It was a week filled with statement performances, historic milestones, and momentum-building wins across the West Michigan Conference. Ludington’s Cam Gunsell etched his name into the Orioles record book by surpassing 1,000 career points in a rivalry win over Manistee, while Western Michigan Christian’s Maddie Folkema broke a decade-old single-season scoring record in a dominant victory over Montague. Beyond the milestone moments, teams across the area closed out the regular season with strong finishes, highlighted by balanced scoring, defensive intensity, and district-tournament momentum.
Ludington 68, Manistee 55
Milestones feel bigger when they happen at home and Cam Gunsell made sure Hawley Gymnasium had a moment to remember.
The Ludington senior scored 27 points Thursday night, becoming the 13th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points, as the Orioles closed out the regular season with a 68-55 WMC Lakes victory over Manistee. The milestone wasn’t just a number, it was a statement about a senior leader carrying momentum into March.
Why does it matter right now? Because Ludington isn’t just celebrating a record, it’s heading into the postseason undefeated in conference play. The Orioles finished 12-0 in the WMC Lakes and improved to 20-2 overall, and their leading scorer is peaking at exactly the right time.
Gunsell’s night was about more than the 1,000-point mark. He delivered when Ludington needed separation. The Orioles opened with a 17-9 first quarter and pushed the margin to 35-25 at halftime. Early in the third, they exploded on a 12-2 run to stretch the lead to 47-27, a stretch that felt like the decisive turning point.
But rivalry games rarely end quietly. Manistee responded with an 11-4 surge late in the third quarter to close within 51-38, refusing to let the night become only about celebration. Both teams scored 17 points in the fourth, but Ludington maintained its cushion and composure down the stretch.
That composure says something about this team. It’s not just talented, it’s seasoned. Taj Williams added 15 points and Kyle Himes Jr. chipped in 10, providing balance behind Gunsell’s headline performance. For Manistee, Ean Guenthardt led with 19 points while Braylen Zimmerman added nine in the loss.
Now the stakes shift. The regular season is complete. Records reset. The Orioles host district play Wednesday at Hawley Gymnasium, where the crowd has already shown it can rise to the moment. If Ludington continues to combine star power with balance and poise, the 1,000-point celebration could become just the opening chapter of something bigger.
Top Scorers
- Ludington
- Cam Gunsell – 27 points
- Taj Williams – 15 points
- Kyle Himes Jr. – 10 points
- Manistee
- Ean Guenthardt – 19 points
- Braylen Zimmerman – 9 points
Western Michigan Christian 59, Montague 40
Records are meant to be chased, but when they fall, they say something bigger about the moment.
Madie Folkema delivered a performance Western Michigan Christian fans will remember for years, pouring in 36 points with 12 rebounds and 8 steals in a 59-40 victory over Montague on Wednesday. The outburst pushed her season total to 432 points, breaking a 10-year single-season scoring record previously held by Aubrey Goorman.
Why does it matter right now? Because this wasn’t just a personal milestone, it came at a critical point in the season as the Warriors build momentum heading toward the postseason. It reflects a team finding its rhythm at the right time.
The Warriors opened on a 13-5 run and carried a 24-14 lead into halftime. After the break, the offense elevated to another level, scoring 21 third-quarter points to extend the margin to 45-28 and take full control.
Folkema’s scoring grabbed the headlines, but the bigger takeaway is what it says about Western Michigan Christian’s trajectory. The Warriors are not leaning on individual brilliance alone — they are pairing it with defensive pressure, pace, and confidence at both ends of the floor. If that continues, this record-breaking night could mark more than just a statistical milestone, it could signal a postseason surge.
Top Scorers
- Western Michigan Christian
- Madie Folkema – 36 points
- Montague
- Annelyse Schneider – 9 points
- Marguerite O’Connell – 9 points
- Gentry Knop – 8 points
BOYS BASKETBALL
Fremont 66, Orchard View 47
Fremont finished the regular season strong, jumping out early and keeping control throughout. The Packers led 34-20 at halftime and extended the margin to 53-35 after three on the way to the conference win.
