The boys JV basketball team rounded out the season with a 10-2 record. Sophomore Levi McKenzie stood out this season, averaging roughly 20 points a game. 

“I’ve had a really great time coaching them and am excited to see what they do in the future,” head coach Jordan George said. “I know that they’ll have a huge impact on Rangerball and will be successful in whatever they do.”

The Rangers dominated the junior varsity OK White conference this season. The only losses of the season included Hudsonville and Grand Rapids Christian. Unfortunately for the boys, the loss to Grand Rapids Christian still hangs over the Rangers’ heads. 

“Unfortunately, we only got one chance to play Christian this season due to some covid issues in their program,” Levi said. “They beat us the first go-around and we were really looking forward to getting another chance to beat them.”

The Rangers were very good at closing games out this season. Against East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills Northern, and Northview, the Rangers were in a tight game at the start of the fourth quarter. However, they were able to pull away late in all of these contests. 

“I’m really proud of the way that our guys handled this season, we all showed up to practice with an attitude of wanting to improve as much as we can, which made the season much more enjoyable and let us have the success that we knew we could have,” coach George preached.

The big men stepped up big for FHC this season. Sophomores Nate Delaney and Sam Sneider were monsters on the glass for the Rangers, as rebounds and second-chance points played a crucial role in the Rangers’ close wins. 

Guards Jake Koning and Brady Miller suffered unfortunate injuries during the season, but this did not stop the young men from contributing to the team. While playing, these two put on a show. Brady Miller’s ability to shoot the ball from the outside gave the Rangers an advantage over the other team, while Jake Koning was able to do a great job keeping the team spaced on the floor and blowing by his defenders. 

Another key piece to this team was on the defensive side of the floor. Specifically, Noah Burr kept his hands active in the passing lanes resulting in multiple steals a game for the sophomore. 

The East Grand Rapids game meant a great deal to the JV team. The Rangers played in unison throughout the entire game, and Levi McKenzie put up 27 points in the Rangers’ 46-41 win over the Pioneers. The boys kept attacking possession after possession which resulted in the victory. The second time the Rangers met the Pioneers, in the final game of the season, it was not as close of a game. FHC defeated East 58-34, and the big three for the Rangers consisting of Owen Meyer, Jake Koning, and Levi scored a combined 42 out of the Rangers 58 points. The underclassmen are looking forward to filling the big shoes at the varsity level next season. 

“Next year will be a lot of fun,” Jake Koning commented. “We have a lot of great talent in our program and I know that it will only get better from here.”