's why.

Speaker 2 (39:04):
I was I was trying to be conservative at seven.

Speaker 3 (39:06):
I have I dropped them all the way to sixteen.
I mean they do have. They do have five losses.
I know they played a tough schedule and they're playing
without their two best players. But at this point, I'm
just grading them on what they currently have.

Speaker 2 (39:16):
But isn't it sort of like Mona Shores, I mean
you talk about the boys side. Yeah, you know, with
the injuries, we know that Mona Shores is a good
team and gonna be better when they get Pittman back.

Speaker 3 (39:24):
Pittman's back, and so that's that's been big for them.
But yeah, so I did drop Myskeigan all the way
down or yeah, all the way down to sixteen with
their five lot but they played an unbelievable schedule. They
did lose to Zenol last year and a heartbreaker that
we talked about on Tuesday night on the broadcast of
three one point losses. But yeah, Mosquige s Gie's a
tough one because it's just how to you agrade them
without C. C. Bonner and without Mariah saying.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
And think about this, and this is what I'm talking about.
Where there's a lot of good girls basketball teams. There's
not a ton of elite teams, but when it comes
to night in and night out trying to win. We
didn't even talk about Laker and Whalen in that conversation,
you know, and how good is the Okay Gold I
mean West Catholic gets added into the mix. I mean

(40:04):
we're looking at it and breaking it down for those
who haven checked the basketball realignment for divisions in the
Okay Conference, South Christian eight and one, West Catholic six
and one, Wyoming seven and one, Northew seven and two,
Whaling five and three.

Speaker 3 (40:17):
Yeah, so I have Whaling eleven, so I'm my first
team out of my top ten, so I have five,
and then I have North Few at thirteen. So five
of my top thirteen are from the Okay Gold. And
it's interesting. This isn't new. I mean the Gold was
this deep last year. It was you just had Catholic
Central in there. You replaced Catholic Central with West Catholic.
And this is no disrespect to Catholic Central. It's a
great program. Yeah, but it's that's been batter. Yeah, there's

(40:38):
just no arguing that. And so this Okay Gold is
just as deep as it's ever been. It's just a
couple of new teams in there, but five legit teams
out of seven over there.

Speaker 2 (40:46):
You and I got to get in a lot of arguments,
aren't we week to week of the basketball blitz, especially
on the girls side. But that's how good it is
night in and night out. And you know what, these
division races are going to be crazy, aren't they this year?
I Mean, we talked about the Okay Gold and kind
of highlighted that, but there's a lot of I think,
wide open divisions, especially on the girls side, where anyone
can win it if they get hot, right, Yeah, I do.

Speaker 3 (41:06):
I mean as deep as the Okay White Air the
Gold is with those five teams. I still think, and
maybe I'll be proven wrong, I still think West Kvock
runs the table there. I think they're that good. I
think they're that good even.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
With South Christian, which, by the way, one of the
games you're gonna be talking about that comes up tomorrow
night at South Christian. That's gonna be a must see
girls game if you're looking at it this weekend.

Speaker 3 (41:26):
Yeah, huge game, Yeah, huge game South Christian. And what's
kinda gonna be interesting to see how they match up.
I mean certainly that will help form what our top
tens look like. You have South kristall up to four.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
So yeah, we'll take a look at those games with
Jay coming up, not only tomorrow night, but also if
there's games and big matchups in the area or not
on Saturday, will highlight those for you. Also, we got
our Uptown Cheapskate Players of the Week coming up for
both the Lake Shore area and the Grand Rapids area.
It's brought to you by Uptown Cheapskate, so don't go anywhere.
It's a Week one edition of the LMCU Basketball Blitz,

(41:56):
exclusively here on ninety six to one the game.

