The Ionia boys basketball team faced a challenging end to their season, losing to the Portland Raiders in the district final on March 15, 2024. The final score was 64-41, marking the Bulldogs’ third defeat to the Raiders this season. Despite a promising postseason run, Ionia’s journey concluded earlier than hoped.
The Bulldogs had entered the title game with momentum, having secured two impressive victories earlier in the tournament. They defeated the No. 3 seed Alma in the first round and avenged a previous loss against the No. 1 seed Central Montcalm in the semifinals. Ionia aimed to leverage this momentum against Portland, a team they were well-acquainted with after facing them multiple times throughout the season.
Portland established an early lead, scoring 14 unanswered points within the game’s first four minutes. Ionia junior Ethan Wenzel managed to put the Bulldogs on the board with a layup, igniting their offense. By the end of the first quarter, Ionia had narrowed the gap to 19-10, showcasing their determination.
As the game progressed, the Bulldogs sought to disrupt Portland’s offensive rhythm. Coach Scott Swinehart noted the challenges faced in the early moments, stating, “We gave up two big runs to them early in the game. We had it down to five at one point, but that run they had in the third quarter just put it out of reach.”
In the second quarter, Ionia’s defense improved, leading to a modest scoring output from Portland. Nonetheless, the Raiders maintained a 30-18 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs made a strong push at the start of the third quarter, launching a 12-5 run that cut Portland’s lead to just five points. However, the Raiders responded with a decisive 16-4 run, taking a commanding 51-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter saw Portland extend their lead further, leaving Ionia with limited opportunities to mount a comeback. Wenzel led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points, supported by senior Colt Piercefield with nine points and senior Dawson Leland with eight points. Despite the loss, the team displayed resilience throughout the game.
Reflecting on the season, Wenzel acknowledged the areas for improvement, stating, “I think we needed to play a lot better on defense. I thought we played hard in this game, but we just have to play good at that defensive end at the end of the day.”
Swinehart echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of rebounding and defensive effectiveness as key areas needing attention. “Rebounding and making them work on the defensive end were the two things. I’m not sure how well we accomplished those, but that’s the way it goes,” he remarked.
The Bulldogs concluded their season with an overall record of 11-14. While the championship was not the outcome they desired, the team’s late-season performance offers hope for the future. Wenzel expressed optimism about the upcoming season, noting, “I think we have a lot of talent coming in. One of our players was hurt this entire season, and he’s really good. I think we have a lot of talent coming back that we could be really good next year.”
Coach Swinehart also reflected on the development seen throughout the season, stating, “The growth we’ve had since our first scrimmage has been tremendous. We were a really inexperienced team this year. The guys came to practice every day ready to work, so I guess the torch passes to the younger guys now.”
Ionia’s journey through the district tournament and their competitive spirit throughout the season signify a strong foundation for the future, as they prepare to rebuild and strive for greater success in the coming year.
