Tag Archives: Tri-Unity Christian boys basketball

Tri-unity honors legendary Coach Mark Keeler in final home game last Friday

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The current Tri-unity Christian team and some former players join together at Coach Mark Keeler’s final home game of his career. (Courtesy, Tri-unity Christian/Katlyn Keeler)



By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org


As the final whistle blew last Friday at Tri-unity Christian’s home court, which bears the name of legendary Coach Mark Keeler, the gym was filled with former players and community members who honored him after an impressive 38-year career at the school. 

“It’s bittersweet, after doing this for 40 years it’s done,” said Keeler, who now has 714 career wins, third on the all-time MHSAA list. “It was a little overwhelming … it was so much fun seeing some former players come out, and I got many text messages from those that couldn’t make it.”



WKTV Friday Night Highlights host Ty Marzean interviews Coach Mark Keeler.



Tri-unity notched their 15th consecutive win on Senior Night with a 57-25 victory over Potter’s House. All eight of the Defenders seniors played significant minutes in their last regular season game in front of the home crowd.

Senior forward Noah Silverton led the team with 13 points, and 6-foot-7 center Joey Mellon filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots. Hudson Ghent added nine points, while Keaton Blanker scored eight. 



Tri-unity Christian’s Joey Mellon. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Seniors Tyler Laansma, Joseph Peters, Hezekiah Nobel, and Marcus Lokiden, as well as student manager Sean Gibbons, all contributed.

‘It was nice because we knew this was a game we could get everybody in,” Keeler explained. 

The Defenders maintained their strong defensive performance, leading 31-11 at halftime and allowing only 14 more points in the second half.

“Our goal was to keep them under 30,” Keeler said. “They all played defense really well. Sometimes late in those types of game the players tend to want to relax on defense, but they played well throughout. We have had some games this year where that wasn’t the case, but they have improved greatly this year.”



Tri-unity Christian’s Keaton Blanker. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)


With the regular season now complete, the Defenders can concentrate on defending their Division 4 state championship from last year. Tri-unity aims to compete in its fourth consecutive state finals game.

Tri-unity was due to play the winner of the Holland Calvary vs. Covert game, but Covert dropped out of the tournament.

“We still have a tournament to coach, the team is excited. We are going to get after it and hopefully we can play in that final game of the tournament,” Keeler said.



Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Tri-unity (20-2) faces Holland Calvary (7-5) at Martin High School on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.

 The winner of that game will play the winner of Zion Christian vs. Martin on Friday night at Martin High School for the District 113 title. 

Keeler will now have to follow the advice he used to give his seniors about leaving it all out on the court.

“I would always tell the seniors, this is a whole lot more important to you because I’ll be coming back, you’re not. I can’t say that anymore.”



Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler chatting with a ref. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)

Tri-unity extends hot streak, 13 in a row, clinches another league title in Coach Keeler’s last season

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Tri-unity beat Aviation Academy 60-30 Friday to clinch yet another league title. (WKTV Friday Night Highlights/2-14-25/Jaylah Lewis)



By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org



As the boys basketball regular season nears the end, the Tri-unity Defenders are in the midst of an impressive 13-game winning streak after a pair of wins Friday and Saturday. 

The Defenders secured their 23rd conference championship under longtime Coach Mark Keeler with a 60-30 victory over West Michigan Aviation Academy Friday, winning the Alliance League for the first time since 2022. 

“I can’t tell you how much fun I’m having with this being my last year and with this group of young men,” said Keeler, who has earned six state championships, six state runner-up trophies, 15 Final Four appearances, 19 regional titles, 26 district titles and 23 conference championships. “They are so coachable. I’ve been very proud of the maturity level of the team this year. They have done a great job keeping their focus during the season.”



Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler and wife Cheryl after getting his 700th win. He now has 712 wins, which puts him at third place in the MHSAA state record book. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



The Defenders are led by senior captains Joey Mellon and Keaton Blanker, who both played key roles on last year’s State championship team.


“Joey and Keaton are my leaders,” Keeler said. “They were a part of the 8-man rotation I had last year. They really have bought in this year and are great team guys. Senior leadership has a lot to do with how far your team can advance.”




Tri-unity senior captains Joey Mellon (pictured) and Keaton Blanker have led the Defenders this season. Mellon had 25 points and 12 rebounds in a Saturday win over Beal City. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Tri-unity used great defense and rebounding to claim a 32-7 advantage after the first half on Friday night.

“When you play defense like that it allows you to build a lead,” Keeler explained. “I stress to them how important it is to put their identity in something and they have done a phenomenal job on defense this year.”

