#Senior night is something I cannot take credit for…I heard about it on ESPN radio then Scott Van Pelt featured it on SportsCenter…to honor those kids who aren’t going to be able to finish their careers in high school hoops in particular That gave me the idea to do something local for the three teams we covered this year in boys high school hoops that had a shot at a district title, and shout out to Clare who was also playing going to play for a district title before things got shut down (we just unfortunately did get to have any Clare games on the docket this year)…Let me start by saying I support the decision of the MHSAA the #1 thing they have in mind is safety and I commend them for making that tough decision. However, that doesn’t take away form the heart break facing the Seniors for Mt Pleasant, Beal City, and Sacred Heart Academy, and all the other boys and girls teams still playing, please feel free to share stories of other seniors below to let those kids know they are loved and appreciated! SCROLL DOWN TO FIND BEAL CITY and SACRED HEART!
It seems crazy to think these kids won’t be able to put on their schools jersey just once more…Not because a kid kicked a ball out of bounds, or a questionable call, or a missed shot, it’s because of covid-19. So I just want to take a moment to give some love to these teams seniors that may not be able to finish their season on the hard wood
We started with Beal and Sacred Heart, which leaves me with the Mt Pleasant Oilers, who are 20-1 and set to face a Dow team they beat 68-32 and 74-37 in their 2 games. It’s fair to say they had a great chance of winning a district crown. No offense to the Irish or Aggies, but this is the team that I feel the worst for…20-1; their lone loss to Grand Blanc. Also, if they were to face Grand Blanc again, it would have been in the regional final at Mt Pleasant! To go further why I feel for this team, they have three kids who played 4 years of varsity basketball two of which scored 1000 career points, that doesn’t happen a lot in class A hoops. This was a special class of seniors on the hardwood at Mt Pleasant..Back to those three in a few. This Oiler squad featured 8 seniors in total Luke Taylor and Carter Nostrant got to play some solid minutes in big oiler wins, but also stepped up when needed in some big moments in big games. I can still picture the bench erupting when Carter knocked in a three to cut the Grand Blanc lead to 5 in the valley title game, and Luke like father like son seemed to be a coach on the court for Coach Dan Schell. The rest of the six seniors were all stars in their own right, and if in their own years could have all been the best player on some really good teams….
- Alec Mills-Can shoot the rock let me start with that..If he is open he stretches the floor to take big men out of the paint, and he has great post moves down low (ask Ty Rogers). So offensively he can do it call; and defensively he will swat the ball back in your face and rip a rebound from your grip. If in a smaller conference Alec would have had a number of 20/20 games. Instead he fills a role perfectly for one of the top teams in the state. A kid who we will hopefully see hoping with some other youngsters for another couple years, did amazing work in limited minutes for this oiler team…Whether scoring or playing defense when he came in he seemed to know exactly what his team was going to need that night and he gave it to em. Every time I’ve watched Alec hoop I’ve been impressed…Even besting myself and Mike Huenemann in old man 21.
- Jack Payton can also shoot, he may have led the oilers in FG% this year in games I called and he is primarily a three point shooter. With so much attention payed to others Jack did a great job finding space on the perimeter and knocking down big triples for the oilers this year. Did I mention basketball isn’t his #1 sport? Jack has college baseball written all over him if he so chooses. His speed translates well to both sports and can beet a press on his own with that speed. What I liked about Jack’s game this year was picking his spots. He seemed to have the same “winning” impact on every game. Whether it was fourteen points on 4 three’s, or 5 steals and 5 assists because they slaughtered a team with the press, he always had a big impact. Similar to Alec..He needed to fill different roles on different nights and that was one of the big reasons the oilers were so successful this season.
