Tri-Unity Christian made nine 3’s in the first half of its 79-36 regional semifinal win over Baldwin on Monday at Fowler High School.
The Defenders (19-6) advanced to their regional final against Lansing Christian (16-9) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Fowler.
“This was the best first half of a game this year for us,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We had nine 3’s in the first half and a lead of 45-23 against a team that was 22-1.”
The Defenders led 26-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Jordan VanKlompenberg led Tri-unity with 20 points, including four treys, followed by Roy Fogg, 16; Wesley Kaman, 15 (3 treys) and Akais Giplaye, 10 points, 8 rebounds. Fogg and Keaton Blanker had 5 assists apiece.
“Roy has really been working on his shot and had great rotation on the ball,” Keeler said. “Our team played great team defense.
“Going into the regional final we know that Lansing Christian is in an extremely tough conference and will come ready to play. It will take another excellent effort by our team to continue the run we would like to have.”
Lansing Christian beat Fruitport Calvary Christian 51-40 in its regional semifinal.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights right now, Friday, March 10.
Check out our local boys teams’ district highlights here … our last highlights show of the season!
Many thanks to all you coaches, players and fans for watching our show all season long! It has been a rewarding and fun season covering our local boys and girls basketball teams.
We’ll be back with great highlights and a weekly show during football. Look for our continued coverage of the boys playoffs with stories and updates on this website: wktvjournal.org
Godwin’s Jakhary Towns (10, far right), teammate Damarie Thompson (2) and Lee’s Clarence Lewis (11) during the district semifinal game. Towns finished with a career-high 47 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The venerable Godwin Heights gym has seen some thrillers in its long history, but few have produced the drama that the host Wolverines and Lee produced in Wednesday’s district semifinal game.
Trailing by six points with 20 seconds remaining, Godwin tied the game and sent it into overtime where it eventually came away with an 83-80 win.
Godwin Heights senior guard Jakhary Towns turned in a game for the ages as he poured in 47 points to lead the comeback and give himself and his teammates one more game to be played on their home court.
“When we were down by six late in the fourth quarter we were talking in the huddle about getting two more stops,” Towns said. “We had a lot of energy left and we knew if we could get two more big stops, we could do it.”
Godwin’s comeback hopes received a big shot of adrenaline with 17 seconds left in the game when Towns stepped back and drained a three-point shot that cut the Lee lead in half. After a turnover by the Legends, Godwin regained the ball and Towns cut the margin to 69-67 after splitting a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining in the game.
Off to overtime at 69-all
On the ensuring inbounds play, the Godwin defense forced the second turnover it needed with 13 seconds left on the clock. Three seconds later Godwin tied the game when Towns drew a foul and connected on both free throws to tie the game at 69-69.
Lee, however, was determined to retake the lead. The Legends quickly moved the ball down the floor, but missed a pair of shots that would’ve won the game in the final seconds of regulation.
“That was crazy,” said Godwin Heights Coach Tyler Whittemore. “I told the guys we needed to execute on offense and force a couple of turnovers. I told the guys whatever happens we have to stay together and that’s what we did. Everybody came through and did their jobs.”
As thrilling as the final seconds of the game were, the four-minute overtime session provided even more thrills. The two teams combined for 25 points in overtime. Like regulation, the overtime had plenty of lead changes as the two teams exchanged the lead six times.
Lee’s Marc Whitfield (0) prepares to drive to the basket as Jaylen Martin (23) of Godwin Heights defends. Whitfield led Lee with 27 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Up 75-74 with 1:36 remaining in overtime, Marc Whitfield drained a pair of free throws putting the Legends up 77-74.
Godwin Heights cut the lead to 77-76 with 1:25 remaining when Towns scored. The next basket came with 23 seconds left when Towns again delivered from long range putting the Wolverines up 79-77.
Lee split a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left to cut the margin to 79-78. With 10 seconds remaining Towns proved to be money at the free-throw line by draining two free throws to up the Godwin lead to 81-78.
Lee battled to the end and with 1.5 seconds remining in the game Whitfield scored on a drive to the hoop cutting the margin to one point before Godwin ended the game with Jaylen Martin hitting a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining.
“When we were down by six points, we still knew we could come back,” Martin said. “It was not just a one-man effort. We all had to produce if we were going to come back and win this game.”
Lee’s Joe Russau (14) and Marc Whitfield (0) and Godwin Heights’ Jaylen Martin (23) line up along the lane during a free-throw attempt during a Division 2 semifinal game Wednesday at Godwin. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Towns, who scored a career-high 47 points, delivered five three-point baskets during the game along with scoring on numerous drives to the hoop.