The Defenders have lived up to their name as they have allowed only 39 points per game during their 13-game winning streak.

“I don’t think we could play any better defense than what we did on Friday,” Keeler said. “We have been able to do that against some of the teams we’ve played. We also look at rebounding, we did a great job with offensive rebounds. Everyone wants to shoot the three in today’s game. We want to hurry them so it’s a lower percentage shot and rebound well.”



Tri-unity senior captains Keaton Blanker (pictured) and Joey Mellon have led the Defenders this year. Blanker had 25 points and 12 rebounds in a Saturday win over Beal City. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity senior captains Keaton Blanker (pictured) and Joey Mellon have led the Defenders this year. Blanker had 12 points, six assists and four steals in a Saturday win over Beal City. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Mellon and Blanker are not the only seniors making plays for the Defenders. Senior forwards Noah Silverton and Marcus Lokiden have played meaningful minutes at a high level for Keeler’s crew. 

Silverton scored 13 points against Aviation Academy, while Lokiden added 10 points and three steals. 

“Noah is really helping us this year, and Marcus sparks us, he plays much taller than he is and is a great shooter.”



Tri-unity’s Noah Silverton. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)

Tri-unity’s Marcus Lokiden. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Tri-unity also participated in the Alliance Invite at Kuyper College, where they faced Beal City, ranked No.12 in Division 4.

Joey Mellon was the standout performer for the team, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in their 62-42 victory over Beal City. Keaton Blanker also had a strong game, contributing 12 points, six assists, and four steals. Noah Silverton added 10 points and four steals.

Tri-unity concludes the regular season with an away game against Muskegon West Michigan Christian on Tuesday night, and returns home for Senior Night Friday against Alliance League rival Potter’s House, marking the final home game of Coach Keeler’s career.

“I think there will be some emotion for this old ball coach, I can’t say enough for this community, it’s been a joy to be a part of it.”

Tri-unity boys win second state championship in three years with dominant win over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Saturday at MSU

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By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor

Photos Courtesy Becky Rillema



The Breslin Center feels like home to the Tri-unity Defenders. The team has played in four consecutive state finals, this time avenging a two-point loss from last season.

“Last year, we played not to lose,” legendary Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler said. “That was one of the emphases I had. We need to play to win the game, not to play afraid that we are going to lose. It seems like it’s the same thing, but it’s not. It’s huge, and you don’t play up to your potential if you focus on the negative.


We made sure this year that we focused on the positive.”

The Defenders (24-5) reached that potential, winning their second Division 4 state title in three seasons in convincing fashion 79-59 over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Saturday at Michigan State University.

“It was a very emotional game,” Keeler said. “I had to say goodbye to so many young men I truly love and respect. I’m going to miss all of them. I’m going to miss their camaraderie, their unselfishness, and they truly enjoy each other. Those are fun things to have on your team.”

VanKlompenberg and Rosendall will graduate with two state titles

Senior captains Jordan VanKlompenberg and Owen Rosendall were the catalysts for the Defenders. Both play a vital role in the suffocating Tri-unity defense while being the motor for the offense. The seniors end their high school careers winning two state finals in four attempts.

“Jordan and Owen are my two captains; I can not say enough about those two,” Keeler explained. “They have to guard the two best opposing players every game. It was that way again today. They were amazing. I’m really happy with them.”



Senior captains Owen Rosendall (left) and Jodan VanKlompenberg. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)



VanKlompenberg led with 19 points, Rosendall added 14

VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Rosendall added 14 points and six rebounds. 

“The state title means everything,” Rosendall said. “It’s the all-time goal for everyone’s season. This year was special because it was our last game. It was a bittersweet ending, but I couldn’t be more proud of our team. This team means everything; we treat each other like brothers. Our chemistry on the court is above average compared to other teams; it feels like we know where everyone is on the court all the time.”

Tight first quarter

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart played strong out of the gate and controlled the early portion of the first quarter, leading 8-4 midway through it.

 Grady Pieratt led the Saints with 21 points, while Noah Zeien added 14.

“Noah is tough and a very nice player, but his size hurt him against us because we could contest his shots,” Keeler explained.

VanKlompenberg hit a three-point shot with 3:33 left in the first to put Tri-unity up 11-10, and they wouldn’t look back after that.

The NCAA three-point line can confuse the players trying to adjust to the different layout of the Breslin Center court.

“I told them to stand on the line,” said Keeler, whose team was 7-17 from the three-point line. “We did a lot better job taking better shots and knocking them down.” 

