Division 3, Regional 24 Championship Game: Buctown Beatdown
Flint Beecher 65, Unionville-Sebewaing 42 It was a game that Flint Beecher and head coach Mike Williams had waited all year for. Each season, making it to the State Finals is a top priority for the Bucs. After winning back-to-back…
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Continue ReadingFlint Beecher 65, Unionville-Sebewaing 42
It was a game that Flint Beecher and head coach Mike Williams had waited all year for. Each season, making it to the State Finals is a top priority for the Bucs. After winning back-to-back state titles in 2016 and 2018, the Patriots upended Beecher in last years Regional round, marking an upset that shook up hoops fans around the state.
But this year, the Bucs made it personal. Beecher controlled the game from start to finish Thursday night, earning a 65-42 Regional Championship that makes them now one game away from playing in the state finals at Breslin Center, home of the Michigan State Spartans. Should the top-ranked Bucs return home with a Division 3 state title, it’d be the program’s sixth in the last eight years.
MVP: Landin Zimmer (2020) – USA
In my opinion, the MVP award for the night is never given to a player from the losing team. But for this game, I’m making an exception.
Coming off a Regional Semifinal matchup where he tallied a team-high 29 points, many expected Micah Cramer (2019), Tyler Heckroth (2019) and others to lead the way against Beecher. Instead, Zimmer doubled down, putting up 26 points on the back of six three-pointers.
Beecher threw their best defenders at Zimmer and still he got off shots. Shots that included NBA-range three’s and impressive step-backs that, at times, nobody thought he’d get to fall.
Sure, USA’s only loss of the season was a 23-point loss to the top-ranked team in the state. But what Zimmer managed to accomplish, blanketed by the two toughest defenders he saw all season, impressed fans on both sidelines.
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE: Jalen Terry (2020) and Earnest Sanders (2020) – Flint Beecher
You can’t stop Beecher’s 1-2 punch. You can only hope to contain them.
Terry and Sanders’ ability to be floor leaders, co-exist and get teammates involved is second to none in the state of Michigan. The duo wowed on offense by getting to the basket with ease and finishing strong in the paint. They also played a big part in Beecher’s air-tight defense that held USA to just 16 points in the first half.
Terry finished the night with 18 points while Sanders tallied 15.
BEST DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE: Keyon Menifield (2021) – Flint Beecher
As the season has rolled on, Sophomore guard Keyon Menifield has really made a name for himself behind the shining stars of Terry and Sanders. While contributing his fair share on the offensive end, its been Menifield’s defense that stands out among his skill sets.
Thursday night Menifield was played a huge roll in Beecher’s swarming defense that silenced USA guards Cramer and Heckroth, limiting them to just six and three points respectively.
YOUNG BUCS
While to some it may seem that Terry and Sanders are going on their fifth year within the Beecher program, others may not realize just how young, and talented Coach Williams’ roster is.
The Bucs starting five consists of two juniors, two freshman and one sophomore – setting them up perfectly for another solid run at multiple state titles.
One of those underclassmen who had a breakout game was Carmelo Harris, who notched a team-high 20 points in the Bucs 11th straight win. Harris played a big part of setting the tone for the Bucs early on, knocking down a pair of three’s in the first quarter and scoring seven points in the second to help his squad go into the break up 14.
PATRIOT LEGACY
It’s been one wild ride for the Patriots, who have lost just a pair of games in the last two seasons. Along the way, longtime coach Mark Gainforth notched his 400th career victory and the Patriots clinched their fourth straight District Championship while falling short of what would have been the programs seventh Regional crown.
Gainforth and the USA faithful will no doubt miss seniors Cramer and Heckroth, who have both had huge hands in the Patriots success these last three years.
Perhaps Heckroth’s career-defining moment came a year ago when he scored 21 points on six three’s to help his squad sneak past Beecher. And for Cramer, he marks the last in an impressively talented line of five brothers before him who have all played under Coach Gainforth.
Together, the pair of Patriots helped their program to a 65-8 overall record, a 32-0 record in the Greater Thumb Conference’s West Division and three conference championships.