Observations and Top Performers From Quarterfinals

Last night, I was able to get out to Muskegon Orchard View high school to watch a Division 1 quarterfinal between two of the best teams from the Grand Rapids and Lansing areas. Check out my notes from that game as well as the top performers from around the state during Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

Forest Hills Northern 66, East Lansing 56

Last night, the Forest Hills Northern boys basketball team defeated East Lansing in a game where the Huskies nearly led from start to finish. Despite several comeback attempts by East Lansing, including an instance where the Trojans got within five points in the fourth quarter, Forest Hills Northern prevailed and is heading back to the final four for the first time since 2008.

Forest Hills Northern’s Backcourt Will Be Remembered For Years To Come

What else is there left to say about the dynamic backcourt of 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 went up against arguably the best backcourt they’ve faced all season in East Lansing’s Marcus Wourman Marcus Wourman 5'10" | PG East Lansing | 2021 State MI and David Wilkerson David Wilkerson 6'2" | PG East Lansing | 2021 State MI and were able to combine for 45 points to lead the Huskies to a berth in the final four. 

Trinidad knifed his way through the East Lansing defense time and time again, scoring timely buckets, as he has all season. Ethan Erickson Ethan Erickson 6'1" | SG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI started hot, scoring 7 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter. Ethan’s shot wasn’t as dialed in during the Huskies’ previous two games, but as shooters do, he kept shooting and found his groove early and often Tuesday night.

Transition Game Proved To Be A Difference-Maker

Several times last night, East Lansing applied full-court pressure against Forest Hills Northern, with little to no avail. The poise and patience that Erickson and Chambliss showed during those stretches kept Northern from giving up its lead. The chemistry between the two and the touch they put on their passes to teammates such as Gavin Fisher Gavin Fisher 6'6" | SF Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI for easy looks at the rim in transition helped the Huskies secure the win.

Huskies’ Front Court Steps Up

Forest Hills Northern was short a man in their frontcourt rotation and needed big games from Gavin Fisher Gavin Fisher 6'6" | SF Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI and Cole Rynbrandt against East Lansing’s bigs, who had a sizeable height advantage against Northern. Fisher and Rynbrandt stepped up, defending the Trojans bigs without fouling throughout the game. This, coming off a similar showing when the Huskies were able to limit Zeeland East’s lanky frontcourt in the regional championship, was possibly the difference maker in Tuesday’s win.

Top Performers From Quarterfinals

Foster Wonders Foster Wonders 6'5" | SF Iron Mountain | 2021 State MI , Iron Mountain

Foster scored 38 points in Iron Mountain’s 53-50 win over McBain. Iron Mountain will face Schoolcraft in a Division 3 semifinal at Michigan State’s Breslin Center at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Pierre Brooks Pierre Brooks 6'5" | SG Detroit Douglass | 2021 State #76 Nation MI , Detroit Douglass

Pierre led the Hurricanes with 35 points in Detroit Douglass’s 68-56 win over Southfield Christian. Detroit Douglass will face Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in a Division 4 semifinal at the Van Andel Arena at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Jason Drake Jason Drake 6'2" | CG Ferndale | 2022 State MI , Ferndale

Jason scored 30 points in Ferndale’s 73-68 win over Croswell-Lexington. Ferndale will face Grand Rapids Catholic Central in a Division 2 semifinal at the Van Andel Arena at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Carmelo Harris Carmelo Harris 6'0" | CG Flint Beecher | 2022 State MI , Flint Beecher

Carmelo paced the Buccaneer’s with 29 points in Flint Beecher’s 71-46 win over Detroit Loyola. Flint Beecher will face Hanover-Horton in a Division 3 semifinal at Michigan State’s Breslin Center at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Tyler DeGroote Tyler DeGroote 6'7" | SG Schoolcraft | 2022 State MI , Schoolcraft

Tyler led the Eagles with 26 points in Schoolcraft’s 59-47 win over Covenant Christian.

Kentrell Pullian Kentrell Pullian 6'0" | CG Benton Harbor | 2021 State MI , Benton Harbor

Kentrell led Benton Harbor with 26 points in the Tiger’s 83-72 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

Kaden Brown Kaden Brown 5'10" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2023 State MI , Catholic Central

Kaden led the Cougars with 25 points in Catholic Central’s win over Benton Harbor.

Brady Titus Brady Titus 5'10" | PG Tri-Unity Christian | 2022 State MI , Tri-Unity Christian

Brady paced the Defenders with 25 points in Tri-Unity’s 56-44 win over Webberville. Tri-Unity will face Rudyard in a Division 4 semifinal at the Van Andel Arena at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Ethan Erickson Ethan Erickson 6'1" | SG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , Forest Hills Northern

Ethan led the Huskies with 24 points in Forest Hills Northern’s 66-56 win over East Lansing. Forest Hills Northern will face Grand Blanc in a Division 1 semifinal at Michigan State’s Breslin Center at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

David Wilkerson David Wilkerson 6'2" | PG East Lansing | 2021 State MI , East Lansing

David led East Lansing with 24 points in the Trojans loss to Forest Hills Northern.

Trinidad Chambliss Trinidad Chambliss 6'2" | PG Forest Hills Northern | 2021 State MI , Forest Hills Northern

Trinidad scored 21 points in the Huskies’ win.

Evan Engelsma, Covenant Christian

Evan scored 20 points in Covenant Christian’s loss to Schoolcraft.

Marcus Wourman Marcus Wourman 5'10" | PG East Lansing | 2021 State MI , East Lansing

Marcus scored 19 points in the Trojan’s loss to Forest Hills Northern.

Jaylen Hodges Jaylen Hodges 6'3" | PG Bridgeport | 2021 State MI , Bridgeport

Jaylen scored 19 points in Bridgeport’s 52-41 win over Escanaba. Bridgeport will face Battle Creek Pennfield in a Division 2 semifinal at the Van Andel Arena at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Orlando Lovejoy Orlando Lovejoy 6'3" | CG 1 of 1 Prep | 2022 State NC , Romulus Summit Academy

Orlando scored 19 points in the loss to Battle Creek Pennfield.

Kareem Rozier, Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s

Kareem scored 18 points in the Eaglets’ 58-53 loss to Grand Blanc.

Julian Lewis Julian Lewis 6'5" | SG Ann Arbor Huron | 2021 State MI , Ann Arbor Huron

Julian paced the River Rats with 18 points in Ann Arbor Huron’s 44-34 win over River Rouge. Ann Arbor Huron will face Warren De La Salle in a Division 1 semifinal at Michigan State’s Breslin Center at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Ty Rodgers Ty Rodgers 6'6" | SF Grand Blanc | 2022 #34 Nation IN , Grand Blanc

Ty led the Bobcats with 17 points in Grand Blanc’s win.