Speaker 1 (42:05):
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 (42:20):
All right, before we get to our Uptown Cheapskate Players
of the week for both the Lake Shore and the
Grand Rapids area. It's brought to you by Uptown Cheapskate
with location Grandville, Kentwin and Holland Serve you. They buy
what you loved yesterday, sell what you want today, clean
out your closet. I did that over the high school
holiday break for me and earn cash for your clothes.
Plus you can become an Uptown Insider and get monthly

(42:41):
deals at uptown cheapskate dot com. I want to highlight
a couple of things. We will have some big games
that Jay and I will talk about coming up this
weekend if you want to go watch some great action
and a special ceremony going on as far as South
Christian is concerned. But our next LMCU Game of the
Week broadcast, we have a little ten layoff here Friday night,
January seventeenth, and Jayhan picked this one because it's Mark

(43:05):
Keeler's final season coach and at trying to they Christian
and the old rivalry from the River Valley that we
love with those two old gyms, the box and they
still have what I consider kind of a box at
Covenant Christian. But this will be at tri Unity's new gym.
I haven't broadcast a game there. The Defenders taking on
the Chargers at Covenant Christian six forty five pregame coverage
Friday night, January seventeenth, seven o'clock to tip off here

(43:28):
on ninety six to one.

Speaker 3 (43:29):
The game and if coach Kieler got a seven hundredth
win last Saturday beating Adrian Lenaway Christian at school Craft
seven hundred wins, just a fourth coach in state history
to get the seven hundred wins. Absolutely incredible and amazing career.
And it's going to be so much fun just to
celebrate this final year. They got another really good team.
They might be able to make another run. Could they
send him out a winner, It's certainly possible. But every

(43:51):
time they play Covenant Christian's always fun.

Speaker 2 (43:52):
And we saved this because we didn't talk about it
the boys basketball segment. But both these teams certainly could
be in the mix eventually in the top ten, especially
Covenant Christian, but Trinity Christians. This week as we tape
the show, number two in the state in Division four
at six and two, they're two losses to Foller and
West Catholic. Both these schools play up with their schedules
and then Covenant Christian now is classification wise with their

(44:17):
enrollment over four hundred Division two, which is hard for
me to believe this year, and they are tied for
eighth in the state in Division eight this week with
Whitehall and South Haven.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
Yeah, Covenant Christian's got a solid squad as they always do,
but it is going to be different this year playing
up in Division two. They're always a contender in Division
three and they've made some runs, certainly to the Bresilent Center.
Now in Division two, they're in a district with West
Catholic and Catholic Central and Unity Christian. I mean that's
a tough district, but Covenant Christians never an easy out
and they'll be fun to watch.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
Chyler Shimmel has them by the way eight and two
and they have played a loaded schedule. I was looking
some of their wins, I mean Allen Dale, Kenawa Hills.
It's gonna be fun. But will have them in their
old rivalry. It's Trian Toity Christian on that Friday.

Speaker 3 (44:58):
And you talk about Trinee schedule, they schedule up as well.
The loss of Fowler was early and it was at home,
but Fowler will be a tough team that could be
the team that ends Mark Keeler's career. They played a
whale of a game in the regional last year of
the best game I think the Triunity had on their
run to that state championship. And that'll be a big
game if they do indeed meet in the regional. And
then the West Catholic game they lost at Cornerstone. They

(45:18):
shot really poorly from the free throw line of that game.

Speaker 2 (45:21):
All right, let's do our uptown cheapskate players of the week.
I'll start on the Lake shore and again for that
Holland location, let's start on the girls side. And I'm
gonna go with Adeline Nihoff of Holland Christian. They were
in our top ten rankings for both of us. Really
good team, only one loss at this point. She had
fourteen points the last Friday night in an OK Black
Conference opener against Zeland West. Big win for them, thirty

(45:42):
nine thirty six. And then speaking of Zealand schools, I'll
stay on the boys side. Zealand East four year varsity
player in guard BJ Walker for the Chicks is going
to be our player of the week this week. Over
the holidays, he went over a thousand points for his career,
but had thirty four in their win on Tuesday night.

