2008 Year in Review

2nd Annual Corey Ottens Basketball Tournament a Huge Success

Champions Class of 1993: Front Row (L-R) - Brad Tichler, Joe Robbins, Josh Olson, Greg Pruis. Back Row (L-R) - Tony Eakle, Bryan "Yogi" Carter, Shawn Dykstra, Kris Dorsey and Scott Preston

Runner-Up Class of 1998: Front Row (L-R) - Nate Anderson, Matt Tichler, Aaron Wiersema, Casey Hahn. Back Row - B.J. Dykstra, Andrew Noble, Jed Swanson and Nick Ivey.

3rd Place Class of 2000: Front Row - Ryan Wiersema. Back Row - Jason Buikema, Justin Temple, Cory Pruis, Jay Nelson, Matt Tegeler, Jason McDearmon and Adam Temple.

4th Place Class of 1989: Front Row - Jim Spangler, Gus Linke, Jr., Kent Bush, Scott Oehlberg. Back Row - Pat Young, Kent Wiersema, Tom Vanderlaan and Brett Goff.

5th Place Class of 1995: Front Row - Derrin Houzenga, Darren Dykstra, Scott Pruis. Back Row - Dar Vanderleest, Chad Goff, Mitch Milnes and Matt "Cat" Stevens.

6th Place 1970's Team: Front Row - Lynn Patten, Todd Nelson, Ken Burn, Tim Swanson. Back Row - Gary Venhuizen, Terry Wilkens, Bob Stone, Roger Smith, Randy Stralow and Kevin Hook. Absent from photo - Loren Tenboer

7th Place Class of 1986: Front Row - Mitch Edlund, Dave Zickert, Jim Bogle, Scott Mouw. Back Row - Mark Laufenberg, Allen Tenboer, Brent Vandermyde, Frank Mendoza. Absent from photo - Randy Kahl and Scott Wollam

8th Place Class of 2008: Front Row - Tyler VanZuiden, Richard Nelson. Back Row - Eric DeBoer, Doug Mouw, Brian Oostenryk, and Ryan Nelson.

Hall of Fame week concluded with the annual Corey Ottens Hall of Fame Memorial Alumni Basketball Tournament, or as the participants say, the annual Ben Gay basketball bash. Four decades of MHS great players, eight teams in all, laced up their old "P.F. Flyer" sneakers to honor the legacy and remember classmate, teammate, and friend of the community, Corey Ottens. It was a day filled with camaraderie and fun, the old war (game) stories were flying like air balls from Dr. James Nesmith, the cliché "the older I get the better I was" was very evident.

The day started with pool play for seeding in the eventual elimination tournament. The red pool consisted of: the classes of 1986, 1998, 2000 and the 1970's. While the white pool teams were: the class of 1993, 1989, 1995 and 2008. In all there were twelve pool games. The scores were as follows:

1998-18 2000-17; 1993-28 2008-16; 1986-16 1970's-ll; 1995-20 1989-17; 1998-12 1970's-10; 1995-29 2008-20; 1986-21 2000-18; 1993-25 1989-24; 1970's-15 2000-10; 1995-18 1993-14; 1986-19 1998-17; 2008-24 1989-22.

The Class of 1986 with a 3-0 record won the red pool, while the class of 1995 won the white pool. A short intermission was taken for oxygen, any CPR, necessary whirlpools, and of course the seeding of teams.

The first tournament game proved to be one of the best of the day. The class of 2000 held on to defeat #1 seed the class of 1995, 26-25. Jason Buikema's seven points led the 2000 boys, while Matt "Cat" Stevens led the '95ers with 12 points.

The class of 1998, led by Nate Anderson's nine points rallied to defeat the class of 2008, 25-20, Brian Oostenryk led the "youngsters" with eight points.

The day's third game featured 2007 champions, the class of 1986 against the class of 1989. The '89 team was one of the best to represent MHS; they went 14-0 in conference play and won a regional crown. The old rivals went at it tooth and nail, but in the end, Tom Vanderlaan's 11 points and Gus Linke's eight points lead the '89 class to a 36 - 21 victory. Mitch Edlund's 10 points were not enough for the 86ers.

In the fourth and final game of the opening round, the 1970's group consisting of some of the finest basketballers to don a uniform for MHS, many now nearing 50 put up a valiant fight, but fell to the eventual 2008 champions, the class of 1993, 40-27. Randy Stralow and Lynn Patten tallied six points respectively for the '70's, while Kris Dorsey "tickled the twines" for 10 points in leading the '93 team.

The first semi-final game witnessed the class of 1998; lead by newly inducted Hall of Famer, Casey Hahn's nine points gain a hard fought victory over the vastly improved 2000 team, 31-23. Jason Buikema and Adam Temple each tallied six points to lead the boys of 2000.

The second semi-final game saw the class of 1993, rally late to nip the class of 1989, 34-29. Josh Olson poured in 12 points, while Bryan "Yogi" Carter controlled the boards in leading the '93 team. Gus Linke's 10 points were high for the 89ers.

The 7th-8th place game witnessed the class of 1986 take 7th with a 30-17 victory over the class of 2008. Allan Tenboer's 10 points lead the 86ers, while Ryan Nelson pumped in eight points for the '08 grads.

The 1970's group, coming off a triple overtime victory, stumbled in the 5th-6th game to the class of 1995. Matt "Cat" Stevens and Darren Dykstra lead the 1995 team with seven and six points respectively. Roger Smith, Randy Stralow, and Bob Stone were high point scorers for the 70's men.

Third place went to the class of 2000 over the class of 1989 by a 29 to 23 score. Jason McDearmon's nine points and Matt Tegeler's eight points lead the boys of 2000. Brett Goff was high for the '89 group with nine points.

The championship game, in an excellently played contest, witnessed a seesaw battle between two outstanding classes, but in the end the class of 1993 claimed bragging rights, and the 2008 Corey Ottens championship by nipping the class of 1998. 24-21. Scott Preston's eight points and Brad Tichler's six led the victors, while Nate Anderson's seven points were high for the '98ers.

The class of 1993, runners up in 2007, and champions in 2008 are poised to defend their title in 2009.

Athletes please mark your calendar for 2009. The Hall of Fame / Corey Ottens fundraiser games will be played Saturday, September 5, 2009.

All the teams and players are to be commended on their fine show of sportsmanship. A special thank you goes out to all who helped organize, and lend a hand in making sure the tournament ran smoothly and efficiently.

The All-Tournament team was as follows: Chad Goff, Josh Olson, Brett Goff, Tom Vanderlaan, Jason McDearmon, Mitch Edlund, Andrew Noble, Matt Stevens, Allan Tenboer, Randy Stralow. Co-MVP – Nate Anderson and Shawn Dykstra.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 29, 2008