The air felt different all across West Michigan Friday night. From Ludington to Montague to Muskegon, gyms were packed wall-to-wall with eager crowds and hyped fans who knew exactly what was on the line, one more win to keep the season alive, one loss and it’s over. Every court had its own story unfolding in real time: early runs that shook the building, timeout huddles that felt like turning points, and fourth-quarter possessions where the entire place seemed to lean in at once. Seniors emptied the tank, underclassmen tried to become legends, and every bucket, stop, and whistle hit a little louder because it was district night. Not just basketball, pressure, pride, and March energy everywhere you looked.
Ludington Pulls Away in a Physical Battle with Hart, 62-49
The District 35 final between Ludington and Hart wasn’t flashy, it was gritty, physical, and hard-earned.
Hart came out firing, jumping to a 5-0 lead and showing they weren’t intimidated. But Ludington answered with a 10-0 run to take control, and from there it became a heavyweight fight.
At halftime, the Orioles clung to a 27-21 lead. Hart refused to fold, battling inside and matching Ludington’s intensity possession for possession. After three quarters, it was still a game at 40-31.
But championship teams close and Ludington did just that.
Taj Williams led the way with 17 points, Cameron Gunsell added 14, and the Orioles outscored Hart 22-18 in the fourth quarter to seal the 62-49 victory.
Hart was paced by Jagger Lennon (15) and Kolten Rockwell and Caleb Ackley (12 each). The Pirates fought until the final horn, but Ludington’s composure and balance proved to be the difference.
Fruitport Finishes the Job, Avenges Early-Season Loss, 58-46
Sometimes March is about redemption.
Fruitport entered its district final against rival Spring Lake with something to prove after dropping a matchup earlier in the season. This time, there would be no slow start, the Trojans came out attacking.
Fruitport led 18-10 after one quarter and tightened the screws defensively in the second, holding Spring Lake to just two points in the period to take a commanding 29-12 halftime lead.
Sophomore Dexter Lillmars was unstoppable. He scored 28 points, attacked the rim relentlessly, and set the tone from the opening minutes. Hudson Hazekamp added 12 points, while DayDay Williams chipped in 11.
Spring Lake, led by Max Feltner’s 14 points and Maddux Kipling’s 11 points and nine rebounds, never quit, but Fruitport controlled the game from start to finish.
The 58-46 win gave the Trojans their second district title in school history and erased the sting of that earlier loss. More importantly, it punched their ticket to regionals and proved they’ve grown since that early-season setback.
WMC Delivers the Night’s Biggest Upset
If there was one result that shook the district landscape, it was Western Michigan Christian’s 49-43 win over state-ranked North Muskegon. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement.
The game was tight from the opening tip. North Muskegon led 10-9 after one, and the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 20-20. Every possession felt magnified. Every defensive stop mattered. And in the second half, WMC executed its game plan to near perfection.
Tyson Annema poured in 19 points and Lucas Weare added 18, accounting for the bulk of the Warriors’ offense. More importantly, WMC controlled tempo and limited North Muskegon’s usual rhythm. The Norsemen, who entered at 22-1, were led by Adam Dugener’s 19 points, but they could never fully seize momentum.
“We had a solid game plan, and our boys executed that plan at a high level,” said WMC coach Matt Haveman.
For a team that entered the tournament at 10-10, knocking off a state-ranked powerhouse to advance to regionals is what March is all about.
Kent City 69, Ravenna 43
Kent City used a dominant second quarter to turn a tight game into a championship celebration. After a slow start that saw the teams tied 6-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Eagles erupted for a 23-9 run in the second to take a commanding 29-15 halftime lead. From there, Kent City continued to control the tempo, extending the lead to 48-29 after three and never allowing Ravenna to threaten down the stretch.
The Eagles leaned on their size and interior presence, while their balanced scoring attack kept the Bulldogs chasing all night. Ravenna battled behind a big scoring effort from Dylan May, but Kent City’s depth and second-quarter surge proved to be the difference.
Top Scorers:
Kent City: Aaron Vanderwest – 25 points; Grant Ferguson – 10; Isaiah Stuhan – 9; Aiden Farr – 8
Ravenna: Dylan May – 24 points; Brady Karchinski – 12
Grant 78, Fremont 51
Grant wasted no time asserting itself in the Division 2 final, catching fire from beyond the arc early and never cooling off. The Tigers knocked down six three-pointers in the first quarter alone, racing out to a 24-8 lead. Their defensive pressure added to Fremont’s struggles, forcing turnovers and limiting clean looks at the basket.
By halftime, Grant had built a 39-14 cushion. Fremont showed fight in the third quarter, briefly cutting the deficit, but the Tigers answered with another barrage from deep to stretch the lead to 62-32 entering the fourth. In total, Grant buried 13 three-pointers and had all five starters reach double figures in a complete team performance.
The victory keeps Grant undefeated at 24-0 heading into regional play.
In a matchup that felt bigger than a district final, Rockford stormed into Muskegon and seized control early. The Rams opened the game on a stunning 16-0 run and led 24-5 at the end of the first quarter, setting the tone in a packed gym.
Muskegon refused to go quietly. After trailing by 19 at halftime, the Big Reds chipped away in the second half, led by a heroic performance from James Martin. The senior poured in 48 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter, trying to will his team back into contention. Muskegon cut the deficit to seven in the fourth before Rockford responded with an 11-0 run to regain control.
Both teams exploded for 33 points in a wild final quarter, but Rockford’s balanced scoring and early cushion proved too much to overcome.
Top Scorers:
Rockford: Jacob Bascom – 27 points; Eli Wolfe – 19; Jace Opoku-Agyeman – 12
Muskegon: James Martin – 48 points; AJ Lambers – 9; Arquez Petty – 6
