'Silent assassin' Evan Boyd finishes strong for East Lansing boys basketball in quarterfinal setback
CALEDONIA — With a scholarship already signed to play football at Central Michigan, it would have been easy for Evan Boyd to pass on his final season of high school basketball.
But the East Lansing senior wanted to be there for coach Ray Mitchell and his teammates this season as a veteran..
"I've been on varsity basketball for three years and really my main goal was to come back and give it all I had so we could make a run," Boyd said. "I think we did that."
Boyd's presence was a key part in that run as the Trojans went from being 4-7 after a six-game losing streak in late January to among the final eight teams standing in Division 1.
And while the run ended Tuesday with a 59-43 state quarterfinal loss to No. 5-ranked Muskegon at Caledonia High School, the ride was satisfying for Boyd.
"I feel like we stayed together," Boyd said. "Everybody was coming to practice. At that point, if you lose six straight, you don't have a whole lot of hope. Coach Ray kept his faith in us, all the other coaches did and even teammates. We stepped up our team bonding and really came together and made a run and won districts and regional."
East Lansing (16-10) won 12 of its final 15 games, including beating CAAC Blue champion Waverly for a second time in the district final and upsetting No. 8 Kalamazoo Central during the regional on its way to making the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons.
Senior provides big lift
The Trojans had some opportunities Tuesday against Muskegon and were within four entering the final quarter. Boyd was a big reason East Lansing had a chance, finishing with a team-high 18 points.
"I call Evan Boyd the silent assassin," Mitchell said. "Just when you think he's down, that's when he shows up. I knew he was going to play well. Last year in our last game he had like 17 points. I knew he was going to step up.
"I was telling him just be aggressive and just go out and just leave it all on the floor and that's what he did. I'm so proud of him. He didn't have to play basketball this year. He's going to play college football and he gave me an opportunity to coach him one last year. I really appreciate that kid."
Boyd had 12 points in the opening half for East Lansing, which had a 14-12 advantage after the opening quarter and trailed 27-24 at the intermission.
With this being the final week of the basketball season, Boyd made a point to play with every ounce of energy he had. And his efforts Tuesday, combined with the Trojans' journey this winter, made for a rewarding end to his high school athletic career.
"The progression, starting the season 4-7 into winning district and regionals and making it out of the Lansing area and beating Kalamazoo area teams and playing out west, I think we had a great run," Boyd said.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Boys basketball: Despite Evan Boyd's big game, East Lansing run ends