All five starters in double-digit scoring

The entire starting five for Tri-unity scored double-digit points. Akais Giplaye scored 11 points, followed by Keaton Blanker, a second-straight double-double with 11 points and 12 assists and Wes Kaman added 10 points.

“Good balance; they shared the ball,” Keeler explained. “That’s what I love about it. I don’t think my guys have a selfish bone in their bodies. All they want to do is help the team win.”

 

The 6-4 Giplaye has been a constant force in the defensive paint for the Defenders. Keeler said Giplaye is made for this defensive scheme.



Akais Giplaye goes up for a shot. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)



“It means a lot coming from Coach Keeler,” Giplaye said. “He’s been winning for a long time. Having a coach who helps us become young men and encourages us to reflect Christ on the court, I’m honored to have him as a coach.



“It takes commitment, determination, dedication, discipline, and hard work. We’ve been through the wars, the ups and downs, but we kept moving forward, and through the end, we won a trophy. It’s a memory that will never be forgotten.”

Tri-unity uses depth and free throws to earn fourth-straight state finals appearance

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By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor

(Photos Courtesy Becky Rillema)

The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team used its depth and signature defense to wear down St. Ignace in a back-and-forth matchup in a Division 4 semifinal Thursday at the Breslin Center.

In a game that saw 11 lead change, including multiple ones in the fourth quarter, the Defenders hit late free throws to ice the game, advancing to a fourth-straight Division 4 state championship with a 60-53 win over St. Ignace in East Lansing.

“We are very blessed; it would be a great finish to this year”

“It’s surreal, it’s hard to believe,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team has a chance to win two state championships in three years. “We are very blessed. It would be a great finish to this year. These guys have worked so hard and made sacrifices to play tough, nasty defense.”


Two Tri-unity seniors, Jordan VanKlompenberg and Owen Rosendall, will play in their fourth state final game. Both played as freshmen on the 2020-21 Division 4 state runner-up team. 

St. Ignace senior Jonny Ingalls continued his torrid pace throughout the 2024 postseason. The future Northern Michigan University Wildcat scored 14 of the Saints’ 16 first-quarter points, and the Saints held a three-point lead after one frame in the semifinal.

Ingalls averaged 30 points in the postseason and ended the final game of his high school career with 31 points, four assists, and two steals.

“He was unbelievable,” Keeler said. “He had a little bit more than what we would have liked. I figured he would have around 20-25 points. He’s a great player.” 

Tri-unity was pressing early in the game, making several unforced errors unfamiliar to the disciplined Defenders.

“I was a little disappointed in how we played early on, but sometimes you have to win games like that,” Keeler explained. “We turned the ball over and started the game off trying to hit NBA threes.”

St. Ignace led 26-25 at the half

The score was almost even at the half; St. Ignace was up 26-25 after 16 minutes of play.  

After the break, the Defenders’ depth was felt. St. Ignace would only shoot 31.8% from the field for the remainder of the game and a lowly 40% from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we played good enough defense to stay in the game,” Keeler said. “I felt that we would eventually turn things around. I told the guys that if we keep pressing the ball down the court and play tough defense, we could wear them down. They didn’t have a lot of depth; they got worn out.”

Keaton Blanker led with 19 points, including 10 free throws and 10 boards

Junior guard Keaton Blanker continued his productive playoff run with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Blanker hit 10 of 11 free throws; two of which put the game out of reach with less than 30 seconds remaining.



Keaton Blanker led with 19 points, 10 rebounds. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)


Wes Kaman grabs 14 points, 6 boards

The Defenders have a new hero every game. In the semifinal game, Wes Kaman would take his turn to showcase his offensive skills, scoring 14 points and adding six rebounds.

“That’s what helps make our team so tough; you never know who will step up. They came out the second half with more discipline and knocked down some easier wide-open threes as well,” Keeler said.


Wesley Kaman takes a jumper. (Photo Courtesy Becky Rillema)



Giplaye and Rillema with 13 rebounds

Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema provided a rock-solid presence in the paint for the Defenders. Giplaye snatched eight boards, while Rillema grabbed five in limited playing time. 


“Akais is just a rock for us inside; you are not going to take the ball away from him,” Keeler said. “Trey had five rebounds but didn’t play much in the second half.”

 Ingalls cooled off significantly for the Saints in the second half, missing multiple shots from beyond the arc and the free-throw line.

“I thought he got tired,” Keeler explained. “We rotate and have guys rested. I thought we played great defense. We did everything we could to contain him, and he got tired in the second half, and we took advantage of that.


“I told the boys at halftime that a good team will beat one player no matter how good he is, and he got tired. That was the difference in the game. He can shoot; he just didn’t shoot as well in the second half.”