“It feels great,” Towns said. “I’ve never been to a district final during my four years of high school. To have a game like this on my home court is special.”
Along with the 47 points from Towns, Godwin received 12 points from Damarie Thompson, eight from Jamarion Collins and seven from Tre’Vonte Buckley.
“Jaylen Martin was a big, big part of this win,” Whittemore said. “He has just dug in and gotten better all season. He played some great defense tonight.”
With the win, Godwin Heights improved to 14-7 for the season and will host Unity Christian for the district championship Friday after Unity defeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central 57-55 in the other semifinal game.
Lee finishes exceptional season with big turnaround
Lee finished the season with a 19-2 record and first place in the Alliance League at 8-0.
“This team really laid the foundation for our program going forward,” said Lee Coach Dominic Shannon. “Every one of our players left everything they had on the court. I’m so proud of our players and so proud of our coaching staff.
“We won only five games last year so to go 19-2 this year is a big turnaround. We also became the first Lee team in 43 years to win a conference championship.”
Whitfield scores 27
Junior Marc Whitfield led Lee with 27 points, followed by Clarence Lewis, 18; Joe Russau, 16; Ny’Zhem Marshall, 10 and Troy Fox, nine.
“You have to salute their senior guard Jakhary Towns,” Shannon said. “He had a great game tonight. We knew he was one of the keys. We put our best defender, Clarence Lewis, on him and he made it hard on him. He just was hitting shot after shot. They played well. You have to give them credit.”
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)
By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell shows that strength and sportsmanship go hand in hand.
With 27 pins on the wrestling mat this season, and a record of 36-8, Mitchell is no stranger to showing physical strength. His senior year of high school brought the OK Red Conference and District titles at 215-lbs, as well as state tournament qualification for 2023.
“He has eclipsed even his own expectations,” said EK wrestling Coach Eric Foster.
But Foster said physical strength and skill are only part of what make Mitchell a great team leader.
“We look for hard-working, strong, and dedicated athletes,” Foster. “As a teammate, we are looking for individuals who care for their teammates and support each other to be the best they can.”
Mitchell embodies those characteristics.
“Corey has had moments off the mat where he demonstrated a strong leadership with the team,” Foster said. “He is a loud supporter of each teammate when they are on the mat and has encouraging words for them in times of difficulty.”
Not all about the medals
While Mitchell’s accomplishments are numerous, he doesn’t mention medals or awards when asked about the highlights of his wrestling season. Instead, his attention turns toward relationships with teammates and having friends and family present at meets.
“The highlight of my wrestling career would be the sounds of my friends and family that cheer me on while I wrestle,” Mitchell said. “Even if sometimes I don’t live up to their expectations, I know they respect me as their captain.”
Sara Kohns, Mitchell’s mother, says she sees both the team spirit and the hard work her son puts in on a daily basis.
“I have faith in him that he is going to do great regardless of if he wins or not. Corey has the heart.”
That heart extends to more than just wrestling.
Football also is a big part of Mitchell’s life, and he plans to pursue football in college while majoring in Business. Three colleges have already extended offers to include Mitchell as part of their football team, including Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)
When asked about professional athletic role models, Mitchell admitted, “I don’t really watch any type of sports; I know it’s something that can boost my craft as an athlete. But I like learning upfront.”
The youngest of Kohns’ three sons, Mitchell is described as quiet yet dedicated by both his mother and coach.
“He is quiet, but a great listener and follows directions,” Kohn said. “Corey has taught me so much from watching him wrestle … he is the total package and one awesome son.”
‘Hard-working student athlete’
Foster has a similar view of the athlete.
“Corey is a hard-working student athlete who loves playing football and being part of a team,” Foster said. “He is a dedicated son and quiet soul. Corey lets his actions speak for him in most instances and has excelled throughout.”
Mitchell enjoys working out when he isn’t wrestling or playing football, but he also understands the importance of keeping his grades up, admitting that he does “a lot of homework.”
Kohns says Mitchell’s journey is one she is proud of: “I have loved every minute of watching him grow into the young man he has become!”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights right now, Friday, February 24!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Check out these highlights from the Lee boys win over Grand River Prep Tuesday. The Legends sealed their first conference championship in 43 years. (Videographer: WKTV/Alex Bernhardt)
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show right here! The Legends beat visiting Grand River Prep 89-68 Tuesday to win their first conference crown since 1980.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 17!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Lee’s Joe Russau led the Legends with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks in an 83-63 win Friday over Fruitport Calvary Christian. (Courtesy, Lee High School)
More than 58 million birds have been affected by the avian influenza outbreak countrywide, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. (Photo courtesy, pxhere.com)
By D.A. Reed
WKTV Contributor
Extraordinary price hikes on eggs over the past year and continuing inflation costs have had consumers and local business owners concerned.
