Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian one step away from defending Division 4 state title

EAST LANSING — The first time it had the ball, it took Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian four attempts to sink its first basket — a layup from Roy Fogg.

That seemed to give Frankfort a look at what the defending Division 4 state champions were all about. Tri-Unity didn’t always hit shots, but the Defenders established a huge edge on the boards and the ball eventually did fall in their 54-37 Division 4 semifinal at Breslin Center.

While Tri-Unity (22-6) is going back to the championship game, it didn’t come easy for the Defenders Thursday night.

Tri-Unity established itself early, playing an up-tempo pace and scoring points on five of its first six trips up the floor — and it could have been six-for-six had it not been for two missed free throws. Fogg, Owen Rosendall and Jordan Van Klompenberg split the early scoring duties as Tri-Unity jumped out to a 12-4 five minutes into the game.

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Rosendall’s fast break layup off a steal stretched the Defenders’ lead to 21-8, forcing Frankfort to call a timeout 1:26 into the second quarter. That seemed to settle the Panthers down, as a 10-0 run over the next three minutes brought them back to 21-18. Carter Kerby hit three 3s in the second quarter, the first two during the Panthers’ hot streak.

In the first half, Tri-Unity outrebounded Frankfort, 22-10 — including six on a single trip that produced Trey Rillema’s put-back.

And Frankfort (18-9) continued to produce from outside. A long 2-pointer by Emmerson Farmer brought the Panthers to within 29-26 three minutes into the third quarter, but then Tri-Unity turned on the jets and finished the period with an 11-1 run to re-establish a 13-point lead, 40-27.

While Kerby (21 points) was Frankfort’s main scoring threat, Tri-Unity had a balanced attack led by Rosendall’s 13 and Fogg’s 11 Akais Giplaye had 11 rebounds while Fogg had 8.

Frankfort held a slight shooting edge, 40 to 38 percent, but Tri-Unity grabbed about twice as many rebounds (41 to 22).

Tri-Unity, which defeated Ewen-Trout Creek in an overtime final last year, will face Munising in Saturday’s championship at 10 a.m. Tri-Unity has won five titles in 10 final game appearances.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian basketball cruises to Division 4 final