The Defenders play a familiar foe in the finals, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. The two teams met in early December, Tri-unity won that game 71-41.

“We played them in the third game of the year,” Keeler said. “They don’t have a lot of depth either, so our desire will be to push the ball on them and wear them down. They have three really good guards, and they do a solid job.”

Tri-unity (23-5) will face Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (26-2) in the Division 4 finals at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Breslin Center. The game will be aired live on Bally Sports Detroit. 

Check out this cool photo gallery by Becky Rillema; Defenders heading back to Division 4 state semifinals

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All photos courtesy of Becky Rillema

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Tri-unity Christian boys one step closer to another state title with fifth straight district championship

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(WKTV/Ty Marzean)



By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor



The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team checked off the first box in its quest for a fourth-straight state championship appearance on Friday night by capturing its fifth-straight Division 4 district title against Alliance League foe and host Zion Christian. 


The Defenders used a suffocating defense and overbearing offense in a 78-40 win over the Mountaineers.



Tri-unity used a 15-5 first quarter to set the pace for the remainder of the contest.


“I’m so happy about our defense,” said Coach Mark Keeler, who’s won the state championship five times with the Defenders.”

 

“Zion has improved so much over the years; if we didn’t show up and play hard, it could have been a different story.”



Jordan VanKlompenberg led with 20 points, while Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema combined for 19 rebounds. (Photo from a previous game courtesy, Becky Rillema)



The Defenders kept the pressure on Zion as the first half ended with a 36-17 lead for Tri-unity.

“If you hold a team to 17 points in the first half, there are not many games you will not win playing that kind of defense,” Keeler said.

Giplaye and Rillema combined for 19 boards

Tri-unity big men Akais Giplaye and Trey Rillema set the defensive tone under the boards as they collected 19 rebounds as a duo.

Rillema finished the game with four points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots, while Giplaye had eight points and 10 rebounds.

“Akais is so amazing; he plays taller than he is.” Keeler explained. “I watch him go against guys 6-8, and he holds his own. He’s such an awesome young man; I think the world of him.

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“This entire team is special. I love this team and how they act out on the court.”

Zion Christian came out of the half with four quick points as the Defenders struggled to gain footing in the third quarter. 

“I think we came in with the wrong attitude in the second half,” Keeler said. “I told them they had to change their focus. If they want to keep playing, you must start playing defense. We struggled throughout the third quarter because of it. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, we reset ourselves and played great defense.”

Defenders kept Zion to seven in fourth

Tri-unity clamped down defensively, allowing only seven fourth-quarter points. 

“They played their hearts out and never stopped hustling; I love that about them,” Keeler said. “We just kept after them. I thought we did a great job.”

VanKlompenberg led with 20 points

Tri-unity senior guard Jordan VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 20 points and added four assists and six rebounds. Lincoln Eerdmans connected on a team-high three buckets from beyond the arc, ending with 13 points. Owen Rosendall added 14 points and four rebounds. 

The Defenders find themselves in familiar territory heading into the regional round.

“I told them we have two more trophies to win, a regional and a state,” Keeler said. “It would be a dream come true.

“Every year is new, and you can’t go on what you did last season. You have to go out with a new group of boys and play the best they can. I enjoy watching them play. I’m proud of my guys, their hard work, and their intensity.”

Tri-unity (19-5) advances to the Regional 29 Semifinals against host Fowler (17-7) on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

Catholic Central uses big second quarter in win against rival South Christian Friday

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South Christian’s Jake Vermaas drives the lane against the Catholic Central defense. Vermaas scored 13 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor


It was round two of the annual rivalry between the South Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central boys basketball teams and the second quarter proved to be the difference as the host Cougars downed South 58-46 Friday to take the upper hand in the OK Gold.

Up 14-13 heading into the second quarter, Catholic Central played a near flawless quarter and built a 33-16 halftime advantage as it gained a two-game lead over the Sailors in the conference standings.

The host Cougars outscored South 19-3 during the second quarter, limiting the Sailors to a single three-point bucket by Sam Weiss. Catholic Central was dialed in from three-point range during the second quarter, scoring 12 of their 19 points from beyond the three-point arc. Senior all-stater Durral Brooks, who committed to the University of Michigan, led the way during the second quarter with eight of his game-high 30 points. Brieland Watkins also scored all six of his points during the quarter as he drained a pair of three-point shots.

“It was a super-intense atmosphere at the start,” said Catholic Central Coach TJ Meerman. “South Christian is an incredible team and we knew we would get their best shot. They jumped on us early, but our guys answered and battled back. I’m just really proud of our guys.”

