Tri-Unity Christian wins second state title in the past three seasons

Tri-Unity Christian players celebrate after winning the Division 4 state title on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Owen Rosendall was fuming. The Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian guard was fighting mad a year ago after his basketball team lost in the Division 4 state championship by two points to Munising.

But he vowed to return to The Breslin and win it all.

And he did it.

Tri-Unity Christian won the 2024 Division 4 state championship on Saturday with a  a 79-59 win over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy at The Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University.

“Last year, I thought we should have beat that team,” Rosendall said of a 39-37 loss to Munising. “I thought we were the better team. But they showed up (and won). This year, we used that as motivation. We had four returning starters and I was like ‘we have no excuse. We’re gonna win it or die trying.’”

Jordan VanKlompenberg had a team-high 19 points, Owen Rosendall 14, Akais Giplaye 11, Keaton Blanker 11 points and 12 assists and Wesley Kaman 10 points.

Tri-Unity Christian poses with the trophy after winning the Division 4 state title on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

What’s it mean to hold the championship trophy again?

“It means everything,” VanKlompenberg said. “Ever since last year, that loss is all we’ve thought about. To be a state champion again … it’s crazy.”

This was the fourth-straight year that the Defenders reached the state title game. They won in 2022 and this year. So the seniors have two trophies now. 

“It’s like, it doesn’t seem real,” VanKlompenberg said. “But we are super blessed. We would not be here without everything God’s given us. Having amazing teammates where everyone is unselfish … it’s been great.”

Tri-Unity Christian senior Owen Rosendall during the Division 4 state title game on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

The Defenders had a commanding 39-25 lead at halftime. Much of that offense was due to the great passing from Blanker, a junior guard. Twelve assists in the state title game is impressive.

“It was unreal,” Rosendall said of Blanker. “I remember looking up (at the scoreboard) in the first quarter and he had eight points and six assists. I’m like ‘holy cow’. I told him at halftime ‘you are playing so well right now. Keep that energy up for the next 16 minutes.’”

When did it dawn on Blanker that his team was going to win the state title?

“At halftime we had a big margin,” he said. “But in the fourth quarter, I think there was four minutes left, I looked up and we were up by 20. And it starts to set in that, ‘dang, we just did this!’”

The Defenders finish the season with a 24-5 record and locked up the sixth title in school history. 

Tri-Unity Christian coach Mark Keeler accepts the championship trophy after winning the Division 4 state title on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Final season for Keeler

The 2024-25 season will be the last in the great career of Tri-Unity Christian coach Mark Keeler. He said he’ll retire after the season and hand the reigns to assistant coach Brent Voorhees, who was a great player for the Defenders in his day.

“I have a great assistant coach who can step right in and we won’t miss a beat,” Keeler said. “It’s just time. I turned 70 (recently) and I want to finish on my terms. Every time we go to state, everyone is asking when I’m retiring because I’ve coached for so long.”

This was the 37th season for Keeler, who has a career record of 694-216. 

“I coach because I’m a Christian and I’m trying to raise up young men and help them become Godly men,” Keeler said.

Final Stats: Click here for stats from the state title game.

Photos: For a gallery of images from the title game, click here.