Sadness and Joy on the Basketball Court and it Wasn’t in the Men’s NCAA

While most eyes probably have been fixed on March Madness and the Men's NCAA tourney, there was a lot of quality and exciting basketball going on the High School and College, Division III level, and there were tears on all levels.

Tears of sadness were flowing at the Breslin in East Lansing as the Kent City girls basketball were Division 3 runner ups for the second straight year after a 54-50 loss against Arbor Prep.

Fox 17 reported being undefeated coming into Saturday's game was huge for Kent City, and just one more victory would mean they would finally be state Division III champs. It wasn't meant to be. Ending a season 26-1 is pretty darn good, but the big number 1, their final game, was the crusher.

And, there were more tears of sadness, Fox17 said, as West Catholic, playing in the state championship for just the third time in program history, fell to Detroit Edison, 73-55.

Coach Jill Vanderende said:

"Our goal a couple years ago was to change the culture at West Catholic and get it back to where it was in the 90's. I think hopefully the fans were excited today and saw that we can play that kind of basketball again. And the future looks bright."

The Falcons end their season 25-2. Not to shabby, ladies, not to shabby. It was exceptional!

The tears of joy came in Women's College Basketball as Hope Women's team end their 2022 season with a 32-1 record and a D-III National Championship.

Fox 17 reported that the Dutch women beat Wisconsin-Whitewater in the NCAA DIII women's title game 71-58 making this the third championship in program history for Hope. They have so much to proud of because they are now one of just three Division III programs in the country with at least three titles. Washington University in St. Louis has claimed five titles; Amherst College (Mass.) are also in that list.

Congratulation to all the ladies in College and High School basketball. Win or lose, you have so much to be proud of!