Sailors quickly up 8-1

South Christian started the game in a big way, jumping out to a quick 8-1 lead. The Sailors controlled the boards early and kept the crowd out of the game. Catholic, however, weathered the storm and by the end of the first quarter took a 14-13 lead.

“We got out to a good start and we looked locked in,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson, “then we started to miss some shots. They played faster, harder and with more confidence. We kept battling in the second half and got back in the game, but at the end of the game the better team won.”

Cougars up 33-16 at the half

Leading 33-16 going into the second half, Catholic Central began to milk the clock at times and shorten the game. The Cougars led 41-25 at the end of the third quarter.

South Christian continued to chip away at the deficit and early in the fourth quarter cut the margin to a dozen when Carson Vis connected on a three-point shot. The Sailors cut the mark to as close as 10 points when Vis scored a bucket with 2:07 remaining in the game, but that was as close as they would get.

Cougars’ Brooks led with 30 points, nine boards

Brooks, who led all scorers with 30 points, scored 16 of those points in the final quarter. Brooks also hauled down nine rebounds.

Catholic Central sophomore Jordan McCoy added 16 points, while Jack Bowen pulled down nine rebounds.

Catholic Central enjoyed a solid shooting night as they connected on six-of-19 three-point shots, were 50% on two-point shots and 78% from the free-throw line.

Carson Vis led Sailors with 14 points

South Christian was paced in scoring by Vis with 14 points and Jake Vermaas, 13. Davis Kemper added seven points, Sam Weiss, six.

“We are disappointed, but we will learn from this,” Johnson said. “We will grow from this. They tried to take Carson away, but he did hit some shots and crashed the boards and we did some good things out there.”


South Christian’s David Kemper puts up a shot during Friday’s game at Catholic Central. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



With the win, Catholic Central improved to 10-3 overall and 8-0 in the conference.

“I think in a game where two opponents know each other so well it comes down to togetherness, hustle and heart,” Johnson said. “We got after it in the second half, but it was just not enough. It was too little, too late.”

South Christian fell to 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The Sailors return to action Tuesday when they travel to Forest Hills Eastern and then return home on Friday when they host Cedar Springs.  

Tri-unity Christian boys knock off Potterville 71-16 Thursday

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Jordan VanKlompenberg (pictured) and Owen Rosendall scored 11 points apiece in the win. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema from a previous game)



By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor


The holiday break couldn’t stop the Tri-unity Christian boys from staying on a roll as they scored early and often in a 71-16 blowout over Potterville on Thursday.


“We were rip-roaring and ready to go,” said long-time Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team improved to 7-1 overall.
 

The Defenders proved that readiness as they raced to a 31-5 lead after the first quarter and 48-10 at the half.

Senior captains Owen Rosendall and Jordan VanKlompenberg both had 11 points in the rout, but their defense stole the show.


Owen Rosendall in a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)

“They led the way; you are not going to find two better defensive players than those two,” Keeler said. ” I feel sorry for anyone that Owen guards because they are not going to have a fun night. Jordan gets stuck with the bigger kids, and he just does amazing.”



The Defenders are holding their opponents to only 35 points per game in the early portion of the 2023-2024 season while averaging 62 points on offense.



“They played really solid defense, and that’s always been a trademark at Tri-unity.”



Senior big man Akais Giplaye added four rebounds in the winning effort.



Giplaye, Rosendall, VanKlompenberg and Wes Kaman form a solid senior base full of state championship experience.



“Those four are an amazing nucleus and are tough as nails,” Keeler explained.



Even in the lopsided victory, Keeler was impressed with how his team played unselfish basketball.



“I was so proud that they still shared the ball and didn’t worry about their own points or shots,” Keeler continued. “They are all so coachable and playing like men, not little boys. We also got to play a lot of guys quite a bit that don’t usually get as much playing time and give them experience.”


Tri-unity Christian team all smiles during a previous game. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



Ranked No. 1 in Division 4, Tri-unity has played a strong schedule as they anticipate their future Alliance League games.



“The Alliance League is strong,” Keeler said. “Lee is going to be tough; Potter’s House is also a good game. You are not going to go through this league unscathed.”



Junior Keaton Blanker led the Defenders on the scoreboard with 12 points, while fellow junior Joey Mellon added 10.



The Defenders (7-1) travel to Lansing Catholic (1-5) on Saturday afternoon. 

Tri-unity Christian two points short of back-to-back D-4 state championships

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By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The Tri-unity Christian Defenders were going for a second straight Division 4 state championship Saturday morning at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University, but they finished just two points short as Munising edged them 39-37.

