Unionville-Sebewaing vs. Reese – 10 Best
Unionville-Sebewaing 48, Reese 46 Friday was a big night for hoops in the Mid-Michigan area and Round 1 of the Greater Thumb West rivalry game between Unionville-Sebewaing (USA) and Reese did not disappoint. It wasn’t the easiest three quarters of…
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Continue ReadingUnionville-Sebewaing 48, Reese 46
Friday was a big night for hoops in the Mid-Michigan area and Round 1 of the Greater Thumb West rivalry game between Unionville-Sebewaing (USA) and Reese did not disappoint.
It wasn’t the easiest three quarters of basketball to watch, but USA carried a seven point advantage into the final frame that nearly gave way in the final minutes of the night.
Reese battled back in a big way, outscoring the Patriots 16-9 in the fourth and held a three point edge with three minutes remaining. The Rockets rattled off a 6-0 run late in the game thanks to clutch buckets from Bryce Brechtelsbauer, Gabe Robinson and Isaac Johnson. But in the end it was USA senior Micah Cramer with the late-game heroics, delivering the final blow with three seconds remaining and sending
Reese home with a loss in what will be the first of two regular season meetings.
MVP: Micah Cramer (2019) – USA
Cramer wrapped up the night with a game-high 17 points and delivered the game-winning shot for the Patriots. Born with basketball in his blood, hes the fourth of his brothers to start at guard for USA head coach Mark Gainforth – which includes the oldest brother – Stephen – who played professionally overseas and now runs his own basketball camps around the midwest.
Considering his bloodlines, his work ethic and his deadly jump shot, it’s easy to see why Coach Gainforth put the ball in Cramer’s hands during the final seconds of this rivalry game.
Best Offensive Player: Gabe Robinson (2019) – Reese
Despite finishing the game with a team-high 14 points, Robinson will be the first to tell you it wasn’t his best night on the offensive end of the floor. Still, the Univeristy of Michigan Dearborn commit’s ability to create and score was tops among both rosters Friday night.
Nine of Robinson’s points came in the first half but it was his timely buckets in the fourth that helped the Rockets tie the game up at 42 points apiece with 3:50 left in regulation.
As a team, the Rockets coughed the ball up early and often Friday, which kept USA in the game the entire night. But the Patriots also had a special game plan for trying to slow down one of the Thumb Area’s top scorer.
“As a team, we were ready to help out on him at all times. But we also had faith in whoever was on (Gabe) at any moment,” Cramer said. “We knew we had to play him tough, we couldn’t let him get hot because he’s one of the most dangerous guys in the Thumb.”
Best Intangibles: Tyler Heckroth (2019) – USA
One could easily argue that Hecktroth is USA’s most important player on both ends of the floor.
His efforts could have been aided by the added adrenaline from playing in a rivalry game, or playing in front of a home crowd on a Friday night – whatever it was, Heckroth used it to his advantage. The senior guard was on the floor for nearly every
loose ball, which resulted in bloody knees that stopped the contest on several different occasions. He also embraced contact, battled for boards and delivered big buckets when the Patriots needed them most. Heckroth is an all-around coaches dream.
He also showed why can be amongst one of the top scorers in Thumb area. Heckroth’s shots, at times, were ill-advised. But he has a never-stop mentality, a quick release and a frame that craves contact once he’s into the paint. Once the Patriots reach mid-season form, seeing him average a double-double shouldn’t come as a shock to area fans.
Honorable mention for this award goes to Reese’s Bryce Brechtelsbauer. Similar to Heckroth, this is the Rockets glue guy who is not afraid to get physical. He works hard in the paint and isn’t afraid to dish out contact when warranted. His well-rounded game and muscle will be vital to Reese’s success this season.
Under the Radar: Isaac Johnson (2020) – Reese
He shouldn’t be, but he still is.
Johnson turned it on late with a pair of big buckets down the stretch, including a clutch three with 3:40 left in the game that put Reese on top for the first time since the first quarter. The 5’9 junior played tentative in the first half, but proved that he could serve as the perfect compliment to Robinson within the Rockets offense.
Johnson averaged 12 PPG for Reese a year ago, but he’s gotten off to somewhat of a slow start through five games this season. Expect him to take put up larger names and contribute more offensively as the season rolls on and defenses gravitate more towards Robinson try to shut down his instant offense.
Best Underclassmen: Damarquss Palmreuter (2022) – Reese
As one of three freshman on this year’s squad, Palmreuter may be off to the best start. The 5’11 guard played with composure and tallied 11 points in his first of what’s sure to be many showdowns with USA.
While on the court, he showed the ability to distribute, defend, score and create and he did it with poise. I feel bad for any team that might run into the Rockets when Palmreuter, Robinson and Johnson are each feeling it on the same night.
Honorable Mention here goes to USA’s Landin Zimmer (2020). The kid can flat out shoot the ball and served nicely as a much-needed third weapon within the Patriots offense.
Play of the Game: Cramer’s game-winner as time expires
After a sloppy and dismal three frames of basketball, the fourth quarter provided wall-to-wall action.
With just under four minutes remaining, Reese received back-to-back buckets from Robinson and Brechtelshauer that tied the game up at 42. Then just seconds later Isaac Johnson netted a three with a defender in his face to give Reese a 45-42 edge.
However, it’s awfully hard to deny the game-winning shot of this award.
Just 12 seconds left in the fourth, game is all tied up, Cramer is alone out top…I’ll let some friends of mine take it from here.
My guys at Let’s Talk Sports – WIDL 92.1 out of Caro, MI got a great clip of the final shot. As did 2018 graduate and former Patriot hooper Hunter Bohn.
The Best Aspect of the Environment
There were several gymnasiums in the Mid-Michigan area that played host to big games, with even bigger crowds. But year after year, when these two teams get together, the atmosphere never disappoints.
As stated earlier, this wasn’t the cleanest three quarters of basketball that we’ve ever seen. But the fourth quarter was absolutely electric – mostly due in part to the fans and the student sections in attendance. And its not just friends, family and alumni who come out for this Greater Thumb Conference clash. Per usual, coaches, athletes and fans from all around the area were in attendance for this one, as proven by the scattering of various school colors throughout the stands.
USA’s gym has that homey feel with the classic red, white and blue color scheme and the fans right on top of the action. Once you throw in their new top-of-the-line scoreboards and video screens – this just become one of my favorite places in the area to take in a game.
Storylines to Watch
For USA – it’s all about consistency. Both Cramer and Hecktroth showed that they have the ability to lead and get the job done on offense. But can one do it without the other? Who is that third piece for the Patriots? Zimmer could fill that role as the teams silent assassin. Keegan Bixman (2021) and Connor Gettel (2021) played valuable minutes for USA. But aside from Cramer and Heckroth there weren’t many signs of drive or anyone who wanted the ball in their hands.
But no matter what happens between now and the month of March, if area fans know one thing, its to never count out a team coached by Mark Gainforth. Ever.
For the Rockets it will be about the contributions of Johnson and the growth of their freshman. As reported in their first game of the season, the potential of their three freshman is there. But their growth as the season progresses will be vital to Reese’s success late in the year.
Quote of the night: Cramer on the final seconds of the game and USA’s challenges ahead.
“That wasn’t an exact play that we were trying to run. (Reese) was really putting pressure on all of us, but I feel pretty confident in my left hand. I know I probably had some guys open on the outside, but after that first step…I also had a step on my man. So I decided to shoot it,” Cramer said with a smile. “We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us and our next showdown with Reese, I’m sure it’s going to be nuts. We just can’t take a single practice for granted. We have to get better every day, we can’t stay the same if we want to be successful this season.”