By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team has a goal of making it back to the Division 4 state championship in March, and a tried-and-true formula is what the Defenders are using to accomplish the task.
Playing strong defense, sharing the ball on offense and playing for each other has proven to be a winning formula for the Defenders. Tri-unity has used that recipe to make it to the Division 4 state title game the past three years including a state championship in 2022.
Tri-unity is off to a strong start this season winning its first three games including a 71-41 win against Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart on Tuesday. The Defenders were up by 12 at the half against Sacred Heart before using a big third quarter to break the game open.
“We have a great group of boys, said veteran Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “They play well together and are unselfish. They are all solid players and amazing young men.”
A team of veterans
Making things even better this season is that Tri-unity also is a veteran team. Nearly the entire team returns from last season and the roster is loaded with senior veterans. Two of the seniors, Owen Rosendall and Jordan VanKlompenberg, are four-year starters who are looking to accomplish a unique milestone this season. Rosendall and VanKlompenberg have been to the last three Division 4 state championship games and are looking to end their career with four trips to the state finals.
Rosendall and VanKlompenberg also are team captains this season. Rosendall, a 5-foot-10 guard, is a lock-down defender, while VanKlompenberg is a 6-foot-1 guard who possesses an excellent outside shot and also is a solid defender.
Up front, Tri-unity returns 6-4 forward Akais Giplaye who provides strong rebounding and defense. Senior Wesley Kamen (6-1) also is an outstanding outside shooter and defender, while junior point guard Keaton Blanker (5-10) orchestrates the offense.
The Defenders also have plenty of depth. Trey Rillema is a 6-foot-5 forward who brings strong rebounding skills and defense to the court. Junior Joey Mellon brings even more size off the bench and at 6-foot-7 is the tallest player on the team. Senior Chris Boileau (5-8) is the backup at point guard while senior Lincoln Eerdmans (5-11) provides more backcourt depth. Rounding out the roster for the Defenders are senior Trusten Bowman (6-2) and juniors Marcus Lokiden (6-1) and Hudson Ghent (5-8) who provide the team with outstanding depth.
Trey Rillema (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Wesley Kaman (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Jordan VanKlompenberg (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Keaton Blanker (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Chris Boileau (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Owen Rosendall (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Jordan VanKlompenberg. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Lincoln Eerdmans (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Joey Mellon (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Wesley Kaman (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Keaton Blanker (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Akais Giplaye (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Owen Rosendall (Courtesy, Becky Rillema) 
Akais Giplaye (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
With plenty of depth and a willingness to pass the basketball, the Defenders are a matchup-problem for opponents. In the win against Sacred Heart, the Tri-unity offense generated 17 assists.
“I was really excited about that,” Keeler said. “These guys do a great job of sharing the basketball. We don’t have one big scorer. We have a lot of kids who can score and we’ve had a different player lead us in scoring each game this season.”
Rosendall and VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with five assists apiece in the win against Sacred Heart. Kaman led the offense with 17 points, while Blanker added 10 points and Giplaye and VanKlompenberg added eight points apiece. Rillema led the team in rebounding with six, while Giplaye added five rebounds.
Tri-unity improved to 3-0 for the season with the win. The Defenders opened the season with a 62-22 win against Muskegon Orchard View and then turned back Calvin Christian 64-44.
Another element of the success at Tri-unity is the non-league scheduling. The Defenders annually schedule non-league games against larger schools and the best competition they can find. Last season, Tri-unity ended with a 22-7 record, but that also led the Defenders to the state title game for a third straight year.
“Our regular season is a very tough schedule,” Keeler said. “We tried to play the toughest competition we can to prepare for the state tournament.”
The Defenders are slated to host Godwin Heights Friday and travel to Kelloggsville next Friday before playing Division 1 team Forest Hills Central in the first game of the Cornerstone Tournament on December 21.
Tri-unity also plays in the rugged Alliance League where Lee, Potter’s House and Grand Rapids Aviation are all loading up for title runs.
