Tag Archives: Wyoming Wolves varsity basketball games

Wyoming Wolves rain 3s, knock out host Caledonia to advance to District title game Friday

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Wyoming high’s Alyjah Chandler shoots over Caledonia’s Nic Bender in the Wolves 80-61 win over Caledonia in District tournament action. (WKTV/Pat Moll)

By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director

Caledonia hosted the Michigan High School Division 1 boys basketball District tournament this week and they welcomed Thom VanderKlay and his Wyoming Wolves Wednesday night in semifinal action.

The Fighting Scots won the opening tip to start the game and the first quarter 13-8, but the Wolves took control after that, hitting 14 3-pointers on the night, and prevailed in the end by a score of 80-61 to improve to 14-7 on the year.

They will play East Grand Rapids for the championship Friday night, after the Pioneers defeated Byron Center, 53-52, to improve to 11-10 on the season. (For complete local district action, see a WKTV update here.)

Wyoming high’s Gene Atkins shoots for 3-pointer in the Wolves 80-61 win over Caledonia in District tournament action. (WKTV/Pat Moll)

The Wolves opened the scoring with the first 4 points before Caledonia got on the board with a free throw by senior Liam Mulnix with just over 6 minutes remaining.  After another Wyoming basket by their own senior, and leading scorer, Ramere Draper, the Scots would score the next 12 to go up 13-6. Wyoming’s Jordan Love would score the final 2 points to cut the deficit to 5 just before the buzzer.

Nick Henry led the way for Caledonia coach Phil Visser’s team with 6 and Mason McKenzie chipped in 4.  In addition to Draper’s 2, the Wolves had 4 points from Jaleil Holt.

The momentum gained from Love’s late basket continued to start the second quarter as Wyoming went on a 14-0 run of their own as the Wolves offense started to gel as the taller Scots would stay in their zone defense, only to have Draper, Holt, and Alyjah Chandler combine for 5 triples in the quarter.

That helped the Wolves take a lead, and control of the game, that they would not relinquish.
 

After a Henry basket for the Scots, Holt was fouled attempting a 3-point shot and would make all three free throws to make the score 23-15.  Caledonia’s Elijah Holt would cut that lead down to just 5 with a triple of his own, but the Wolves would quickly respond with another 11-0 run to take a 16-point lead into the locker room, 34-18.

Draper, aided by his three triples, would finish with 15 points at the half. Holt was close behind with 12, while the Scots were led by Henry with 8.  Wyoming outscored Caledonia 26-5 in the quarter.

The third quarter was a repeat of the second, even though Caledonia would double their first-half total with 18 points, Wyoming would put up 31 to increase the lead to 29 at the buzzer, 65-36.

Wyoming high’s Ramere Draper shoots over Caledonia’s Mason McKenzie to connect on one of his seven triples on the night in the Wolves 80-61 win over Caledonia in District tournament action., (WKTV/Pat Moll)

After exchanging points early in the final stanza, the Wolves would again run off 12 consecutive points to stretch the lead to 52-25.  Caledonia senior Gavin Hurst came off the bench to score 8 points in the quarter, but his team again had no answers for Draper, who connected on another four 3-pointers giving him seven makes on the night, 14 points in the quarter, and a game-high 29 to close it out.  He had help from Qua’dir Hatchett who chipped in 9 points after being shut out in the first half.

 

The final quarter was just a formality, but the Scots would continue their fight and were able to outscore VanderKlay’s Wolves 25-15, as he had subbed most of his key players by early in the quarter. Caledonia, again led by Hurst with 8 more points in the quarter, and 7 by Mulnix, while the victors were led by Hatchett and Jameson Lamrouex, each with 5 points.

The leaders on the night for the Wolves were Draper with 29, Holt with 15 and Hatchett  with 14, while the Scots were led by Hurst with 16, Mulnix with 11 and Henry with 10.

The Wolves combined for 14 triples on the night while Caledonia had 5. Unofficially, Caledonia had 25 turnovers for the game and Wyoming took advantage of them by scoring 28 points off them, while Wyoming had 13 turnovers of their own, but only gave up 4 points off them.  Caledonia concludes their season at 11-11.

 

WKTV Sports Connection checks in with Wyoming high basketball teams waiting for action

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Wyoming high boys basketball coach Tom Vander Klay visits the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection. (Wolves girls coach Troy Mast’s interview is later in this story.)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, as part of our continuing series of shows focused on different local high school and their sports departments, we check in with the Wyoming High School Wolves basketball teams — both of which were already dealing with pandemic-related restrictions even before the latest state and MHSAA orders.

Visiting the WKTV studios last week (and before this week’s Michigan High School Athletic Association additional temporary restrictions on practices and competitions) are two coaches who have long histories of coaching and coaching success in Wyoming Public Schools, head boys basketball coach Thom Vander Klay and head girls basketball coach Troy Mast.

Both Vander Klay — who had his outstanding 2019-20 team’s season cut short by COVID-19 early this year — and Mast talk with WKTV volunteers Mike Moll and Paul Kabelman about how their teams are handling COVID-19 restrictions, their opinions of the Wolves’ shift of conferences from the OK Gold to OK Green, and a preseason outlook for their 2020-21 teams.