Speaker 3 (46:01):
Yeah, you know, BJ Walker's outstanding, and you know last
year was kind of him and Lane Risden and now
Lane Rizons course off to Michigan Tech. So BJ Walker
school shouldering even more of the load there and doing
it very well. And he's outstanding. He's going to be
a big lift for Grand Valley when he gets there.
You talk about Adelin Nihoff, how would you like to
play Holland Christian's girls team? And you talk about tall

(46:21):
Kate van Appledorn six ' one, cam Vanebasch is a
guard at six foot, Kira Smid's is six foot. Adelin
Nihous five eleven and there are three players in the
team taller than her. I mean that's a that's a
tall team. And halland Christian's really good. They're gonna be, certainly,
I think the team to beat.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
We've always wanted, you know, going back to the Mickey
Phelps days for the boys. What's in the water at
Holland Christian as far as the drinking fountains? Because the
Maroons are always tall, always tall, always tall. How about
on the boys side, let's start there with the Grand
Rapids player of the week.

Speaker 3 (46:49):
Well, we're gonna go Brady Schwartz from Northview. I mean,
how can you not. He had fifty wow in the
wind Tuesday night over Wyoming. That broke the school record
which was set in nineteen seventy five of forty five points.
So single game school record fifty points for Brady Schwartz.
He's our Grand Rapids area uptown cheapskate player of the week.
And then on the Lake Shore, or excuse me, on

(47:10):
the girls, right, we're gonna go with Lizzie woldtheist from
South Christian. The junior's been outstanding for the Sailors this year,
including twenty points and a huge win for them at
Wyoming last Friday. Remember that's the Okay Gold opener. We've
already talked about how deep the Okay Gold is and
Wyoming was undefeated at the time and South was coming
off their first loss where they struggled to score the ball.
Waldtheisch goes for twenty and that one huge win for South.

Speaker 2 (47:32):
All Right, as we look at the schedule for the
this weekend, if you want to go out and check
on a game, if you don't have like a team
that you're following or in a community, but you just
want to watch good high school basketball, boys or girls.
We'll set some games out there for you to take
a look at, and we'll start with South Christian hosting
West Catholic. The girls game. It's a boys girls doubleheader.
The girls game is going to be a phenomenal matchup

(47:52):
two of our arguably top five teams in the area.
But something neat is happening honoring a boys state championship
team for South Christian at halftime of the boys game.

Speaker 3 (48:03):
Well, sometimes I get confused about what years South Christian
won state titles because they won so many of them
there back in the early two thousands. But the four
h five team, the David Coole, I believe it was
a senior season team that won the state championship twenty
year anniversary, So they're going to celebrate that at halftime
of the boys game. West Catholic and South Christian the
late game this year. The boys are late, the girls early,
and that's a great And you want to talk about

(48:23):
point guards, like I love the point guard play in
West Michigan, especially on the girls side. I mean, if
you want to see great point Guard plays Sophia Prince
for South Christian and Alisia Deister from West Catholic. I
mean that's the best of the best.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
I don't know if I can pull this off, but
I really want to because the proxiemity I live down there,
go to the South Christian girls game starting at six,
and then come back and catch Byron Center Muskegan Boys,
which will be an approximate probably what seven fifteen, seven
thirty tip off because of the doubleheader there, and that's
going to be a good one between those two schools.

Speaker 3 (48:54):
That's a perfect night right now. I mean, does it
gain any better than that? You gotta do it, Brett.
I would do it if I lived where you live.

Speaker 2 (49:01):
Other matchups on Friday night, Jay, Well, how about grant
Haven Hudsonville in the boys side? I mean big game
of the Okay, right, Yes, do we think Rockford is
the best team in the Okay Red? Sure?

Speaker 3 (49:08):
But I mean Grand Haven and Hudsonville both really good.
That's a huge game at Hudsonville Eagles coming off the
Looston Miskeigan. Grant Haven got a nice win over Saint
Joe on Tuesday, so Caden Strong in company and Grand
Haven's a solid team. That'll be a fun matchup. How
about River City's alliance? How about Allendale at Greenville? And
Allendale's starting to play well seven and three. Now you

(49:28):
got Greenville at ten and oh what's gonna happen in
this River Cities. I mean, that's a big matchup on
the boys side as well, So that's going to be
fun to follow on the girls side. Ho about East
Kent Win and Rockford? I mean, can we make this
into being an interesting game? I know Rockford's so dominant,
but they did lose to East Kent Win the regular season.