340 Million: Prior to the avian influenza outbreak in 2022, that was the number of laying hens across the United States. 15 million of those hens could be found in Michigan.
Those numbers average one hen for every consumer in the country.
“For every citizen in the United States, there was one laying hen,” said Ernie Birchmeier, Senior Relations Specialist with the Michigan Farm Bureau.
More than 58 million birds affected countrywide
Since the avian influenza outbreak, however, over 58 million birds were affected countrywide, creating a hitch in egg production that resulted in higher prices for one of the country’s main staples.
(Source: USDA Rural Development)
In January of 2022, the average cost of a dozen large Grade A eggs was $1.93. During the past year, consumers were hard pressed to find a dozen of those same eggs for under $5.
“We lost about 45 million laying hens across the country from that influenza outbreak. That has had an impact on the size of the laying flock in the United States and has decreased egg production,” Birchmeier said.
Various strains of avian influenza are an annual occurrence.
“Typically, when you have an avian influenza outbreak, it is spread during the spring and the fall when wild birds migrate back to the north from the south and vice versa in the fall,” Birchmeier said. “When you co-mingle those birds, they bring different sets of diseases and will typically cause an influenza outbreak.”
The number of birds affected by influenza is not normally so high. So why was the bird population hit so hard in 2022?
“In 2022, (avian influenza) lasted all year, during both seasons,” Birchmeier said. “So it’s continued to have an impact.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
When will egg prices decrease?
Birchmeier said there have been reports of consumers seeing a softening in egg prices, with many lowering to more normal levels. But he cautions that it will take time to see a significant change.
“It takes time for eggs to be set, then for those eggs to hatch,” said Birchmeier, relaying that birds are typically 5-1/2 months old before they start laying. “It’s going to take time to replenish those flocks.”
(Source: Bureau Labor of Statistics)
Labor, transportation and energy costs add to the price
Consumers are urged to remember that labor, transportation and energy costs also are up and that factors into the cost of food along with the influenza outbreak.
There was a general food inflation of around 20 percent in 2022. Add in the impact of a reduction in egg production, and it influences those prices even more.
Farmers replenishing flocks helps soften prices
“If we can get through spring without any major problems, and farmers can replenish those flocks, we should see a decrease, a softening, of egg prices back down to more normal levels,” Birchmeier said. “It’s just going to take time for supply to catch back up (with demand).”
(WKTV/D.A. Reed)
For many local businesses, eggs are a staple — one needed in abundance.
“It’s hard to be a breakfast place (right now),” said Delanie Haisma, a server at Anna’s House restaurant. “That’s a common thing that we supply.”
But Haisma also said that the post-pandemic general inflation is what has had the biggest impact on their business.
When asked if Anna’s House has increased prices due to rising egg prices, Haisma said, “Since the eggs have gone up, no, but about a month before that happened, we did raise our menu prices by 25 to 75 cents on a couple of items.”
Continuing supply issues also have had a large impact.
“It’s hard to keep stuff in stock, and sometimes we have to go through a third party,” Haisma explained.
Other local restaurants also have had to adjust menu pricing due to general inflation.
Real Food Café recently instituted a three-percent surcharge to all checks to offset fast-rising expenses, including rising employee wages, fuel charges, and the escalating cost of food and other goods.
Even though rising prices have stunned most consumers, Birchmeier urges buyers to consider the true value of a dozen eggs priced at $5. “That’s still a pretty good value when you consider the amount per egg. Forty cents per egg is still a pretty good value compared to a lot of foods.”
Perspective also plays a role in remembering the value of a product: “Five dollars for a dozen eggs versus $5 for that cup of coffee you stood in line and waited for,” Birchmeier said.
Michigan spared major avian flu outbreaks
Birchmeier went on to say that although the entire United States has been impacted by the influenza outbreak, Michigan as a whole has been spared any major outbreaks in our laying flock, and that other areas of the country are paying more for eggs than Michiganders.
“We are very fortunate in this country to have the food supply that we do,” Birchmeier said. “And we have choices. And we have the ability to shop around.”
Birchmeier encourages consumers to shop around for better prices than what they may find at their usual store.
“Very seldom do we ever have to worry about whether or not there is product on the grocery store shelf,” Birchmeier said. “We saw that for the first time in many people’s lives in our country during the pandemic. But our farmers are out there every day to make sure that we have a wholesome and abundant food supply in this country.”