- Tyrone Rios in every game JJ Pung called with me this year he called Tyrone the “glue guy,’ he just makes everything stick together on the floor. I think that is the best way to describe Tyrone! When facing teams with big athletic wings it was Tyrone who often relished in the challenge..and against Grand Blanc Tyrone was getting the better of Soph star Ty Rogers with great defense and a couple three pointers before getting into some foul trouble with a tough call or two. Tyrone not in foul trouble is what gives me a lot of belief that this oiler team could beat Grand Blanc if they faced them again. Tyrone doesn’t have a hole in his game..He has size, speed, handles, a great shot, and plays the game the way a coach dreams; always giving 110% & never complaining. Tyrone is someone who I would want on my team any time I play hoops, and I sure wouldn’t want him guarding me.
- Tyler Huenamin would be an All-State basketball player if he was a few inches taller I was told his Freshmen year…and darn it if he didn’t prove it to me over the next three years. Matter of fact, if basketball was his main focus that might have been a reality this year. Tyler was often matched up with players giving up some height, but he always made up for it and more with his strength and smarts. Since he was a Freshman one of the oilers top plays is let him put a kid under the hoop and get him the ball. When they got it to him, it was a foul or lay in most of the time. Tyler also has the speed to switch on to smaller defenders on the perimeter and may be the best I’ve ever seen in the back of a full court press. Making things difficult in when outnumbered 2 on 1…Did I mention he’s a football player?! These next two I will bring up are the two 1000 point scorers for Mt Pleasant, Tyler was probably pretty close, but I wanted to bring it up because Jo and Mason will tell you their 1000 isn’t happening without this big guy down low.
- Jo Ostrosky the Co-MVP of the Saginaw Valley League this year, a 1000 point career scorer between here and Marquette where he played his freshmen year. Jo had it all on display when the oilers faced Flint CA at SVSU..Knocking down 5 triples and scoring 25 points and putting on a show in front of a packed house with a lot of scouts. He dominated that game with space and pace two of the most underrated skills in basketball that Jo has mastered with his ball handling, shooting, and basketball IQ. Coach Schell said earlier this year that they get to practice so much extra stuff because Jo just knows how to break a press, he’s just that good. 2-2-1, full court man, it doesn’t matter he has it figured out like a master chess player. Often in games with Jo it would start with thinking he has a tough matchup tonight, but then every time at the end of the game you think..That guy might be the best player on the floor or at least right there with…
- Mason Wojtusik (I hope I spelled that right). Another youngster who I hope to see hoop a little bit more here in the area over the next couple years. Let me stat by saying if you didn’t see Mason play for the oilers in his four years..You missed it! Mason a 1000 point scorer had the skills to maybe put up 1500 or 2000, if he was a selfish player. He has it all…Basketball IQ, great handles, unreal athletic ability, and a silky smooth spin move and a jumper to go with it. Similar to Jo’s game vs Flint Carmen Ainswoth… Mason had all of his skills on display when the oilers bested Saginaw High in Saginaw for Coach Schell’s first ever win there! Mason had 31 points and held Saginaw’s top scorer to just 2 points in the fourth quarter..Mason started the game with a scoring fu=flurry to put the oilers up after the first quarter, but then as it got to the 4th quarter it seemed Saginaw had swung the momentum their way, but Mason wasn’t having it. He was relentless in the fourth quarter on both sides of the ball helping will his team to a victory. I Told him after it was everything I dreamed of seeing him do on the court for Mount Pleasant.
Now I just dream I can watch this group one more time…
When it comes to Sacred Heart similar to Clare we unfortunately didn’t see the usual amount of the Irish boys…Not to their fault, just with the oilers having a historic season across Mission St they were the squad to follow this year. These Sacred Heart boys won yet another MSAC title for Sacred Heart Academy and were set to face Fulton in Fulton for the district title. Sacred Heart featured seven seniors, Nick Cataldo, Nate Gruss, Michael Hopp, Austin Lobsinger, Jayden Oldenburg, Luke Pramuka, and Ben Ruggles.
