The energy inside Gaylord High School on Tuesday night felt like March basketball at its best. With a Regional 9 championship on the line and a spot in the Division 2 state quarterfinals hanging in the balance, the Ludington Orioles delivered a performance built on timely shooting, tough defense, and clutch free throws late. When the final buzzer sounded, Ludington had secured a hard-fought 50–42 victory over Kingsford, claiming the regional title and sending the Orioles into the Elite Eight.
Ludington set the tone early, leaning on Cameron Gunsell inside to establish the offense. Gunsell powered his way to eight first-quarter points as the Orioles edged ahead 12–10 after the opening frame. Kingsford briefly grabbed momentum early in the second quarter when a three-pointer gave the Flivvers a 13–12 lead, but that moment sparked Ludington’s biggest surge of the night.
The Orioles erupted for 14 unanswered points, igniting the Gaylord crowd and swinging the game firmly in their favor. Three straight triples — from JT Keith, Messiah Himes, and Kyle Himes Jr. — fueled the run and showcased Ludington’s balanced attack. The Orioles outscored Kingsford 14–6 in the second quarter, carrying a 26–16 halftime lead into the locker room.
Courtesy of Jay Courtland
Ludington came out of the break with the same intensity, scoring the first three baskets of the third quarter to extend the lead to 32–16. Gunsell continued to dominate inside while Taj Williams added a smooth mid-range jumper to push the Orioles ahead by as many as 16 points. But Kingsford wasn’t finished. The Flivvers clawed back behind a determined effort, cutting the deficit to 38–30 by the end of the third quarter and eventually pulling within 43–40 midway through the fourth.
With the pressure mounting, Ludington turned to poise at the free-throw line. Kyle Himes Jr. calmly knocked down four straight free throws in the closing minutes, while Taj Williams and Cameron Gunsell each added two from the stripe to secure the win. Gunsell led the Orioles with a game-high 19 points, followed by Kyle Himes Jr. with 11 and Taj Williams with 10. Kingsford was paced by Gage Sorensen’s 15 points.
The victory pushes Ludington’s record to 24–2 and delivers the program its 16th regional championship. More importantly, it keeps the Orioles’ postseason run alive.
Next, the Orioles will face Freeland (23–3) in the Division 2 State Quarterfinal on Tuesday in Gaylord, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. While Ludington and Freeland have not faced each other this season, both teams have shown the ability to dominate quality opponents. Freeland enters the matchup on a strong run that includes decisive wins over teams like Bridgeport and Essexville Garber, while Ludington has built its resume with victories over Saginaw Swan Valley, Bay City John Glenn, and Essexville Garber as well. The common opponents suggest both teams can score and defend at a high level, setting up what should be a highly competitive quarterfinal matchup with a spot in the state semifinals at stake.
