Catholic Central vows to return to The Breslin after falling in state semifinals
Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior Brieland Watkins is fouled driving to the basket against Warren Lincoln on Friday, March 14, 2025 at The Breslin Center in East Lansing. Lincoln won 43-39. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Brieland Watkins was a little emotional after the game.
The result wasn’t what he wanted. But that didn’t stop the Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior from making a bold prediction.
“I feel like we’re definitely coming back here,” Watkins said. “We’re coming back to win the championship for sure. With our returning crew, we should be able to win it all.”
Catholic Central lost to Warren Lincoln 43-39 on Friday night in a Division 2 state semifinals at The Breslin Center.
“The first three quarters were in our favor,” Catholic Central coach Chris Pearl said. “We played hard and ready to compete. Warren Lincoln, for 32 minutes, was just a tad better than us.”
Zay Larthridge led Catholic Central (21-8) with 10 points, Jordan McCoy 8 and Jack Bowen had 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Pearl, a first-year coach, was happy with how his team played defensively.
“If you look at our schedule, we took Detroit MLK 36-33 and they’re in the quarterfinals in Division 1,” he said. “There’s only been two teams - in Rockford and Byron Center - who have been above 60 (points) against us. Defense has been our MO (modus operandi) and I didn’t think that’d stop today.”
Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior Jack Bowen drives to the basket against Warren Lincoln on Friday, March 14, 2025 at The Breslin Center in East Lansing. Lincoln won 43-39. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Catholic Central led for almost the entire first three quarters. The Cougars led 25-21 at halftime. Lincoln took its first lead with 40 seconds left in the third quarter at 35-33.
Lincoln is a really good 3-point shooting team, but Catholic Central held it to 1-of-2 in the first half from deep. But the Abes got hot in the second half draining 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
Lartridge was proud of how his team played on defense.
“I’m not surprised at all,” the junior said. “We’ve been doing that all season. That’s kind of our identity to play defense. We’ve got two of the best defenders in the state (in McCoy and Watkins) and we’ve got a good big, too (in Bowen).”
Catholic Central was just 1-of-10 from 3-point range.
“We weren’t shooting well,” Bowen said. “I don’t know what our 3-point percentage was, but definitely the paint game was our strength.”
Grand Rapids Catholic Central players at the postgame press conference on Friday, March 14, 2025 at The Breslin Center in East Lansing. From left, Jack Bowen, Zay Larthridge, coach Chris Pearl, Brieland Watkins and Jordan McCoy. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
The future looks bright
“We return 13 of the 15 guys on the roster with a strong strong JV and freshman crew that’s gonna compete to get to our level next year,” Pearl said. “So it’s gonna make my job tougher. But, as you see, I’m young. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
Catholic Central had five freshmen play on varsity at some point this season.
“All five of them look up to us,” McCoy said. “So we need to play hard to set an example for them. The whole season, two of them - Emani (Hinkle) and Carter (Burgin) - they worked their butt off all season. They made us better.”
Catholic Central tied for the O-K White Conference championship, won a district title, regional title and reached The Breslin.
“I’m super proud of this team,” Bowen said. “They’re gonna do great things next year. I can even admit, I didn’t to make it this far.”
Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior Zay Larthridge is guarded by Warren Lincoln’s Geon Hutchins on Friday, March 14, 2025 at The Breslin Center in East Lansing. Lincoln won 43-39. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Pearl likes the commitment of his players
“They’re in the gym more than the custodians,” Pearl said. “It makes this job look easier than it is when you have four committed guys like this that lead the charge. That spreads to the other guys on the roster. I wouldn’t have wanted my first year to be with anyone else.”
He wouldn’t be surprised to see all his players back in the gym soon.
“If I could have had 100 guys in the gym, I would have had 100 guys,” Pearl said. “Everyone has bought in at CC. That’s why we’re here on the second-to-last-day of the basketball season. This is just a testimony to the dedication, the commitment, the hard work that these guys have put in. I’m super proud.”
Larthridge finished the season leading the team with 15.6 points per game, Watkins 10.8, McCoy 9.1 and Bowen 8 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Watkins can’t wait to get back to The Breslin.
“We held a good offensive team to 40 points,” he said. “I think we can come back next year and do the same thing, but win it next time.”
Grand Rapids Catholic Central coach Chris Pearl on Friday, March 14, 2025 at The Breslin Center in East Lansing. It is his first season coaching the team. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