Not all of these seniors played monster roles on this team, but the senior leadership they provided to Jr standouts Zach Wentworth and Luke Predum will pay big dividends for the program heading forward. In a school the size of Sacred Heart its important for upperclassmen to suit up for sports, even if it’s not their personal number one sport, and that’s what you saw with some of these youngsters…Nate Gruss knew he wasn’t going to be able to play after a knee injury, but still made some great senior memories with his friends.
- Ben Ruggles brought a lot of athleticism and toughness for the Irish, whether grabbing rebounds or banging against bigger offensive players down low; Ben helped fill a small void on this team after Oldenburg… size, with Jacob Fritz not in the lineup this year they needed some toughness down low and Ben brought that in spades..Also, if not for the two fore mentioned Jrs he could have been a focal point of the Irish offensive attack.
- Luke Pramuka didn’t see a ton of minutes in games I saw this year, but he brought a level of hustle off the bench that made him easy to put in the game if you were Coach Theisen. Nick Cataldo stepped up his game this year on the defensive end and I believe Pramuka followed suit. I’ll go right in to Nick’s love here..who started a bunch this year for the Irish and Andy Theisen Sr told me that they love what he brings to the table…Grit and grind type of player who has no problem defending the other teams best shooter and chasing them all over the floor..He also in the times I saw became a reliable option to help beat a press.
- That leaves me with three youngsters I got to see play a lot I’ll start with the big man Jayden Oldenburg who with his size and strength would have been a go to for a lot of smaller schools. However, with the talent around him the ball didn’t always come his way, but it didn’t stop him from dominating on defense down low and cleaning up on the glass. With his size and strength down low he could and hopefully still will be a part of a deep Irish playoff run. Teams coming out of the thumb would have been very intimidated by Oldenburg in the paint.
- Michael Hopp was what I called the energy guy for the Irish last year, but this year he blossomed into a all-around player and may have been the most improved senior in our area (no knock on his game last year but his scoring went through the roof in some games this year). It was all on display in the first game of the season when he dropped 27 points (give or take) vs Beal City to lead the Irish to their first victory over their rival since 2016, and rightfully earned the nickname “the hopper” with his incredible bounce and awesome last name…Side note he played this entire year with a big ole wrap on his shoulder…If it were me I don’t think I would have had the toughness to play agame..Let alone a season..let alone playing at a very high level!! Another youngster who battled injuries for the Irish, but played through is the last Senior I want to honor for the Irish..
- Austin Lobsinger, similar to Easton Yunker has been one of my favorite players to watch over the last several years. Also, a kid who could probably have jumped right on the air with me a called a game, the kid can talk (in a great way), and he has also hooked me up with cookies. It is evident that he loves playing sports..It’s obvious in his energy, hustle, and sportsmanship. Back to that SHA victory over Beal at the beginning of the year. There was a couple minutes left, the Irish are up by a basket or two, and the ball goes to Austin open on the perimeter and he has an open look…He doesn’t take it…He hesitates. In my mind I thought “I know he’s not afraid of the moment, why is he hesitating…” Well he was just four steps ahead of the broadcaster. Austin’s hesitation forced the defense to close out on him, he up fakes, and dishes to his wide-open teammate, the aforementioned Michale Hopp who had the hot hand that night. That moment sums up what Austin is all about and why high school sports are just the greatest…Young kids playing for the betterment of a group (Austin probably knocks down the shot), but he believes in his teammate and sets him up for success. If everyone did that in the real world…Things would be a lot better.. I hope and pray he also gets a hot to hit the links for the Irish this year!
So there’s my 2 cents on the Irish head back to FB to let us know your great memories of these kids and others for #seniornight
We will start with Beal City..Sacred Heart next and Mount Pleasant last..
