Lenny Padilla
@lenny_padilla
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Freelance sports writer/photographer in West Michigan, mainly for the Holland Sentinel. Prep basketball junkie. GVSU alum.
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Joined December 2012
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To all the high school basketball referees, thank you!!
I'd like you to know that all the players and coaches appreciate all the work you do especially this season with all the extra games you've officiated.
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It's kind of ridiculous that you can't pay with cash to get into an MHSAA postseason game.
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Remember when the newspaper had all the high school scores every day? I worked at The Grand Rapids Press back in the day and we prided ourselves in keeping track of all the games.
Here's the prep basketball page from March 4, 2011.
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VIDEO: Former NBA player Chris Kaman competes in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament in Belding, Mich.
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Great news: Jake Chapman got to go home on Monday. The Unity Christian junior basketball and football player left the hospital two weeks after suffering cardiac arrest.
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Unity Christian grad T.J. Vankoevering went to be with the Lord on Saturday.
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Since Michigan high school football moving to spring, boys soccer should have a game every Friday night under the lights and call it Futball Fridays. They could have the band play at halftime and still have homecoming etc.
Just a thought.
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@RexChapman
Thanks, Rex. Her name is Jules Hoogland, a student at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland, Michigan. This video was from March, 2022.
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UPDATE: Good news on Harrison Sorrelle. The Grand Haven junior is awake and aware of his surroundings. He has smiled and given his family a thumbs up. He suffered a blow to the back of his head when he was sucker punched during a travel basketball game in Fort Wayne on Sunday.
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UPDATE: Harrison Sorrelle has "no traumatic brain injury. Only a severe concussion." Here is a recent comment from his MBA Lakeshore 16U coach Tyler Ingalls.
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Grand Haven's Harrison Sorrelle suffered a possible head injury after an opposing player sucker punched him on the court. Sorrelle, who plays for MBA Lakeshore 16U, was knocked out cold and his head was bleeding. He was taken to the hospital. The other player was arrested.
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We've completed a full basketball season! I think we owe a thanks to Mark Uyl and Geoff Kimmerly of the MHSAA, the Coopersville boys basketball team for pushing the state to
#LetThemPlay
and all of the referees who gave of their time. Many refs had a heavy workload. Thank you!
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Jon Teske, the former University of Michigan basketball star, stopped by the Cornerstone University game tonight. He recently retired from basketball and said he got a job here in Grand Rapids. Pictured: Teske chats with coach Kim Elders before the game.
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BREAKING NEWS: Durral Brooks of Grand Rapids Catholic Central wins Michigan's Mr. Basketball Award for 2024.
STORY:
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My 2010-19 Grand Rapids area All-Decade team for boys basketball. Xavier Tillman, Lamar Norman, Markeese Hastings, Delaney Blaylock, Demetrius Lake, Matt Beachler, Kyle Steigenga, Drake Harris, Jake Van Tubbergen, Deleon Brown. PC: Mlive.
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To the parents of high school athletes, who raced to get to their events after work for years, your kid notices. They may not show it, but they do. They also notice when you aren't there. And don't forget to hug them afterward, even if they resist. These days don't last forever.
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The new gym at Hudsonville High School looks amazing with a packed house.
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The announced crowd tonight is 11,472 at the Grand Valley State University football season opener. That's a monster number. GVSU has led Division II programs in attendance for eight-straight seasons.
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Props to Coopersville basketball senior Ethan Coady for testifying today in front of the Michigan House Oversight Committee. He spoke for thousands of other MHSAA athletes. Coopersville also helped organize a
#LetThemPlay
protest on Saturday.
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Ferris State University wins its second-straight Division II National Championship with a 41-14 win over Colorado School of Mines on Saturday.
Backup QB Carson Gulker (Zeeland West) scores three more touchdowns and has 31 this season, a DII national record for a QB.
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Kellen Mitchell (2022), who hasn't played in two years, will play basketball at Gonzaga as a preferred walk-on. The 6-6 guard played two years at Muskegon Western Michigan Christian HS before transferring to Fairmont Prep in California. Two hip surgeries have sidelined him.
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Seven schools may bolt from the O-K Conference and form their own league.
STORY:
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Fox17 sports anchor Jason Hutton covers his last game on Thursday after 17 years on the air.
STORY:
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Update on Unity Christian's Jake Chapman:
Some of his football teammates were able to visit, as was his pet dog Lucy.
He had surgery today (Friday) to implant an ICD device in his heart to shock the heart if it ever needs it.