Extra bio security measures in Michigan
Egg-laying facilities have tight bio security measures implemented by farmers that have been in place for many years. Because of these extra steps, Michigan has been spared major outbreaks in our laying flocks.
(WKTV/D.A. Reed)
Controlling traffic flow on and off the farm, regulating the number of visitors to the farm, and making sure trucks are cleaned as they enter and leave the farm, are all steps Michigan farmers have taken to diligently keep diseases from their flocks.
“Our farmers know they need to protect the birds inside those buildings,” Birchmeier said. “For their livelihood, but also to make sure that they are producing a (safe) product for the consumer.”
Conspiracy theories put to rest
With emotions running high and bank accounts running low, Birchmeier warns against incorrect theories about causes for the egg price hike.
“We have to be very careful about everything we read on the internet and social media and make sure that we are getting accurate information rather than potential theories.”
There are other factors as to why chickens may not be laying eggs. In the winter months, it is common for chickens to go into a molt, or molting process, during which it is typical for chickens to stop laying eggs.
Regardless of the reason, Birchmeier said it is important to remember that production and distribution systems are already set and in place no matter how much farmers produce in a year.
“If there is a chink in the armor, or a link in the chain that’s broken, that’s when we run into disruptions,” he explained. “A lot of our consumers don’t understand that because we never have to think about it. (Food) has always been there.”
‘It all comes back to perspective’
“Relative to the rest of the world, we are in a fantastic position here in the United States to have a wholesome, abundant, affordable food supply typically all of the time,” Birchmeier said.
He explained the importance of understanding that farmers are greatly impacted by all this as well.
“We’re feeling the brunt of high labor, high energy costs, as well, across our food production system. But farmers themselves can’t pass those costs on, they have to absorb them, versus other manufacturers and goods and services (that) typically add those costs on and pass them along to the consumer. We see our ups and downs in the agricultural department from an economic standpoint as well.”
Birchmeier strongly encourages consumers to know the facts before jumping to conclusions, and to ask farmers if they have questions.
“We are glad to share our information because we’re all together in this.”
D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show with these exciting clips and interviews from our Tuesday WKTV Game of the Week: Muskegon Catholic Central at Lee boys. The Legends beat visiting MCC 69-58 to stay atop the Alliance League at 5-0, 15-1 overall.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 10!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Get an early glimpse of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show with these exciting clips and interviews from our Tuesday Game of the Week: Mona Shores at Wyoming Boys. The Wolves beat visiting Mona Shores 71-58.
Be sure to watch the complete FNH show on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25 and ATT U-verse Channel 99.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is investigating two separate crashes involving pedestrians and vehicles.
At approximately 6:52 a.m. on February 9, officers and firefighters responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck at 28th Street and South Division Avenue. The semi was turning from northbound Division Avenue to westbound 28th Street when it struck a 55-year-old male Wyoming resident who was crossing 28th Street at the intersection.
The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital for significant injuries. He was last known to be in serious condition.
At approximately 7:24 a.m., officers and firefighters responded to a report of a pedestrian struck near Chicago Drive and Nagel Avenue Southwest.
A 32-year-old female resident of Wyoming was crossing Chicago Drive when she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound. The pedestrian was then struck by another vehicle traveling eastbound. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The name of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. Wyoming accident investigators are currently investigating both crash scenes and the circumstances of the crashes.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
After a 73-51 win over Ottawa Hills Tuesday, South Christian boys Coach Taylor Johnson was happy with how his Sailors handled the pressure.
“It was a great matchup with a team that can give you a lot of problems with their style of play,” said Johnson, whose Sailors improved to 13-3 overall, 8-1 (second place) in the OK Gold. “It took time, but once we got settled in I liked how we played together and passed through the pressure.
“It was an important game for us and we knew it would not be easy. Coach King does a nice job and we had to keep fighting. We made a big push late into the third quarter that really helped us pull away in the fourth.”
Jake DeHaan scored 17 points for the Sailors. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
Sam Medendorp led the Sailors with 20 points, while Jake DeHaan added 17.
“Sam was so important for us and played great,” Johnson said. “His defensive presence is unlike anyone else in the league; he impacts the game on both sides of the ball. He showed off his athleticism last night with over five blocks and four dunks. It was fun to watch.
“DeHaan just continues to flourish of lately, finding his rhythm being able to hit the three and drive it to two feet and find ways to create angles and score. He also had some huge off rebounds for us that sparked important second chance points.”
Ottawa Hills fell to 10-7 overall, 6-3 in the Gold.
With an 81-47 win over Saranac Tuesday, the Lee boys basketball team kept a near-perfect season moving along.
