Godwin Heights mourning loss of teammate in season opener

Players and coaches from Godwin Heights and West Ottawa have a moment of silence before their game on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

HOLLAND, Mich. - It’s been a rough few days for the boys basketball team at Wyoming Godwin Heights High School.

They are dealing with the loss of a teammate and friend.

Sophomore Cortez McConer Jr. was pronounced dead on Friday, Nov. 22. He had been missing since Oct. 26. For details on the story, Fox17 has a full story. 

“You’ve got basketball players and then you’ve got guys that just love to hoop,” Godwin Heights coach Bernard Varnesdeel said. “Cortez was a hooper. He was always in the gym. He had a good feel for the game.”

Before Godwin Height’s game on Tuesday at Holland West Ottawa, the schools honored three kids in West Michigan who lost their lives recently. In addition to McConer, Allendale senior basketball player Jacksen Fitton died last week. He played travel ball with a few of the West Ottawa players. Also being honored was West Ottawa student Lucas Garbarino, who died in a rock climbing accident in Utah.

Varnesdeel remembers McConer fondly.

“Great kid. Very quiet. Very humble,” Varnesdeel said. “He always had a little smile on his face. The boys at our school loved him.”

Godwin Heights held a vigil on Monday for McConer.

“It’s been a lot of emotions,” Varnesdeel said. “There’s really no plan for this. You don’t prepare for this when you get into the coaching world.”