But we also reached out to the coaches this week, on Nov. 17, to see what the latest round of restrictions mean to their programs.

“Currently, we are completely paused for 3 weeks with no team practices or in-person meetings allowed,” Mast said to WKTV. “This is putting our team further behind where we are normally at this time of year.

“However, our job is to be ready when we are allowed to get back to work. Our kids will be excited to get back into the gym ASAP and looking forward to competing against each other in practice in preparation for whatever schedule is put in front of us.”

The Wolves girls were scheduled to start competition Dec. 1 at home against Comstock Park, but that game has even cancelled, along with a home game Dec. 4 against Forest Hills Central and a road game Dec. 8 at South Christian. Dec. 8 also would have been the night of the Wolves boys team’s first game, which would have had the Sailors visiting Wyoming.

“At this point the boys will be able to start tryouts Dec. 8 unless the state tells us differently and/or extends its order. That would have been the date of our season opener against SC (South Christian),” Vander Klay said to WKTV. “So we will have tryouts, get our rosters set on each level and then prepare as quickly as possible for competition.

“Of course, we cannot scrimmage other teams before we play so that will be interesting as those preseason scrimmages reveal so much about the players and the team — and what the coach needs to work on. … My guess is that early game results will be much different than games at the end of the year.”


WKTV Journal Sports Connection, with this latest episode hosted by WKTV volunteer Cory Dalton, brings its audience interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports, both on cable television and on our on-demand and YouTube channels. Readers can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting wktvjournal.com/sports.

WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of highs school athletic events and other sports, at WKTVlive.com. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

Photos: Wyoming Wolves open boys basketball season with win over Jenison

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The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team opened the season Dec. 13 with an 84-47 non-conference home win over Jension. (Curtis Holt)

By WKTV Staff (Photos by Curtis Holt)
ken@wktv.org

The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team opened the season Dec. 13 with an 84-47 non-conference home win over Jension.

Curtis Holt, Wyoming sports fan and City of Wyoming City Manager, was there and sent WKTV some great photos.

In the game, the Wolves were led by a huge night from senior Menalito McGee, who scored 34 points including 9-of-18 from 3-point distance. Senior Diego Ledesma scored 15 points, while senior Marion Parks added 14 points and six rebounds.

The Wolves (1-0) play at Grand Rapids Northview Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Tip-off of the Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball season Dec. 13 against Jension. (Curtis Holt)
Wyoming High School Wolves senior Diego Ledesma (1) in action Dec. 13 against Jension.
The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team in action Dec. 13 against Jension. (Curtis Holt)
Wyoming High School Wolves senior Monte Parks (20) in action Dec. 13 against Jension. (Curtis Holt)
The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball fans were into the team’s Dec. 13 home game, a 84-47 non-conference home win over Jension. (Curtis Holt)

Leading the Wolf Pack

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Students say the student section has created excitement and unity.
Students say the student section has created excitement and unity.

Energy from Student Section Spreads through High School

by Erin Albanese, School News Network

 

Wyoming High School seniors Darren Dannah and Mitch Hendrickson know how to work a crowd.

During every Wyoming Wolves girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball home games they lead a lively group of their “peer a cheer” section where they dance, chant, and board the now famous “Roller Coaster” ride.

“Buckle up!” they shout as the Wolf Pack of about 100 students pretends to secure shoulder harnesses, making a loud “whoosh” sound. They then move in sync, arms up, as if they are on a wild roller coaster ride filled with dramatic twists and turns.

The students cheer on the home team.
The students cheer on the home team.

Seniors Darren Dannah (in front) and Mitch Hendrickson (in hat) started the Wolf Pack student section.
Seniors Darren Dannah (in front) and Mitch Hendrickson (in hat) started the Wolf Pack student section.

Darren, a football player, and Mitch, a bowler, have begun what they hope continues as a tradition at Wyoming High School. Students join forces to cheer, revving up the teams and crowd, and bringing a heightened sense of unity into the school day.

“We’re getting our players hyped, getting energized and it shows on the court,” Darren said.

“Everybody can show up; nobody’s left out,” Mitch said.

The effort is totally student-led, with word on the night’s theme for each game traveling through the student body. The Wolf Pack has become a sea of pink, purple, white and neon. They’ve been pajama-clad teenagers and Hawaiian tourists in colorful shirts and leis.

The students received recognition from Mlive as one of the Top 10 best student sections in the state.

Darren and Mitch spoke excitedly, often in unison, to describe the fun. They said the Wolf Pack has created a bond among students, giving them something positive to do together. It is their way to give back.

Students gather before a girl’s varsity basketball game.
Students gather before a girl’s varsity basketball game.

“It’s a legacy. That’s exactly what it is,” Darren said.

During the recent girls’ district game against West Ottawa, the high school students cheered the team on, with elementary and middle school students joining them in chants and dances. Wolf Pack pride has spread throughout the district.

“It’s well-known throughout the entire school that not only are these kids talented, they are nice,” said Wyoming Athletic Director Ted Hollern.

The Class of 2015 has shown great leadership, he said, showing spirit without being negative about the opposing team.

“It’s striking how many compliments we get from alumni and parents,” Hollern said. “We are all very proud. This is one thing they can do to have fun and look forward to, and give back to the school and the people that care about them.”