The Legends improved to 13-1 overall, their only loss coming on January 16 by one point to Charlotte (45-44). Quite a turnaround from last season, where they finished 5-16 overall, 2-6 in the Alliance.
“Overall, our team played great versus Saranac,” said Lee Coach Dominic Shannon. “Energy was appropriate, effort was strong and we have improved each game since taking our only loss of the season.
“Clarence Lewis really set the tone early in the game defensively, and by the end of the game, tied the steals record with seven steals, which was set a few weeks ago by our freshman point guard Jr. Metcalf.”
Junior guard Marc Whitfield led Lee with 20 points and 10 assists, followed by Joe Russau with 19 points.
“Marc is very elusive in the open court and great at finding his teammates,” Shannon explained. “He’s our best playmaker on the team. Marc has been close a couple times to 10 assists, but last night notched his first double-double of the season in a team win over Saranac, which I was the varsity head coach at for two years.”
Lee huddles during a win over Potter’s House Christian last Friday. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Shannon said his team’s defense has been the anchor.
“Our wing/front court players, Ny’Zhem Marshall, Joe Russau and Keontae Taylor, have really been a huge disruption in the paint by altering shots and starting the break,” Shannon said. “We’re dangerous once we get out and run the court. As we head into March, as coaches we want to keep practice competitive and energetic.
“With the season stretching across a few months, it can be tough at times to keep energy and effort high, but I think our staff has managed to do a great job of keeping the boys engaged.”
Sitting atop the Alliance League at 3-0, Shannon talked about his team’s opportunities.
“We are in control of our destiny with a huge conference game this Friday at home versus Tri-unity Christian,” Shannon said. “Our goals are set high for this team, but our immediate goal is to win the Alliance crown, and it must be done defensively.”
Jakhary Towns led the Wolverines with 23 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
Godwin Heights came out of the gate fast during Tuesday’s OK Silver showdown against NorthPointe Christian, but it was the visiting Mustangs that came away with a 69-67 win in a game that came down to the final seconds.
“You have to give the credit to NorthPointe,” said Godwin Heights Coach Tyler Whittemore. “They are a well-coached team and their kids played hard. They made some key shots and battled the entire game.”
Godwin Heights grabbed the early advantage in the game thanks to some outstanding defense and shot making on the offensive side of the floor. Godwin built a double-digit lead by the middle of the first quarter. The Wolverines were up 18-8 before NorthPointe Christian cut the margin in half by the end of the opening quarter.
The Wolverines kept control of the lead in the early going of the second quarter with a three-point shot by Jaylen Martin putting the Wolverines up 26-19 with 4:34 remaining in the half.
All tied up at the half
NorthPointe Christian, however, would not back down and a six-point Mustang run trimmed Godwin’s lead to a single point. By halftime, NorthPointe caught the Wolverines and the two teams went into the locker rooms tied at 34-34.
“We have a team full of seniors,” said NorthPointe Christian Coach Justin Yoder. “We start four seniors so we have a lot of experience. I told the guys no matter if we are up by 10 or down by 10, we have to stay the course. We have to execute on offense and play good defense.”
From halftime on, the game became a back-and-forth struggle, with neither team able to get more than a four-point lead in the third quarter or a five-point advantage in the fourth.
NorthPointe led 51-50 at the end of the third quarter before Godwin Heights surged ahead in the early minutes of the fourth. NPC led 65-63 with a minute remaining in the game when the Mustangs received a big play from Deangelo Person. He drove to the basket and scored and was also fouled on the play. Person added the free throw putting NorthPointe up 68-63.
Jamarion Collins trey tightens it up at the end
Godwin replied with a final run of its own. After a free throw by Jamarion Collins, the Wolverine defense came up with a stop and on the next possession Collins drained a three-point shot cutting the margin to 68-67 with 15 seconds remaining.
With eight seconds left in the game, NorthPointe’s Mitchell White split a pair of free throws that put the Mustangs up 69-67. Godwin had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds, but a pair of missed free throws and a missed putback at the buzzer enabled NorthPointe to come away with the win.
“We had a shot at the end and that is all you can ask for,” Whittemore said. “They (NorthPointe) made the shots. That’s a really good team and we’ve battled back and forth with them all year.”
Godwin gets earlier win
Godwin Heights defeated NPC 84-72 when the two teams previously met January 10 at NorthPointe.
“Godwin is a really good team,” Yoder said. “We changed up our defense this time. We went to a 3-2 zone the whole game and tried to mix it up. It was a game of runs and I’m super-proud of my boys. This was a big win for us.”
Jakhary Towns scores 23
Jakhary Towns led Godwin with 23 points, followed by Collins and Damarie Thompson, 10 apiece and Marco Rodriguez, nine.
