By Jason Goorman
LocalSportsJournal.com
EAST LANSING – For a basketball coach retiring as a seven-time state champion while toting a program legacy that he started from scratch, it’s normal to be little short of words and full of emotion.
Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian coach Mark Keeler was filled all the way up on Saturday at Michigan State’s Jack Breslin Student Event Center when his Defenders pulled off the school’s seventh boys basketball state title.
The Defenders took down Fowler in the Division 4 state championship game with a 49-32 win, giving Coach Keeler and the program their first back-to-back state titles.
Keeler is calling it his last day coaching after starting the basketball program at Tri-Unity Christian in 1986.
“It’s a lot of things, it’s an end of an era for me,” said Keeler. “There’s an attachment you have to deal with. I will never be coaching again, so all of that plays into it, but also a lot of emotions just being happy for the players.”
Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian coach Mark Keeler. Photo/Jason Goorman
What transpired for Keeler over those 40 years at Tri-Unity Christians establishes him as one of the all-time greatest coaches in the state of Michigan’s long basketball tradition. Keeler walks away with 722 career wins, seven state titles, six state runners-up finishes, as well as three losses in the state semifinals.
“It’s more emotional because this is my last one,” said Keeler. “When we got here, it was a win-win, but the competitor in me wanted to do it.”
Tri-Unity’s Noah Silverton. Photo/Jason Goorman
There’s no telling where this season’s state title ranks among Keeler’s six other rings, but clearly there’s no better way than to go out on top.
This year’s Tri-Unity Christian squad was led by defense, allowing its opponents an average of just 38 points a game.
“My guys played great defense and we just took care of the ball,” said Keeler. “I was more excited about our defense.”
The team was led by eight seniors who knew they had big shoes to fill. After last year’s 79-59 win over Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, the 2024 Defenders graduated eight seniors. That meant this year’s group did not get a lot of playing time leading up to the 2024-25 season.
What might have been lacking in playing experience, was filled in by the expertise of Keeler and the motivation to send him out with another state title.
“I think we knew before the season, it was his last year and that definitely fueled us throughout the year,” said 6-7 senior forward Joey Mellon. “This is his last year and we got to go out and win him another one.”
Saturday’s state title game had Tri-Unity pitted in a rematch with Fowler. The two teams met in the season opener and Fowler came out on top, 62-59.
The early defeat did not deter the Defenders on Saturday, as they jumped out to an early lead that was eventually extended to a 22-6 edge with four minutes left in the first half. The team took a 28-16 lead into halftime.
Tri-Unity fans and No. 21 Clayton Rowlander erupt after hitting a 3-pointer from the corner. Photo/Jason Goorman
Fowler was able to cut Tri-Unity’s lead to 32-25 with two minutes left in the third quarter, but the Eagles could get no closer. When Clayton Rowlander popped in a 3-pointer from the corner with a minute left in the third, the momentum was not going to leave the hands of the Defenders.
Tri-Unity Christian continued to build its push for securing the state title by hitting big buckets in the fourth. The team closed out the 10 a.m. game with an 8-0 run that included a pair of 3-pointers.
“You just get a burst of excitement, and you see there’s 50 seconds and I just wanted to celebrate, but then when the buzzer went off, it was just crazy,” said Mellon. “Clayton (Rowlander) from the corner, he was money. Definitely going out on that run hyped us up for the celebration.”
Peaking at the end of the game was a nice moment for the Defenders. To go out on top as point guard Keaton Blanker dribbled out the last minute of clock is just the way Mellon wanted to remember his senior year playing for a legend.
“He’s just a motivator, he’s done this so many times before,” said Mellon. “He knows what it takes to win. Obviously good defense and just playing hard, that’s what Coach Keeler preaches. It’s crazy being here for back-to-back and his last one.”
The Defenders were led by Keaton Blanker with 12 points, while Noah Silverton scored 11 points. Mellon finished with nine points and Cody Osbun scored eight points.
Tri-Unity Christian finished the season at 27-2.
