GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — For the first time ever, the Zeeland West boys basketball team is Breslin Bound. The Dux topped Muskegon 53-52 in the state quarterfinals at Grand Haven on Tuesday night.
"It is something every kid in Michigan dreams of growing up," Dux senior Merritt Alderink said. "I mean not many, not many get to really live it out. It feels amazing."
However, getting to East Lansing was not easy.
The Dux held a 17-point lead against the Big Reds at one point, but Muskegon would take a lead with 50 seconds to go.
Zeeland West did not fret. With five seconds left, Dux senior Orion Yant was left wide open in the lane. Alderink fired in a pass and Yant cashed in the biggest basket in school history.
"I thought I was open," Yant said. "I got a little scared because he was running towards me but it was fine. I do it all of the time. I just have to stay calm and that's what I did. I put the ball through the hoop."
Yant was ecstatic about the moment, but he says it was a simple play.
"It's pretty cool," Yant said. "Just put the orange thing through the other orange thing. Just score points."
Those points sent Zeeland West somewhere the program has never been — to East Lansing for the state semifinals.
"How about Orion Yant making the play at the end after subbing him in and out, making that bucket?" Zeeland West head coach David Klyn said. "So happy for him. What a great story. That's the biggest shot in Zeeland West history. First time going to the Breslin. First time district, first time regional and now first time Breslin. So excited for these guys."
The town of Zeeland is still buzzing. The Dux will face off with North Farmington at the Breslin Center in the state semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m.
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