The game featured plenty of strong defense from both teams, but a late surge proved to be the difference as Munising won its first-ever basketball state title in school history while Tri-unity fell just short of title number six.

“I thought we had a golden opportunity to win the state title, but we came up empty,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We shot ourselves in the foot. I thought that we played some phenomenal defense, but on offense we took a lot of bad shots. Shots that were just rushed and we kept doing it. I thought we also had way more turnovers than we usually have and that doesn’t help.”

Tri-unity committed 15 turnovers for the game, while Munising finished with eight.

The Defenders looked to negate the turnover issue with its work on the boards. They outrebounded Munising 39-17 with 17 of those boards coming on the offensive end of the floor. While the Defenders produced extra shots, a lid seemed to be on the basket for Tri-unity as it connected on 14-of-45 shots for the game, a 31.1 percentage. The Defenders were especially cold from long range as they shot 21.1 percent from three-point range, connecting on 4-of-19 three-point shots for the game.

An early lead

Despite the cold shooting and turnovers, Tri-unity was right in the game from beginning to end. They jumped out to an 8-2 early lead before Munising battled back to take a 9-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Munising built on the lead in the second quarter as it outscored Tri-unity 9-4 to go up 18-12 midway through the second. Both defenses were in control the remainder of the first half with a three-point shot by Tri-unity’s Jordan VanKlompenberg cutting the Munising lead to 18-15 at halftime.

Defense continued to hold serve in the third quarter with points being at a premium. Tri-unity outscored Munising 10-9 in the third quarter and trailed 27-23 heading into the final quarter.

After Munising opened the fourth quarter with a bucket, Tri-unity scored the next five points to go up 30-29. A three-pointer by VanKlompenberg and a layup by Roy Fogg put the Defenders up 30-29 with 3:45 remaining in the game.

Munising, however, regained the lead for good when Cully Trzeciak hit a three-pointer with 2:11 remaining to put his team up 32-30. Seconds later a steal and layup by Trevor Nolan put Munising up 34-30.

After a Tri-unity turnover, Munising added a free throw with 1:07 remaining to go up 35-30. Fogg responded with a pair of free throws for Tri-unity, but a pair of free throws by Munising upped the margin to five with 33 seconds to go. After a steal by Munising, the Mustangs tacked on a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining to go up 39-32.

One final push by the Defenders

Tri-unity made one final push in the game’s final seconds. Owen Rosendall connected on three straight free throws with 13 seconds remaining and VanKlompenberg added a bucket with two seconds left, but the Defenders were unable to get a steal in the final two seconds of the game.

“They (Munising) had a great strategy,” Keeler said. “They were not going to allow us to beat them inside. They were letting us take all the threes we wanted and we were not able to knock them down. I’m proud of our kids. They played their hearts out and did their very best. Give credit to Munising, they have a nice team.”



Jordan VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 15 points. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



VanKlompenberg led Tri-unity with 15 points, while Fogg added 11. Rosendall finished with five points, followed by Akais Giplaye, four and Trey Rillema, two.

Giplaye led Tri-unity with 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Fogg and VanKlompenberg both added seven rebounds, including three offensive boards apiece. Rosendall, Rillema, Keaton Blanker and Wesley Kaman added three rebounds each. Rosendall led Tri-unity with six assists.

“I felt we had a chance to win back-to-back titles and we actually did,” Keeler said. “We just fell two points short.”

With the season ended, the Defenders say goodbye to a trio of seniors, including Dylan Bruinsma, Hanif James and Fogg.

“It’s tough to say goodbye to the seniors,” Keeler said. “We did have a pretty young team this year. We started three juniors and one sophomore so I’m pretty excited about the future. I’m looking forward to next year. I feel we have a lot of potential especially if we work in the summer and get stronger in the offseason.”

Tri-unity finished the season with a 22-7 record, while Munising ended at 27-1.      

Defense, offensive rebounding key to semifinal win for Tri-unity; aiming for back-to-back D-4 state titles

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,

Tri-Unity Coach Mark Keeler (far left) and his team watch the action during their semifinal win over Frankfort Thursday. The Defenders are looking to win a sixth state championship on Saturday morning. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University has seen hundreds of wins over the years with the home team playing stingy defense and dominating on the offensive boards.



Tri-unity Christian took those pages out of that successful Michigan State playbook during Thursday’s Division 4 state semifinal game against Frankfort and the result was a 54-37 win that sends the Defenders on to Saturday’s D-4 state championship game against Munising at 10 a.m.