Top Scorers
- Fremont
- Gabe Hulst – 27 points
- Orchard View
- Damari Wright – 13 points
Shelby 75, Holton 44
Shelby led wire-to-wire and pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 22-7 advantage to finish off the WMC-Rivers win. The Tigers carried a 39-24 halftime lead and stayed in control the rest of the way.
Top Scorers
- Shelby
- Eli Kelley – 23 points
- Holton
- Keon McMillan – 16 points
- Jacob Berghuis – 12 points
- Justin Dean – 9 points
Hart 60, Mason County Central 49
Hart tightened up defensively after halftime, turning a 29-29 tie into a 47-35 lead after three with an 18-6 third-quarter surge. Three Pirates reached double figures in the conference win.
Top Scorers
- Hart
- Luke VanderWilk – 18 points
- Caleb Ackley – 17 points
- Kolton Rockwell – 13 points
- Mason County Central
- Cole VanderHaag – 18 points
- Trent Hawke – 10 points
- Grayden Etchison – 9 points
Whitehall 69, Oakridge 34
Whitehall closed the regular season with a convincing win, led by a strong scoring night from Evan Thomas and a double-double from Hunter Osborne.
Top Scorers
- Whitehall
- Evan Thomas – 24 points
- Hunter Osborne – 16 points
- Oakridge
- (Not provided)
Muskegon 47, Mona Shores 43
Muskegon leaned on James Martin’s big night and strong finishing at the line to hold off Mona Shores in a close road win.
Top Scorers
- Muskegon
- James Martin – 20 points
- Arquez Petty – 10 points
- Mona Shores
- DeTravion Frederick – 11 points
- Caleb Johnson – 10 points
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hart 76, Mason County Central 42
Hart celebrated Senior Night with a dominant start, building a 53-16 halftime lead and never letting up. The Pirates had four players in double figures in the conference win.
Top Scorers
- Hart
- Aurora Virtanen – 18 points
- Rilynn Porter – 15 points
- Reese Smith – 13 points
- Leah Walker – 12 points
- Mason County Central
- Aubrey Chye – 12 points
- Sage Griswold – 9 points
Whitehall 58, Oakridge 24
Whitehall controlled the game early and cruised to the win, building a big halftime advantage and keeping Oakridge from finding any rhythm offensively.
Top Scorers
- Whitehall
- Clare Westerlund – 17 points
- Peyton Schultz – 13 points
- Ellie Conklin – 10 points
- Oakridge
- (Not provided)
Shelby 59, Holton 12
Shelby dominated from start to finish, holding Holton under five points in every quarter and getting production across the roster in the lopsided win.
Top Scorers
- Shelby
- Jayna Burmeister – 22 points
- Holton
- (Not provided)
Ravenna 62, Hesperia 13
Ravenna jumped out fast and never looked back, opening with a 27-0 first quarter and cruising the rest of the way.
Top Scorers
- Ravenna
- Natalie Rosel – 21 points
- Abby May – 12 points
- Sydney Morrissey – 12 points
- Hesperia
- Mollie Craig – 4 points
Fremont 68, Orchard View 25
Fremont rolled behind a balanced effort, building a 44-10 halftime lead and getting contributions up and down the lineup in the win.
Top Scorers
- Fremont
- Ella Shriver – 14 points
- Railee Durham – 10 points
- Orchard View
- (Not provided)
Ludington 60, Manistee 51
Ludington held off a late Manistee rally to secure the win and clinch at least a share of the conference title, leaning on steady scoring and timely defense down the stretch.
Top Scorers
- Ludington
- Claire Keith – 13 points
- Eloise Kwietniewski – 11 points
- Manistee
- Avamae Fett – 15 points
- Alayna Edmondson – 11 points
- Maya Goodspeed – 10 points
Muskegon 64, Mona Shores 22
Muskegon came out hot and never let Mona Shores back in it, building a 33-7 halftime lead and controlling the game with strong defense and efficient offense.
Top Scorers
- Muskegon
- Mariah Sain – 18 points
- Antanique Sargent – 14 points
- Camiyah Bonner – 14 points
- Mona Shores
- (Not provided)
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