Photos: Rachel Chapman
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Zeeland East senior Trip Riemersma with a dunk for his 1,000th career point. It happened in a district win over Zeeland West.
@DanDAddona
@chixsports
@FOX17Blitz
@Trip_Riemersma
@Steve_Kaminski
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Should Michigan adopt a shot clock for high school basketball?
West Michigan Ballers story:
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Dono Thames had 36 points as Grand Rapids Christian beat South Christian 58-48 on Tuesday night.
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I asked a high school senior if he was going to college in the fall. "Nope. I'm going to a trade school. I want to become an electrician," he said.
College isn't for everyone. And it's very expensive.
We need skilled tradesmen, too.
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Congrats to Jake Van Tubbergen on a great five-year career with Grand Valley State basketball. It was a blast to watch him play for the past 9 years at West Ottawa High School and then GVSU.
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Teams keep having their seasons ended by Covid or contact tracing. Why don't the teams just get a Covid test? If they're clean, keep playing. Don't mess with the kids seasons just because of contact tracing.
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Congrats to Orchard Lake St. Mary's on winning the D1 basketball state title.
But not to its student section. Some of the things they said to North Farmington players and refs made me cringe. It was basically verbal abuse. Arent' they a Christian school?
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Notebook: The only three Grand Rapids Mr. Basketball winners were at the same game last week: David Kool, Matt Steigenga and Drew Neitzel.
STORY:
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I feel bad for all the students, who want to follow their basketball teams, but have to pay so much to get into MHSAA playoff games. I know this is how MHSAA generates its revenue but $9.00 seems like a lot for regionals.
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It was almost exactly 2 years ago today that COVID shut down the high school basketball playoffs: Girls in regionals and boys about to play district finals.
Let's be thankful the kids can play now in front of fans and without masks.
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Sad news: Mlive sports reporter Steve Kaminski has died.
Steve and I worked for at least 20 years together at The Grand Rapids Press. He was a pro and a good dude.
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Despite breaking both wrists, Carson Vis is back in the gym cheering on his South Christian teammates.
West Michigan Ballers story:
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Unity Christian's Jake Chapman shows signs of improvement after serious heart issue.
Story:
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Zeeland East had three signings on Saturday. Brothers Brandon and Nate Claerbaut signed with Ferris State to play basketball and Ethan Houghtaling signed with WMU to play baseball.
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Preseason Top 25 boys high school basketball seniors from the greater Grand Rapids area.
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Ferris State freshman Ethan Erickson (FH Northern) drains a 3-pointer for his first college bucket against Michigan State.
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I love stuff like this.
Jimmy Thull, a team manager on the basketball team at Grand Rapids South Christian, scored a bucket in the final game of the season Friday. Jimmy has Down Syndrome. Props to the visiting team Kenowa Hills for being cool with this.
📸South Christian
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Check out the new Hudsonville High School fieldhouse. It looks more like Hudsonville University now.
STORY and VIDEO:
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Crazy finish!
Jake DeHaan (South Christian) hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer as MBA Lakeshore 17U beat the Patriots 73-70 to win the title at the Brawl for the Ball. EJ Ryans (Northview) tied the game with a three with 7 seconds left. DeHaan had 22 points.
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At least four West Michigan natives are suited up for Ferris State University for a basketball scrimmage at Michigan State tonight: Ethan Erickson (FH Northern), Brandon and Nate Claerbaut (Zeeland East) and Jimmy Scholler (FH Central).
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A great moment of sportsmanship last night. Seconds after Zeeland West beat beat GR Northview 44-41 in a Division 1 regional semifinal basketball game, the Dux Merritt Alderink rushed over to console Cam Ryans. They are buddies and it shows Alderink's compassion.
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Ethan Erickson exits the game. Gets a hug from his coach Joe Soules. End of a great high school career for one of the best shooters I've ever seen.
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Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior Kaden Brown has verbally committed to play basketball at Wright State University, a Division I program outside of Dayton, Ohio.
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Kenny Willekes is having his football jersey retired tonight by his alma mater GR NorthPointe Christian High School. Willekes, who went to MSU, is now on the Minnesota Vikings. I remember him as a JV basketball player. He was a wild man. Couldn't score, but he was scrappy.
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Michigan Miss Basketball finalist Cadence Dykstra, a guard at West Catholic, put together a video.
This is the type of highlight video I love. The only stats she posted were her 83-3 high school record and her GPA. She shows her defensive clips, too.
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Merritt Alderink with a thunderous dunk to clinch a 44-41 Zeeland West win over GR Northview in a D1 regional at East Kentwood.
