Top 5 performances from the ‘Gotta Get It’ event at Kentwood
Grand Rapids Christian junior Jaylan Ouwinga goes up for a rebound against Warren De La Salle at the Gotta Get It Classic on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla)
KENTWOOD, Mich. - Twelve teams, six games and a lot of great basketball all in one day.
The Gotta Get It Hoop Classic was a lot of fun on Saturday at East Kentwood High School.
Of the five Grand Rapids area teams in the event, here are the Top 5 individual performances, in my opinion:
JAYLAN OUWINGA: The Grand Rapids Christian junior had 16 points and 15 rebounds as the Eagles had an impressive 63-58 win over Warren De La Salle, the defending Division I state champions. “We’ve been talking about Jaylan taking what the defense gives him,” Christian coach Eric Taylor said of the 6-foot-9 Ouwinga. “He’s really been working on his jump shot. So to be able to stretch the floor and bring their big (Michael Sulaka) out, it was huge. Jaylan knocked down some huge shots when we needed it.”
QUADIR HATCHETT: The electric guard from Ottawa Hills scored a season-high 30 points and had seven assists as the Bengals beat Saginaw Arthur Hill 89-53. He was named the game’s MVP.
DONO THAMES: The senior guard from Grand Rapids Christian had 16 points and four assists and was named the MVP of the Eagles win over Warren De La Salle. Thames usually has a few 3-pointers and dunks, but he didn’t have any in this game. But he found other ways to win. He was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and also had three rebounds. “He’s big for us,” Grand Rapids Christian coach Eric Taylor said. “Senior leadership. He knows we count on him to score. He hadn’t shot the ball well the past few games. I told him, just believe in yourself. I told him ‘we need you to score. Look for your shot’ and he did that.”
GRIFFIN BAKER: The Hudsonville sophomore came off the bench and drained four 3-pointers for 12 points and earned the game’s MVP. It was more for the timing of his shots. He drained two in the second quarter to help the Eagles pull away from Flint Carman-Ainsworth and win 56-49. “I wouldn’t have picked him,” Hudsonville coach Eric Elliott said with a smile when asked if he would have predicted Baker winning the MVP. “But he’s our best 3-point shooter percentage-wise. He hit some big shots for us. It opened it up.”
JAH HATCHETT: The sophomore guard from East Kentwood had 12 points in a 56-41 loss. It wasn’t a pretty game, but that can happen against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, one of the best teams in the state. Hatchett was 5-of-9 from the field and also had five rebounds.
