Freeland Captures First Boys State Basketball Championship

The first school in Freeland was built by Joseph King on the corner of Washington and Second Streets in 1854. In 1872, a two-story school was built on Church Street, and in 1914 the “North Building,” a four-room school, was constructed. A new high school was built in 1960, which is now the site of the Freeland Learning Center. In 1980 came the first graduating class from its current Webster Road location.

The high school has produced a number of talented boys varsity basketball teams throughout the years. However, none had reached the pinnacle – a state championship.

All that changed on Saturday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center when the Falcons bested Hudsonville Unity Christian 42-32 to capture the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 2 title and make school history with its first-ever state championship in boys’ basketball.

Freeland went on a 10-0 run in the opening stages of the fourth quarter to take a 41-28 lead with 2:41 remaining. They played steady defense to record the 10-point victory in a relatively low-scoring affair. The senior-laden Falcons received a double-double from center Tristan Comer who recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds. The 6-foot-7, 265-pound pivot, who will be playing football at MSU next season, dispelled the chatter that said he was “just a football player playing basketball” as he was a key catalyst in the Falcons’ solid season.

Fellow senior Wilson Huckeby, a 6-foot-4 wing, tallied a dozen points and came away with four steals. Senior guards Connor Lasceski and Cooper Wagner had seven and six points, respectively, with Wagner tacking on six assists.

Unity Christian, who finished the season 25-4, received a game-high 14 markers from Jack Kamminga. Kamminga also had five rebounds. Senior guard Brogan Sherd was lost early in the third quarter with a leg injury. The Crusaders shot 30 percent (12 for 40) in the contest.

The two teams faced off during the regular season and the Falcons came away with a five-point victory, 65-60.

Making up the state championship team roster were seniors Nic Haas, Tucker Hileman, Max Heyn, Lasceki, Alex Schuette, Tucker Mika, Comer, Huckeby, Wagner, Ross Farrell, Kellen East, Zander Wheatley, and juniors Jackson Puvalowski, and Ethan Sprague. Freeland’s head coach is John Fattal. Assistant coaches are Jordan Duby, Drew Porter, and Tim Inman.

In a post-game interview, Fattal said that Freeland is a proud community. “Maybe it’s the first time we’ve won a state championship, but there’s been a lot of athletic and academic success. And there’s a lot of great families who are in that community. It’s the first one, and we’re proud of it. They put in a lot of work to do it.”

“They’ve (the seniors) had so much of an impact on the community . . . and obviously on the team with the state championship,” Fattal continued. “Seeing these guys interact with the young kids at Freeland is inspiring. Those young guys look up to them so much. The connection on all levels is outstanding.”

The Freeland team bus was greeted by both the Tittabawassee Township Police Department and Fire Department for an escort to the high school. Awaiting the team inside the packed gymnasium were students, faculty, family, and members of the community who came to celebrate the state championship victory. Coaches, players and managers were individually introduced to the Freeland faithful.

Falcons finish with splendid 26-3 mark

Freeland finished the regular season with an 19-3 record and were 26-3 overall.

Regular Season

Freeland 94, Bridgeport 72

Freeland 61, Menominee 39

Freeland 69, Petoskey 54

Freeland 70, Gaylord 47

Freeland 74, Essexville Garber 41

Freeland 70, Auburn Hills Avondale 56

Grand Haven 77, Freeland 74 (Overtime)

Freeland 68, Harbor Beach 52

Freeland 65, Heritage 58

Frankenmuth 47, Freeland 43

Freeland 60, Alma 43

Freeland 69, Swan Valley 33

Freeland 75, North Muskegon 63

Freeland 65, Bangor John Glenn 43

Freeland 81, Bridgeport 42

Freeland 61, Mount Pleasant 47,

Alma 76, Freeland 72

Freeland 76, Essexville Garber 54

Freeland 65, Hudson Unity Christian 60

Freeland 54, Frankenmuth 48

Freeland 69, Bangor John Glenn 51

Freeland 71, Swan Valley 31

District Tournament

Freeland 70, Bangor John Glenn 40

Freeland 84, Essexville Garber 48

Regional Tournament

Freeland 61, Portland 47

Freeland 69, Flint Hamady 51

Quarterfinal Tournament

Freeland 69, Ludington 53

Semifinal Tournament

Freeland 57, Romulus Summit Academy North 47

District 2 State Championship

Freeland 42

Hudsonville Unity Christian 32

Freeland’s win breaks long-time Saginaw County drought

Freeland’s state championship victory on Saturday halted a long-time drought for Saginaw County high schools.

The last Saginaw County high school to win a boys’ state championship basketball crown came in the 2011-12 season when Saginaw High School won the Class A title under coach Julian Taylor when the Trojans toppled Rockford 54-42.

Falcons add to trophy cabinet

The Freeland boys state championship trophy will join other hardware in the Falcons’ trophy case. Freeland’s girls’ varsity basketball team won the Class C state title in 1998 under head coach Dave Ocezpek. Freeland’s girls’ varsity softball team, coached by Dan Behmlander, has won a pair of state titles – in 2003 and 2005 – in Division 3. Coach Alice Buchalter’s girls’ gymnastics teams won state championships in both 1983 and 1985 – the lone gymnastics team in Saginaw County to win a state crown.