Alderink, Mr. Basketball finalist, with 16 points, Trenten Bolhouse 9. Cam Ryans 22 for Northview.
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BUZZER BEATER!
Austin Osborne's tip-in at the buzzer helps Hamilton beat Marshall 63-62 in a Divsion 2 regional at Vicksburg.
J.D. DeGroot 19, Justin McIllwain 15, Osborne 11 for Hamilton (22-4).
Josh Pugh 27, Aaron Maxwell 14 for Marshall (19-5)
@DanDAddona
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I have a suggestion for prep basketball: Screw the MHSAA this season. Organize team basketball tournaments similar to AAU/travel ball and play four games every weekend. Play at the YMCA and large complexes with four to six courts. Limit fans, broadcast live online.
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Preseason Top 25 sophomore boys basketball players in the greater Grand Rapids area.
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VIDEO: E.J. Ryans hit a buzzer beater as Northview beat Grand Rapids Catholic Central 70-67 at "The Invite" at Calvin University on Saturday. Brady Swartz 28 points, Cam Ryans 23, EJ Ryans 14.
Durral Brooks 31, Zay Larthridge 15, Carter Meerman 13 for Catholic.
@HoopsNorthview
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Update on Harrison Sorrelle: He is in the hospital here in Fort Wayne, Ind. His coach, Tyler Ingalls, said "He is sedated and going through tests." Sorrelle, a junior at Grand Haven High School, was sucker punched on the court and knocked unconscious when his head hit the floor.
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I saw Kobe Haglund score his first-career bucket as a freshman when he got called up for districts with West Ottawa. And tonight I saw him score his last one (in this video). It's been a blast watching him play for four years. One of my favorite players.
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An all-star team of Grand Rapids high school basketball kids will be playing under the name the West Michigan Patriots 17U this weekend in the Brawl for the Ball. It's a one-time thing for stars who usually play for other programs.
Durral Brooks, Kaden Brown, E.J. Ryans, etc.
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Durral Brooks had a career-high 43 points on Tuesday as Grand Rapids Catholic Central beat Wayland 90-77. Brooks, a junior guard, was 16-of-22 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line. He did not attempt a 3-pointer. Brooks has offers from Michigan and Michigan State.
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GR Catholic Central senior Luka Ressler sang the National Anthem on Senior Night.
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Kaleb Ort, a graduate of Lowell High School and Aquinas College, pitched against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday for the Boston Red Sox.
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Brant Goodpaster hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Hamilton beat Coopersville 57-54 to win its first conference title since 1988.
@FOX17Blitz
@DanDAddona
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Top freshmen to watch for the 2022-23 high school boys basketball season in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Listed alphabetically.
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2024 Michigan Mr. Basketball Durral Brooks was honored at the MHSAA state finals on Saturday. The Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior, is a University of Michigan basketball signee. MSU coach Tom Izzo congratuated him on his award at The Breslin.
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Thanks to Grand Rapids Union basketball coach Brandoen Guyton for putting on a great slate of games at The Showcase on Saturday at Cornerstone University.
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GVSU's Kyle Nott scored his first collegiate touchdown in a 49-17 win over Saginaw Valley on Saturday. Nott graduated from Jenison High School. He played baseball at CMU before transferring to GVSU.
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I found the perfect t-shirt to wear to a boys district basketball championship game tonight.
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Before and after.
Zeeland West seniors Merritt Alderink, Trenten Bolhouse, Myles Steffen and Luke Bakker recreated a trophy pose on Thursday in the same East Kentwood gym from 2019.
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I've created my own website!
It's for news and features from Grand Rapids area boys high school basketball and some area college teams. It's totally free. I will also post tons of photos, but those are $5 for a digital download.
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My Top 25 sophomore boys basketball players in the Grand Rapids area based on the 2021-22 season: Durral Brooks, E.J. Ryans, Jake Vermaas, Luke Bakker, Merritt Alderink.
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What are your favorite West Michigan football stadiums to watch a game in the fall? Here's mine. I've been to a majority of OK Conference stadiums.
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East Kentwood sophomore Jah Hatchett got an offer to play basketball at Ferris State University on Sunday after winning tournament MVP at the Storm Classic.
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I love this stuff:
As I was leaving the field after South Christian beat Grand Rapids Christian 66-42 on Friday night, I spotted No. 56 in a GR Christian jersey helping clean up the trash in the stands.
That would be sophomore tackle Davis Hutt. His parents should be proud.