NorthPointe was led by Kayden Bird with 27 points and Person, 17.
With the loss, Godwin Heights fell to 10-4 overall and 6-3 in the league. The Wolverines return to action Friday when they host Calvin Christian and then host Belding next Tuesday.
(LEE: Marc Whitfield, 20 points, 10 assists; Joe Russau, 19 points)
Tri-unity Christian 71, Ravenna 39
(TU: Jordan VanKlompenberg and Keaton Blanker, 14 points apiece. Blanker also had 5 assists and 4 steals; Trey Rillema and Akais Giplaye, 6 rebounds each)
Isabelle Baez had a team-high 16 points for Potter’s House Christian Friday. (Courtesy, Jake Szetela: Riparea Videography)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Potter’s House girls basketball team was hitting on all cylinders on offense as it defeated Lee 60-13 in an Alliance League game Friday.
The Pumas took a 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and upped the advantage to 35-6 at halftime. They continued to put points on the board in the second half, building a 50-9 lead to end the third.
Isabelle Baez led the way for Potter’s House with 16 points, while Anyieth Nhial scored 10. The Puma’s improved to 12-4 overall, 4-0 in the Alliance League, while Lee fell to 2-14, 1-2.
Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, February 3!
Every Friday, we’ll bring you some great high school boys and girls basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood areas, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
Coming soon, we’ll have coaches and players stop by our studio after their games to chat on the show.
Lee huddles during a win over Potter’s House Christian Friday. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The calendar may have said it was the first Friday in February, but the action inside the gym at Potter’s House felt totally like March.
In a game that was played in a state tournament-like atmosphere and in front of a packed crowd, the Lee Legends boys team held on to edge Potter’s House Christian 56-53.
Lee led the game from start to finish, but the victory was a hard-earned one as the Legends needed to withstand a spirited comeback by Potter’s House during the fourth quarter.
“I’m very, very proud with the way we faced adversity today,” Lee Coach Dominic Shannon said. “You have to take your hats off to Potter’s House. They played a great game, but I’m so proud of the way our guys responded to the adversity and playing on the road in a tough gym like they did.”
Lee seemed to have control of the game early in the fourth quarter as the Legends led 41-32 with six minutes remaining in the game. That lead, however, was anything but safe as the Pumas fed off the energy of their home crowd and battled back during the final six minutes of the game. Lee also lost senior Keontae Taylor midway through the final quarter when he fouled out with the Legends holding a seven-point lead.
Potter’s House cut the lead to 49-48 with 1:21 remaining in the game. That was when Silas Ondersma came up with a steal that led to a bucket by Aaron Leedy making the contest a one-point game. That bucket also capped a six-point Puma run.
Lee, however, refused to surrender the lead. A free throw by Marc Whitfield with 1:16 remaining and a subsequent offensive rebound and putback by Joe Russau built Lee’s lead back to four points.
After a free throw by Ezequiel Araujo drew Potter’s House to 52-49, Ny’Zhem Marshall scored with 43 seconds remaining to put Lee up 54-49. Lee was not in the clear, however, as Quincy Winkle drained a trey with 36 seconds left cutting the lead to 54-52.
After Lee missed a pair of free throws, Potter’s House drew to within one point when Araujo split a pair of free throws with 23 seconds remaining.
Right down to the wire
Lee upped the lead to 56-53 when Whitfield connected on a pair of free throws and then a steal by Lee’s Clarence Lewis with three seconds remaining sealed the win.
Lee sophomore Troy Fox came off the bench to help the Legends win. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
“We lost a key player when Keontae fouled out,” Shannon said, “but like the old saying goes, `next man up’. Troy Fox, a sophomore, came off the bench and he really came through for us. It was a great team effort with everyone contributing.”
Lee knew they were facing a difficult road test and in the early minutes of the game the Legends did what they could to take the crowd out of the game. Lee scored the first nine points of the game and held Potter’s House scoreless until the 4:05 mark of the first quarter.
“Our plan was to get out to an early lead and take the crowd out of the game,” Shannon said. “Getting that early lead helped to settle our nerves and give us some confidence.”
Lee led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter and took a 26-20 lead into halftime. The Legends continued to keep that working margin in the second half as they led 36-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Despite trailing the entire game, Potter’s House never felt out of the contest and gave the Legends all they could handle.
Fell behind early
“We fell down into a hole early,” Potter’s House Coach Kevin Kuipers said. “I think we had a little too much adrenaline early and we missed some shots. The last month or so we’ve been playing pretty good. We’ve focused on staying together and never quitting. Never giving up.