Speaker 2 (49:45):
Like, oh, they certainly have a history, there's no doubt
about that.

Speaker 3 (49:47):
Yeah, so you know that'll be interesting. You talked about
my Mischig and bron Center boys, Spring Lake Zealand East
is an interesting matchup on the girls side. Zelian's got
off to that great start year one with Troy Hammond.
They had a couple of tough losses there in the middle,
and now they've kind of started to play better against
Spring Lake's really good on the girls side too, So
I think they're all kind of looking up a little
bit at how and Christian the okay Black But that
should be an interesting game as well.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
All right, and then we have some Saturday showcases right
here in West Michigan. Let's start on the girls side.
This is brand new calling it the Platform this year,
and this is multiple games on Saturday at the old
South Christian High which is now the Special Olympics Center
for Michigan. And I like this. I hope they make
this an annual event.

Speaker 3 (50:26):
Well, it's a good schedule too, so it starts at
one forty five Portland and growing up it's Catholic Center.
You know, the Red Raiders have been outstanding on state championship.
A couple of years back, they had their first loss
of the season at Forestles Northern in a close game
on Monday, and we talked about how much we like
Catholic Central and Nicole fellows this group. How about this
Forstell's Eastern doesn't have a varsity girls basketball team this year,
so the girls, the Calcuenter girls, did not play on
Tuesday night. And then because there are seven teams in

(50:49):
the Okay White, everybody takes a turn not having a game,
So Calister doesn't have a game Tomorrow night either, so
they have no game all week. But they do play
Saturday against Portland after eight days off, and then you
got West Catholic Holt coming up at three forty in
that one, that five point twenty Meskegan against Hazlet and
then Rockford to Compsey at seven o'clock to Compsy is

(51:09):
undefeated and has wins over West Bloomfield and de Trade at.

Speaker 2 (51:12):
US oh Man unbelievable. And then just down the road
from there at East Kentwood High School. This has become
a must see event for high school boys basketball fans
every year since they created it, and it is back again.
Take us through the lineup that's going to be at
Falcons Fieldhouse.

Speaker 3 (51:26):
Yeah, it's Byron Center and Graham Blanket Noon East can't win.
Detroit Renaissance at one forty five. Renaissance got a great guard.
You gotta see Rockford Dla Sal at three point thirty,
Moskegon Brother Rice at five point fifteen, Northview Warren Lincoln
at seven. Of course, the Abes were Division two state
champs last year and they just loaded up their schedule
with top D one teams in the area and Northview

(51:46):
and that's the that's the Nightcaps. That's a great schedule.
Mike Thomas always puts together a great schedule. He's done
it again.

Speaker 2 (51:53):
Enjoy the high school basketball this weekend. I know we will,
and we'll be back here next Thursday night, six to
seven for our week too edition of the Basketball Blitz.
It's brought to you by our friends at Lake Michigan
Credit Union. Find out more at lmcu dot org. Special
thanks to Kyle Kluff. Join us tonight in the Montel
Construction Coaches Corned Rockford Boys head basketball coach and for Jasonutton,

(52:14):
my name is Brett Pikita. Stick around. We've got Pistons
basketball next here on ninety six to one the game.

Speaker 1 (52:19):
This has been another edition of the LMCU Basketball Blitz,
presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union and also brought to
you by Jay and H Family Stores, Vanderlown Home Improvement,
Kids Food Basket, Trinity Health, Sporting, You Wing, Doozy, Hals,
Jepson Physical Therapy, Discount, Door, Straight Line, Fence, Rapid Radios,

(52:40):
Uptown Cheapskate Stores in Granville, kent Wood and Holland MKD Funeral,
Holmes and Meyer. Be sure to join us next Thursday night,
starting at six for 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 the game dot com

(53:03):
and search under the podcast section you're listening to West
Michigan's home for sports. Ninety six won the Game.