It was a “nail biter” of a game, according to HAYAA JV basketball coach Scott VanEpps, but as the final six seconds of the clock ran down, the last shot was missed by the opposing team. The eight boys who played on VanEpps team were then able to call themselves champions last Saturday.

“We had to win two games that day to get to the championship game and then in a very competitive game, we won the championship with a score of 26-25,” VanEpps said. "They missed and we prevailed.”

The tournament on Saturday involved ten local teams from the junior varsity league of  the Hartland Area Youth Athletic Association for basketball. Saturday’s event was a culmination of the season and an exciting moment for his team, according to Van Epps. 

“My favorite thing has got to be the simple joy kids can bring with their enthusiasm and their good natured-ness,” VanEpps said of his season coaching the 11 and 12-year-old boys. “At this level, we place a priority on having fun and then certainly learning to be a good sport. And then following that up, what you’re able to witness, as a coach, is skill development.”

The team of players includes many students from Farms Intermediate, but also some players from the Fenton area as well.

Players include:

• Max Brown
• Jackson Gangwer
• Reese King
• Nik Miskerik
• Luke Rimarck
• Joey Strutz
• Shane VanEpps
• Spencer VanEpps

The winning team was coached by VanEpps and Mark Miskerik