“I liked the way we kept battling back tonight. I’m proud of the ways these guys played. We still had a chance at the end and that is all you can ask for.”
The Pumas getting ready to defend Lee. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
With the win, Lee improved to 12-1 overall and 3-0 in the Alliance League. The Legends, whose only defeat this season was a 45-44 loss to Charlotte, return to action Tuesday at Saranac and then host Tri-unity on Friday.
Whitfield led Lee in scoring with 16 points, followed by Lewis with 13. Marshall added nine points, while Russau had eight.
Potter’s House fell to 6-8 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Pumas return to action Tuesday when they host Wellspring Prep and then travel to Covenant Christian next Friday.
Winkle led the Pumas with 21 points and Leedy added 12.
The Potter’s House Christian girls basketball team won its seventh game in a row with a 52-14 win over Muskegon Orchard View Tuesday.
Coach Jake Hoogstrate said after a slow start to the game, his team got it rolling in the second quarter and “really turned it on in the third.”
“We wanted to pressure aggressively defensively and that finally started to turn into offense as the game went on,” Hoogstrate explained. “We had a season-high 16 assists in the game and really shared the ball well. Ten players scored in the game, also a season high.”
Isabelle Baez led the Pumas in scoring, in limited minutes, with 10 points and Anyieth Nhial added eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clark scored 6 points in her varsity debut, while Serenity Clark and Ivy Andreas each added five points.
The Pumas are now 11-4 overall, 2-0 in the Alliance League.
“This group has been an absolute joy to coach,” Hoogstrate said. “We started the season with a challenging schedule and really learned a lot about who we were and what we were capable of. This team enjoys being around one another and isn’t afraid of a challenge.
“We brought a lot of players back from last year and have some great upperclassmen leading the team. They have bought in and established a great culture for our program. We have a lot of great opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to making the most of them the rest of the way.”
Wyoming senior Aaliyah Ratliff poured in a season-best 30 points to help lead the way for the Wyoming girls basketball team as they overcame a slow start to defeat Zeeland East 55-33.
After falling behind 12-2 to start the game, Wyoming went on a 12-0 run to end the first quarter and get back in the game.
“It was a big win for us coming off two tough losses to Muskegon and Zeeland West,” Wyoming Coach Jesse Vasquez said. “To bounce back against a good Zeeland East team gives us a real shot of momentum going into next week.”
The sizzling shooting from Ratliff also provided a big boost of momentum during Friday’s game. Ratliff connected on five three-point shots in a row during a span in the third and fourth quarter that turned the game around.
“She had a couple of 20-point games this season,” Vasquez said. “She averages about 13 points per game, but she shows in practice every day that she has the ability to make tough shots. She got in a rhythm in the third quarter where everything was falling.”
The Wyoming offense also received a boost from Maddie Longoria, who finished with 10 points for the game including a pair of three-point shots.
With the win, Wyoming improved to 8-7 overall, 3-4 in the conference.
“I thought our girls did a real good job of responding to adversity,” Vasquez said. “The girls did a really good job of staying together and staying the course and ended up pulling it out.”
Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, with Dataspeed’s Autonomous Service Vehicle. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, together with Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airlines®, Stantec GenerationAV and the West Michigan Aviation Academy, has announced the third round of companies that will receive a total of $171,000 in grant funding through the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE).
One of the first airport-based initiatives in the nation, FLITE provides funding to encourage the design, development and pilot testing of new products and services in a live airport environment. FLITE has completed two rounds of funding and will launch a third round in spring 2023. The five companies that will receive grant funding through this next round include:
Cyberworks Robotics: Retrofitting autonomous navigation technology for OEM products.
Deaf AI: Training machines with artificial intelligence to use sign language to improve the experience of communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Renu Robotics: Revolutionizing the way aviation facilities conduct vegetation management with autonomous lawnmowers.
Solartonic: Enhancing security resilience with autonomous smart solar-powered lighting and camera systems with reduced operating costs.
UV Angel: Using first-of-its-kind software to reduce bacteria, viruses and molds on frequently touched surfaces and in the air.
“After the successful completion of two rounds of funding, FLITE has proven to be a key asset to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the state of Michigan’s local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford International Airport Authority. “It has become a leading platform in transforming the aviation industry through the introduction of new technologies that advance our ability to provide a world-class experience to all passengers and guests.”
West Michigan Aviation Academy
A new partnership for FLITE includes the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a tuition-free public charter high school that provides a unique educational opportunity for students to focus on high-growth employment fields in the aviation industry during their high school education.