Tri-unity played solid defense from the opening tip to the final buzzer as it limited Frankfort to 10 points or less in three of the four quarters.



The Defenders celebrate after a state semifinal win Thursday at the Breslin Center and are looking to win back-to-back state titles on Saturday. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



“We focused in on making sure we challenged them (Frankfort) and not letting them have anything easy,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We played great defense. I was really happy with our defense.”

The Defenders also dominated the boards, outrebounding Frankfort 41-22 for the game including pulling down a whopping 21 offensive rebounds.

“I was really happy with the way our guys controlled the boards,” Keeler said. “That was huge to have that many second shots.”

Akais Giplaye led the way on the boards as he pulled down 11 rebounds including nine offensive rebounds. Wesley Kaman added four offensive rebounds while Roy Fogg and Trey Rillema had three offensive boards.

Offensively, Tri-unity did a solid job of sharing the ball and spreading the scoring load around. Owen Rosendall led the Defenders in scoring with 13 points while Fogg added 11 points, Rillema, seven; Giplaye and Kaman, six apiece and Jordan VanKlompenberg, five. Keaton Blanker added two points, three assists, a steal and an offensive rebound.



Tri-unity fans had a lot to celebrate during its team’s state semifinal win Thursday at MSU. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



‘Everyone contributes’

“We had great balance which I really like,” Keeler said. “This team does a great job of sharing the ball. We don’t have one or two guys that do all the scoring. Everyone contributes on offense and we really take pride in that.”

Tri-unity took control of the game in the first quarter. The Defenders jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the early minutes thanks to three-point shots from VanKlompenberg and Rosendall.

Tri-unity led 16-8 going into the second quarter. Frankfort kept the score close throughout the second quarter and trailed 25-21 at halftime.

The Defenders began to pull away in the third quarter. Up by two points early in the quarter, Tri-unity closed out the third on a 15-4 run to take a 40-27 lead into the fourth. Frankfort managed to cut the margin to 10 points before Tri-unity pulled away in the final quarter.

Defenders succeed at wearing them down

“Our desire was to really up the tempo of the game,” Keeler said. “We did not want them to walk the ball up the court. They had a couple of big guys and we wanted to get them tired so every chance we got we pushed the ball trying to wear them down. By the fourth quarter it seemed they were pretty tired.”

Tri-unity improved to 22-6 for the season, while Frankfort finished at 18-9.

14th appearance in the state semifinals

The Defenders made their 14th appearance in the semifinal round at the Breslin Center.

“It’s not so much the number of times we’ve been here so much as it is special for these young men to get here,” Keeler said. “This is a different group. Every year it is a different group of young mean and it’s something we don’t want to take for granted. Thise guys really love each other and play for each other.”



Tri-unity celebrates after its state semifinal win Thursday at MSU. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



The Defenders, who defeated Ewen-Trout Creek in overtime to win last year’s Division 4 state title, face Munising in Saturday’s championship game at 10 a.m. Munising (26-1) defeated Marine City Cardinal Mooney 55-44 in the other semifinal game.

“We know they are a good team and there is no quit in them,” Keeler said. “They had a lead on Cardinal Mooney before Cardinal Mooney came back at the end of the third quarter. Munising then turned it up a notch in the fourth quarter and pulled away. We are going to have to come in ready to play.”  

Tri-unity Christian boys heading back to Breslin Center after quarterfinal win Tuesday

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
Tri-Unity Coach Mark Keeler huddles his team at an earlier game this season. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Tied at 22 apiece at the half, Tri-unity Christian outscored Kalamazoo Phoenix 32-19 in the second half to grab a 54-41 win in a Division 4 quarterfinal Tuesday at Gull Lake High School.

The win advanced the Defenders (21-6) to a semifinal matchup with Frankfort (18-8) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University.

“The team is very excited and very tired; a lot of emotion,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team won a state title last year. “They are looking forward to playing in the Breslin Center.

“They (Kalamazoo Phoenix) jumped out on us and then we tied the game heading into the half. We started out nervous and scared. I was quite surprised by our start.  However, the boys settled down and we finished strong with excellent defense. We led most of the second half, but it was not decided until late in the fourth quarter.”

Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 16 points, followed by Owen Rosendall, 10 and Akais Giplaye, nine. Keaton Blanker had four assists and five rebounds.

Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 16 points. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)

“Roy played an excellent game the entire night,” Keeler said. “However, he was in foul trouble a lot, missing a lot of the second quarter and the last half of the third quarter.

“Owen Rosendall really stepped up big with excellent defense on Phoenix’s explosive guard.”

Keeler said they are looking forward to playing at the Breslin Center.

