Unity Christian sophomores come up clutch in postseason

Unity Christian sophomore Max VanKoevering puts up some shots during a practice on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - There’s not a lot of things that surprise Scott Soodsma.

The Hudsonville Unity Christian boys basketball coach has been coaching the Crusaders since 1993 and he’s won two boys state titles.

But when a junior varsity call-up becomes a hero, it’s pretty rare.

Max VanKoevering, a sophomore, who spent all season on JV, got brought up for the postseason. 

“He’s played a bigger role than we probably thought,” Soodsma said. “He’d just been a fifth-quarter guy. But as we watched him practice, when we brought him up (for the postseason), he looked good. Obviously, he got some time in the district games and he’s blossomed from that. We wouldn’t be here today if he wasn’t playing like he is.”

VanKoevering had a team-high 15 points as Unity Christian upset Grand Rapids Christian to win a Division 2 regional championship last week. He also had 10 points in a game against Fremont.  

Was he surprised, too?

“Yeah, kind of,” Van Koeverking said. “I just worked hard and they put me in and things happened from there.”

Unity Christian sophomores Max VanKoevering, left, and Jake Chapman practice their shooting during a practice on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Another sophomore has been just as clutch.

Jake Chapman, a 6-foot-6 starting center, scored the game-winning basket twice already this postseason. First to stun Grand Rapids Catholic Central 57-55 in districts and again in the 58-56 win over Christian. 

“He’s really come on strong the last two or three weeks,” Soodsma said of Chapman. “Not just as a scorer. He’s blocking shots and has become an intimidating force. That’s a help for our defense.”

Unity Christian (18-9) takes on Grand Rapids South Christian (22-3) on Tuesday night in a Division 2 state quarterfinal game with a trip to the Breslin Center on the line. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Calvin University.

“We’re gonna have to come out ready to play,” Chapman said. “Most of the games, we hit the first shot and that gives us momentum. We’re gonna have to get back on D. It’s going to be a tough game. But I think we’ll come out on top.”

Unity Christian started the season with a dismal 7-8 record. But after beating Hamilton - the O-K Blue Conference champions - on Feb. 10, the Crusaders are 11-1.

“A lot had to do with how the kids finally bought into the system,” Soodsma said. “Every kid is now on the same page. We’re shooting the ball better and the we gained some confidence. We’re not turning the ball over … why did it all the sudden change? I don’t know.”

But it helps to have a secret weapon like the 6-foot-2, 190-pound VanKoevering.

“Max has been huge for us,” Unity junior Colin Nieuwenhuis said. “If we’re struggling at the start of the game, coach will have Max come off the bench to give us some energy. He cuts to the basket, good rebounder … he does a lot of the dirty work that you don’t always see on the stat sheet. But it’s what you need to win big games.”

Unity Christian sophomore Jake Chapman puts up a shot over Holland Christian’s Harrison Halbert on Jan. 20, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).