Hudsonville soars past West Ottawa, flexing their muscle to start conference play

HOLLAND - The Hudsonville Eagles played like a top-five team in the state Friday, picking up an 89-57 win over West Ottawa.

The game was fairly close at halftime, with both teams held under 40 at the break. But Hudsonville (6-1) shot lights out in the second half, showcasing just how dangerous they can be.

Hudsonville MVP:

Junior point guard Jovaan Daniels (5-10) proved why he’s getting D2 college looks, scoring a game-high 27 points while pouring in 3-pointers and leading the team with a great assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s the real deal and certainly looks like he’s coming into his own. Daniels is the type of guard who could lead his team to the Breslin Center - he’s that good.

West Ottawa MVP:

West Ottawa was led by freshman guard J.T. Gill III (5-11), one of the state’s best overall “rookies”. Gill flashed elite court vision with decisive and crisp passes. He knew how to read defenses in a variety of different ways, and he led his team with 15 efficient points. Gill will have colleges begging for his signature if he continues performances like that the next four years.

Team Analysis

Hudsonville

Depth and versatility highlight this squad. They were a little generous on some of their players' heights on the roster - something I’m seeing increasingly more - but they still had great size, length and skill at all three levels on offense. Senior guard Joey Miller (6-3), who just committed to Madonna, was marred by foul trouble and a late injury, but still scored nine points. Senior wing Justin Fisher (6-3) was aggressive from start to finish, pouring in 18 points. Senior forward Isaiah Hamlet (6-6) has a nice inside-out game that should translate to the next level. He scored 10 points while splitting time with super sophomore Alex Armstrong (6-5) who had 12 points. Hudsonville - who hosts the regional this year - looks like a very tough out come March, and they might just earn a trip to East Lansing.

West Ottawa

It might take a couple years, but the future is very bright for West Ottawa. Gill is just a freshman, as is starting center Darien Stewart (6-6) who scored seven points including a ferocious dunk. Sophomore guard Makai Campos added 13 points with some nice moves and mid-range jumpers. The junior and senior classes aren’t very strong for this team, but the future looks promising, as sophomores Ronnie Ferguson (5-10) and the Watson twins add even more young skill and depth.