“Frankfort is a good team with nice size,” Keeler added. “We will need to be at our best to beat them.”

Boys Basketball: South Christian and Tri-unity advance to state quarterfinals next Tuesday

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
South Christian’s Jake Vermaas led with 28 points in his team’s regional final victory over Hamilton Wednesday. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


Division 2

Regional 12 at Vicksburg

Regional Final: South Christian 82, Hamilton 47

(SC: Jake Vermaas, 28 points; Jake DeHaan, 24)

State Quarterfinal: South Christian (23-3) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (18-9) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at Calvin University




Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 17 points. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)


Division 4

Regional 29 at Fowler

Regional Final: Tri-unity 62, Lansing Christian 44

(TU: Roy Fogg, 17 points; Wesley Kaman, 15; Jordan VanKlompenberg, 10 points, 5 assists, four steals; Owen Rosendall, 8 points; Akais Giplaye, 8 points 6 rebounds)

State Quarterfinal: Tri-Unity Christian (20-6) vs. Kalamazoo Phoenix (17-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at Gull Lake

Tri-unity uses long ball to beat Baldwin in regional semifinal Monday

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
Jordan VanKlompenberg led Tri-Unity with 20 points in the Defenders 79-36 win over Baldwin in their regional semifinal Monday.



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


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.

Boys Basketball: South Christian, Tri-unity advance to regional finals Wednesday

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , , , ,
Tri-unity’s Jordan VankKlompenberg led the Defenders with 20 points in his team’s regional semifinal victory. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)


By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


Division 1

Regional 3 at West Ottawa

Semifinal: Hudsonville 55, Rockford 50

Semifinal: Muskegon 68, East Kentwood 48

Regional Final: Muskegon vs. Hudsonville at 7 pm Wednesday at West Ottawa

Division 2

Regional 12 at Vicksburg

Semifinal: South Christian 72, Niles 33

(SC: Nate Brinks, 15 points. The Sailors had 10 3’s.)

Semifinal: Hamilton 63, Marshall 62

Regional Final: South Christian (22-3) vs. Hamilton (22-4) at 7 pm Wednesday at Vicksburg

Division 4

Regional 29 at Fowler

Semifinal: Tri-Unity Christian 79, Baldwin 36

(TU: Jordan VanKlompenberg, 20 points; Roy Fogg, 16; Wesley Kaman, 15; Akais Giplaye, 10 points, 8 rebounds; Fogg and Keaton Blanker, 5 assists apiece)

Semifinal: Lansing Christian 51, Fruitport Calvary Christian 40

Regional Final: Tri-unity (19-6) vs. Lansing Christian (16-9) at 7 pm Wednesday at Fowler

Shorthanded Tri-unity leans on defense in 52-22 win over Orchard View

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Sports, , , ,
After winning a state championship last season, Tri-unity tipped off 2022-23 with a 55-22 win over Muskegon Orchard View. (pxhere.com)



By Zach Fanko

WKTV Contributor


Despite a sluggish start offensively, Tri-unity Christian found its rhythm in the second half to pull away from Muskegon Orchard View 52-22 in its season opener Tuesday.

Without two returning key starters from a 2021-22 D-4 state championship, as well as last season’s leading scorer and Division 4 player of the year Brady Titus, the Defenders spread the scoring load out as Owen Rosendall led the way with 11 points.

“I really liked how we shared the ball tonight,” Tri-unity coach Mark Keeler said. “We have some really good players, but no dominant scorers yet like we had in Brady.”

Returning guard Jordan Vanklompenberg missed tonight’s game with a hamstring injury, as well as returning center Hanif James. The 6-foot-5 big man could miss up to six weeks with an injury sustained during football season.

Tri-unity (1-0) leaned on its defense in a low-scoring first half and led the Cardinals (0-1) 17-11 at the half.

With some adjustments made in the second half, the offense began to flow according to Keeler.

“We kind of forgot what we were doing on offense in that first half,” Keeler said. “We came out a bit more patient offensively in the second and I think once our kids settled in we were able to run our sets.”

Filling in for James, Trey Rillema added 10 rebounds and three blocks, one of which came on a chased-down rejection that Keeler described as “amazing effort.”

Sophomore guard Katon Blanker had an efficient night as well with nine points.

“Our trademark is defense and I think we were able to get them pressing a bit which led to some easy buckets,” Keeler said. “It’s always an adjustment when you have guys out and guys playing in new roles.”

WKTV Game of the Week on Friday

The Defenders host Northpointe Christian on Friday at 7 p.m. in WKTV’s Game of the Week presentation.