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Grand Rapids Storm 16U UA Rise won the Platinum bracket championship at the Storm Classic beating Michigan Hurricanes 74-68. Jah Hatchett (East Kentwood) 26 points to win MVP and Phoenix Glassnor (DeLaSalle) 26 points.
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My Top 20 Grand Rapids-area boys basketball players this season. Kobe Bufkin, Jimmy Scholler, Ethan Erickson, Menalito McGee, Sam Vasiu, Max Perez, Justin DeGraaf, Ja'Moni Jones, Eli Steffen, Kyler VanderJagt.
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Preseason Top 25 boys high school basketball juniors from the greater Grand Rapids area.
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Unity Christian announced before its basketball game this afternoon that T.J. VanKoevering, a 2019 graduate, was in a snowmobile accident on Friday night and is in serious condition. He was a member of football and basketball state titles at Unity.
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My Top 25 freshmen boys basketball players in the Grand Rapids area based on the 2021-22 season: Carson Vis, Jah Hatchett, Camden Karel, Sean Sullivan, Bradley Richards, Justin St. Antoine.
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West Michigan Ballers preseason Top 25 sophomores in the Grand Rapids area for the 2023-24 boys basketball season.
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Ethan Erickson with a steal and a bucket for Ferris State against Michigan State on Wednesday night.
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Calvin University basketball trio of freshmen play more like veterans:
West Michigan Ballers story:
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Zeeland West senior Carson Gulker hadn't played baseball since middle school, but he set the school record for most RBIs in a season on Thursday. He now has 39 for the Dux. Gulker will play football at Ferris State next year.
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How does Unity Christian grad Isaac TeSlaa have 14 Division I football offers?
The Hillsdale transfer has offers from: Iowa, Wisconsin, Miami, Arkansas, Purdue, Colorado etc.
West Michigan Ballers story:
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Durral Brooks, a junior at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, got an offer from the University of Dayton on Monday. He also has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland, Southern Indiana, Western Michigan, Toledo, Butler and Grand Valley State.
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The Michigan House Oversight Committee will hear from the MHSAA, coaches, ADs and athletes during a hearing on Thursday morning regarding winter contact sports. Coopersville senior basketball player Ethan Coady will be one of the athletes, according to Fox17's Zach Harig.
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What are your favorite West Michigan gyms to watch a basketball game? Here's mine. I've been to 45 of the 50 OK Conference gyms.
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Unity Christian's Jake Chapman almost died of heart failure four months ago. Now he's back in uniform.
STORY:
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Final: West Ottawa 27, Northview 16. First win for the Panthers in 4 years. In this video Evan Janetzke with a 13-yard TD catch from Cole Tulgeske in the 4th.
@DanDAddona
@FOX17Blitz
@Steve_Kaminski
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Zeeland East twin brothers Nate and Brandon Claerbaut announced they have both committed to play basketball at Ferris State University. Nate its 6-foot-10 and Brandon is 6-foot-5. Both are seniors. Ferris won the 2018 Div. 2 national title.
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"The Invite" boys basketball event at Calvin University in Grand Rapids this Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. There will be a shot clock.
- Grandville vs. Unity, 2:40
- Hudsonville vs. GR Christian, 4:20
- South Christian vs. Rockford, 6
- Northview vs. GR Catholic Central, 7:35
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I'm surprised about the lack of communication from Gov. Whitmer and Michigan's health department regarding the start of contact sports for high schools. All we've seen is a graphic that say its "not open". The silence is just creating anger.
@GovWhitmer
@MichiganHHS
#LetThemPlay
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Calvin University went old school with a 59-56 win over Wisconsin Oshkosh in its old gym floor on Friday night. The fans went nuts in a close finish. Freshman Jalen Overway (Holland Christian) had 34 points, 11 rebounds. Marcus Bult added 16 for Calvin (2-0).
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My Top 10 juniors in the Grand Rapids area for boys basketball: Kyler Vanderjagt, Jack Karasinski, Brady Titus, Jalen Overway, Jalen Charity, Kobe Haglund, Brayden Gable, Owen Hardy, Brady Bosma, Kobe Kambestad.
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BREAKING NEWS: The MHSAA has increased the number of Michigan high school basketball games from 20 to 22 for the regular season.
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Jalen Overway (Holland Christian) had an awesome college basketball debut. The 6-foot-9 Calvin University freshman had 23 points, 15 rebounds as Calvin beat Grace University 93-54 on Tuesday. He had 20 points, 11 boards at halftime.
More photos:
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