It’s a little easier to talk about Beal City because they had one hell of a run in football going all the way to Ford Field! Even for those who didn’t put on a helmet, I’m sure the ride as an Aggie student was a senior experience they will never forget. A special class of champion football players translated well to the hardwood, but with that football run it took a lil time to get things going. Logan Chillman went down with an injury, but when he came back and the Aggies were at full strength they really began to roll! Matter of fact, with Chillman in the starting lineup the Aggies were 11-1 on the season. Their only loss by 6 points on the road at Manton. This Aggie squad was full of seniors: Easton Yunker, Ty Schafer, Logan Chillman, Ivan Paul, Trey Small, and Seth Schafer..I had the pleasure of watching most of these youngsters for a couple years and seen them continue a tradition of hoops that is in good hands next year with Jake Gross and others, but back to the seniors..
- Ty Schafer is a sharpshooter; someone you have to make put it on the floor. The last thing a defender wants to do is let Ty catch and shoot. He is one of the reasons that you saw very few teams play a zone against the Aggies, it would turn into a 3point contest with Ty finding the space and knocking shots down On the other side of the ball Ty is a gritty defender that I wouldn’t have a chance to get by, with Ty, Easton, and Trey in the front of the press it was a lot of trouble for teams in the Highland conference.
- Seth Schafer brought his same defensive QB skills from the gridiron to the hardwood. Whether anchoring a zone, press, or man to man his skills as an All-State MLB transferred directly into the paint. Blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, taking charges and out letting like Wes Unseld (google him) Seth can do it all defensively. Also, when called upon he is a force on the offensive block too, and I’ve seen his game move to the perimeter if left open as well..
- Ivan Paul has a game that combines Pau Gasol along with James Harden (give me a second to explain)…His smooth post game combined with his left-handed handle made him trouble for defenders at every turn. Ivan, like Harden has this quirky dribble game that seems in slow motion, until he drives by you and is at the rim. Ivan was also a player that just seemed to find his way in every game I saw with him..It wouldn’t seem like his name was called a lot; then you look down and he has 12 points, 6 rebounds, and a couple nice assists.
- Trey Small plays big…Bret Hyble coined it during football season and it rang true in hoops. Trey is a one man press, wearing down a point guards with his tenacity and a motor that never stops for four quarters..In the district opener vs Beaverton Trey hit maybe the biggest shot of the game to put his team up for good, after an excellent play call set him up for a corner three. Coach Cam Gatrell told me the last couple years that this has been maybe the hardest working team he has ever had..and it’s because of kids like Trey!
- Easton Yunker has been one of my favorites to cover the last couple years because of the pure joy he has while playing the games. Even after falling to Sacred Heart in the first game of the year he reached out to see if I had the game for him to listen himself. I’ve never had anyone do that…reach out after the loss for the audio broadcast…That just tells me this kid has things figured out a little bit more than the rest. On the court Easton is a teammate that anyone would dream to have. Always going to make the right play and not afraid to take and make a big shot. To go back to football, Aiden Midnel was always right place right time on defense…Tahts Easton Yunker playing basketball using his smarts to be in the right spot for the charge, the assist, the steal, or a crucial rebound. He was part of what I liked to call the two headed monster at point guard for the aggies the last couple years. Which brings me to…
- Logan Chillman who we’ll hopefully see and hoop a little more.. the 1000 pt scoring, 4 year varsity starter, Academic All Stater (others may have been, I just remember Logan was for sure) was a big time player for Beal City and will remain one of the best to lace em up for the Aggies for a long time. He is the guy I will bring up in 20 years; telling a kid “you’re pretty good, but you should have seen Logan Chillman hit back to back 3’s in 13 seconds vs Sacred Heart to send it to OT.” Which did happen last year and is the most clutch moment I’ve seen covering HS basketball..I mentioned the accolades, but I’ve also gotta say Logan is the only kid to hook me up with homemade cookies…But I think his best stat is what he did against his rival Sacred Heart Academy. In games he laced up his sneakers vs his rival he was 7-0!
So there’s my two cents about these great youngsters… Share some of you memories below in the comments if you could like! These Aggies had already won back to back district titles with another in sight, and I hope and pray something happens to give them a shot at 3 in a row!
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