“The West Michigan Aviation Academy was very excited about the possibility to bring real-world innovation to the classroom with the partnership with FLITE,” said George Pavey, dean of aviation for West Michigan Aviation Academy. “Many of these cutting-edge projects connected with the FLITE program have provided countless opportunities for our students to experience learning beyond the academic setting. To see and experience the future of aviation and engineering further enhances our ability to develop the next generation of industry professionals.”
As Michigan’s lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with a focus on growing the local economy, MEDC provided grant funding to FLITE through the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME).
“For Michigan, innovation is in our DNA. With the announcement of FLITE’s round three of funding, we are positioning the state to be a global leader in high-tech and multi-modal mobility innovation,” said Charlie Tyson, technology activation director with OFME. “Programs like FLITE at the Ford International Airport not only support Michigan-based entrepreneurs, but also global tech companies as they seek to grow here in Michigan.”
Cyberworks Robotics
Based in Ontario, Canada, Cyberworks Robotics is a global leading provider of specialized autonomous self-driving systems for airport wheelchairs, autonomous industrial carpet cleaners, autonomous floor scrubbers and autonomous tow-tuggers. Specifically designed for airport operations, its technology is designed to operate in crowded large-scale environments to safely mitigate labor shortages and reduce operating costs.
WHILL’s autonomous wheelchair showcased at FLITE’s round one Demo Day event. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“Being based out of Canada, FLITE provides access to test and grow in the U.S. market,” said Vivek Burhanpurkar, CEO of Cyberworks Robotics. “We’re excited about the opportunity to connect with the FLITE partners and advisory committee as resources for our technology and business development.”
Deaf AI
Based in Toronto, Canada, Deaf AI is an artificial intelligence venture that focuses on improving communication for those who use American Sign Language due to hard of hearing or hearing loss. Its technology converts flight and boarding announcements into sign language at airport terminals.
“Throughout my communications with different airport authorities, a few of them referred us to the FLITE program as a starting point after noticing that Deaf AI is an early-stage venture,” said Mehdi Masoumi, founder and CEO of Deaf AI. “The aviation industry has a significant gap in pilot studies and soft landings for innovation, making it difficult for early-stage startups to present their innovations to airport authorities. FLITE singularly built a bridge to address this gap by providing resources for early-stage startups.
“For Deaf AI, FLITE is a window of opportunity to test its innovation and reach out to other airports, including airports on the advisory boards of the FLITE program.”
Renu Robotics
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Renu Robotics the industry leader in autonomous vegetation management systems, was part of FLITE’s second cohort and will be returning for round three to conduct additional pilot testing of their product.
Renu Robotics’ autonomous lawn mower at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“Round three allows us to further explore the Renubot’s mowing capabilities in areas of the airport where larger mowers cannot easily access, as well as a cost-savings comparison,” said Tim Matus, CEO of Renu Robotics. “We’re also continuing to look into FAA requirements for operating on airport grounds and how those regulations are applicable.”
Solartonic
Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Solartonic provides off-grid solar-powered smart poles that are safe, resilient and sustainable. Their smart solahub™ platform integrates cloud-controlled devices with framework products for LED lights, CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi networks, IoT sensors and digital signage through remote monitoring and control.
“We are excited to participate in FLITE with the Ford International Airport,” said Harry Giles, co-founder and CEO of Solartonic. “FLITE provides the ideal opportunity for us to demonstrate the value of our solutions to enhance airport perimeter security, passenger experience and airport operations. In partnership with Jacobsen|Daniels, we intend to apply this to airports across the country.”
UV Angel
Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, UV Angel is a leading disinfection technology company that uses UV Light technology, advanced optical engineering and a first-of-its-kind digital software platform, to disinfect surfaces by neutralizing bacteria, viruses and molds.
“We look forward to placing our UV Angel Clean Air™ Technology in the Ford International Airport,” said Tom Byrne, CEO of UV Angel. “The aviation industry has a critical need to protect personnel and travelers, and the FLITE program will provide invaluable insight and feedback to further our mission to make indoor spaces cleaner, safer and healthier for everyone.”
The Ford International Airport has identified six core focus areas for new technology advancements through FLITE:
Automation and Analytics: Improving operational efficiency and optimization of the workforce and other resources through automation and analysis of data.
Safety and Security: Strengthening passenger and worker safety and security throughout the airport campus.
Enhanced Guest Experience: Improving the pre-boarding experience.
Sustainability: Switching fossil fuel vehicles and infrastructure to electric and other decarbonization projects.
Door-to-Door Experience: Improving the experience and efficiency of getting to and from the airport.
Advancing Aviation: Exploring the enabling infrastructure and implications of emerging commercial aviation use cases.
