The Invite recap: DeKuiper helps lead Rockford past Northview in a battle of titans

Rockford senior Michael DeKuiper had a team-high 14 points as the Rams beat Northview at The Invite at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Michael DeKuiper was pretty banged up last year.

The Rockford High School guard was injured after his junior football season and was never 100 percent during the basketball season.

But DeKuiper is back to normal this season. 

He helped lead Rockford to a 57-49 win over Northview at The Invite showcase at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14.

“He’s been incredible,” Rockford coach Kyle Clough said. “He went through such a hard season last year. He was injured 95 percent of the year. He’s had one of the best offseasons of any player that I’ve had here. He was very determined. And tonight, I think you’re starting to see some of those results. He was great tonight.”

Rockford freshman Eli Wolfe is helped up by teammates Josh Bascom, left, and Michael DeKuiper at The Invite at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

DeKuiper scored two early buckets to help set the tone and finished with a team-high 14 points to help Rockford improve to 4-0. 

“I thought, early on, he set the tone for us,” Clough said. “Then he made some big ones late, too. He’s a great leader for us. I’m glad to see him play so well on a big stage.”

DeKuiper, who has committed to play basketball at Calvin, said he loved the atmosphere in the gym.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was like a playoff atmosphere out here. We had been looking forward to this game for awhile.”

Jake Bascom, Rockford’s powerful junior forward scored six of his eight points in the first quarter and finished with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. 

“He’s amazing,” DeKuiper said. “He controls the paint. He’s one of the best players in West Michigan.”

Junior Dylan Gross drained two 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.

“He’s awesome,” DeKuiper said of Gross. “He’s the best shooter in West Michigan and he runs the floor. He was able to finish at the rim a few times, too. He was great.”

Rockford junior Dylan Gross drains a 3-pointer at The Invite at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Rockford controlled the pace of the game. They led by a commanding 34-21 lead at halftime. In the first half, the Rams held Northview star Brady Swartz to just one field goal. Cam Ryans, the Wildcats other star, was doing all the scoring. He had nine at halftime.

“Cam and Brady put so much pressure on your team,” Clough said. “They’re so good. We knew it was going to take five strong (defensively) to make it tough as possible on ‘em. The defense was always going to be the key for us. That’s kind of our formula and we made just enough plays offensively at the end.”

Ryans, one of the best juniors in the state, finished with 22 points, including three 3-pointers. He also had 10 rebounds. Swartz, who signed with Western Michigan University, had 14 points and 11 rebounds. But he was just 6-of-13 from the free-throw line. 

The Invite is put on by Jason Martin of the Grand Rapids Storm. It was sponsored by PowerStrength Training. 

Grand Haven senior Kaden Strong had 25 points at The Invite at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND HAVEN 78, GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN 61

Grand Haven had the biggest upset of the tournament. The Buccaneers controlled the game from the opening tip. They led 23-13 after the first quarter and 42-29 at halftime. 

Senior Kaden Strong led all scorers with 25 points. The senior guard has signed with Grace Christian University to play basketball. Will Korenstra, a senior guard, had 12 points and junior Will Plummer 9 for Grand Haven (3-1). Korenstra has committed to play football at Grand Valley State. Two sophomores also played a big role for the Bucs. Harper Huntington looked good off the bench, scoring all six of his points in the first half and Amani Frierson also had six points.

Grand Haven was coming off a wild win on Friday night. It beat Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 75-70. Plummer scored 29 points in the win.

For Grand Rapids Christian (3-1), junior Carl Thompson had a team-high 21 points. Sophomore guard Braylon Taylor had 9 and junior center Will Doezema added 8. 

UNITY CHRISTIAN 53, GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 49 IN OT

This was the most exciting finish of the four games.

Brogan Sherd got a pass from Jack Kamminga and scored on a layup with 13 seconds left in overtime to win it. 

Kamminga, a junior, drained a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Unity a 45-43 lead. Catholic Central tied it up when freshman Emani Hinkle scored with six seconds to go. 

So the game went into overtime with the teams tied at 45-45. 

Sherd, an elite shooter, had a team-high 15 points for Unity Christian (4-0). He didn’t score a point in the first half and then got on fire. He drained two 3-pointers in the game and had five points in overtime. Kamminga added 12 points and Jake Chapman had eight, including a bucket in overtime.

Junior Zay Larthridge led Catholic Central with 17 points. Senior Jack Bowen had 11. Junior guard Jordan McCoy finished strong. He didn’t have a point in the first half, but finished with 10 points.

Byron Center’s Keane Hinkle takes a 3-pointer at The Invite at Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

BYRON CENTER 63, SOUTH CHRISTIAN 57

Keane Hinkle showed why he’s one of the best guards in West Michigan.

The Byron Center senior didn’t score a single point in the first quarter. Then he got hot.

Hinkle drained four 3-pointers and finished with a team-best 22 points. The highlight was when Hinkle drained a half-court shot as the buzzer sounded ending the third quarter. He has been the team leader in scoring in all four games this season.

The Bulldogs (2-2) held a commanding 31-19 lead at halftime. 

Easton Wychers drained a couple of 3-pointers and finished with 10 points and Jaden Bowman added 10.

South Christian’s 6-foot-7 forward Davis Kemper easily had the biggest hot streak of any player in all four games. The big lefty didn’t score a bucket in the first half. Then he drained six 3-pointers and finished with a team-best 22 points. He also had six rebounds. 

Carson Vis was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and finished with 21 points. He also had nine rebounds.