Regional Final Preview: Zeeland East vs Forest Hills Northern
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We’re now into April, and one step closer to crowning this year’s state champions. Forest Hills Northern and Zeeland East enter this game as the best two teams in Division 1 from the OK Conference. Rarely do we get the…
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Continue ReadingWe’re now into April, and one step closer to crowning this year’s state champions. Forest Hills Northern and Zeeland East enter this game as the best two teams in Division 1 from the OK Conference. Rarely do we get the best two teams remaining playing each other for a trophy, but here we are. Below I’ll get into the matchups to watch for, top players from each team, and my prediction.
Forest Hills Northern (15-1) vs Zeeland East (19-0)
Game Info: Thursday, April 1st, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer High School @ 7:00 p.m.
Two dominant teams playing two contrasting styles typically favor the team that imposes their style of play. Zeeland East likes to make it a half-court game, using their patience on offense to get good looks, even if it means running through their sets for 30-40 seconds. Forest Hills Northern likes to get shots up off of ball-screen sets, which typically takes half the time of Zeeland East’s. How each team executes in the half-court will go a long way in determining the winner of this game.
Defensively, Zeeland East suffocates their opponents with length. Big man Nate Claerbaut Nate Claerbaut 6'10" | C Zeeland East | 2021 State MI is the best rim protector in the OK Conference. His 6’10″ frame covers a ton of ground, and his quick feet allow him to react to deny high-percentage shots in the paint. On the other hand, Zeeland East has yet to face a backcourt as dynamic as Forest Hills Northern. Trinidad Chambliss Trinidad Chambliss 6'2" | PG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI and Ethan Erickson Ethan Erickson 6'1" | SG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI both have the ball on a string, can create their own shot, and are great at setting up their teammates for quality looks. How the Chix handles Erickson and Chambliss will be fascinating. I wouldn’t be surprised if they mix some zone looks in on defense.
Playoff Road
Zeeland East: District Semi: Defeated Zeeland West 61-27, District Final: Defeated West Ottawa 33-20, Regional Semi: Defeated East Grand Rapids 49-30.
Forest Hills Northern: District Semi: Defeated Lowell 73-33, District Final: Defeated Forest Hills Central 62-54, Regional Semi: Defeated Grand Haven 61-57.
Key Players
Trip Riemersma Trip Riemersma 6'4" | SG Zeeland East | 2021 State MI , G, Zeeland East 2021″
Brandon Claerbaut Brandon Claerbaut 6'5" | SF Zeeland East | 2021 State MI , G, Zeeland East 2021″
Nate Claerbaut Nate Claerbaut 6'10" | C Zeeland East | 2021 State MI , F, Zeeland East 2021″
Luke Gruppen, G, Zeeland East 2021″
Trinidad Chambliss Trinidad Chambliss 6'2" | PG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , G, Forest Hills Northern 2021″
Ethan Erickson Ethan Erickson 6'1" | SG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , G, Forest Hills Northern 2021″
Gavin Fisher Gavin Fisher 6'6" | SF Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , F, Forest Hills Northern 2021″
Cole Rynbrandt, F, Forest Hills Northern 2021″
Prediction
I’ve gone back and forth in my head trying to figure out who will emerge as the last team standing in Division 1 from the OK Conference for a while now. Looking back on the season, it was clear that Forest Hills Northern and Zeeland East are the two best teams in the area in Division 1 and each has legitimate shots at winning a state championship. Ultimately, if Forest Hills Northern can speed up the Chix, knock down perimeter shots, and wear down Zeeland’s East’s frontcourt, then I like their chances.
Zeeland East has a considerable size advantage in the paint and will force Forest Hills Northern to use Dan Gutierrez, Gavin Fisher Gavin Fisher 6'6" | SF Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , and Cole Rynbrandt to defend him at all angles. Trip Reimersma and Brandon Claerbaut Brandon Claerbaut 6'5" | SF Zeeland East | 2021 State MI will have to step up and knock down shots if and when Nate is double-teamed. I’m expecting this game to come down to the wire, and possibly to who has the ball last.
Forest Hills Northern 51, Zeeland East 50