EAST LANSING – The Muskegon boys basketball team always starts every season with the goal of winning a state championship.

When you work that hard toward something every year, you are bound to at least get very close.

The Big Reds got as close as you can get without winning it all this season. They rolled through the state tournament with relative ease and earned a berth in Saturday’s Division 1 state championship game.

Unfortunately Muskegon finally met its match, falling to Detroit Cass Tech 78-63 at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University.

Muskegon’s Justin Watson attempts a three-pointer from the corner. Photo/Jeremy Clark

“Two teams battled tonight,” said Muskegon head coach Keith Guy. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t come out on top. But congratulations to Cass Tech, they played a great game.”

The loss means that three great Muskegon seniors – Jordan Briggs, Anthony Sydnor and David Day – had to end their tremendous careers on a disappointing note, but they are grateful they had the experience.

The leave the Big Red program with a record of big success – two conference titles, two district championships, one regional title, and one state finals appearance in the last three seasons.

“It means a lot,” Sydnor said. “Our crowd always came out to support us in big games. I’m just so thankful for it all.”

Muskegon’s Anthony Sydnor attacks the hoop and looks to score with his left hand. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Coach Guy becomes emotional when he talks about those three departing players.

“Everything,” he said about what the seniors have meant to the program. “I was going to be sad either way, win or lose, because I’ve been with these guys for a long time, and they do things the right way. I’m hurting for them because they work so hard. This is life and we’ll get over it, but I’m just going to miss all the time with them. I couldn’t ask for a better group of seniors.”

The Big reds got off to a rough start on Saturday, trailing 14-4 with 1:46 left in the opening quarter.

Muskegon responded by closing the quarter on a 7-0 run to trail just 14-11 at the beginning of the second.

Muskegon’s Jordan Briggs brings the ball down court. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Muskegon trailed 29-27 with under three minutes left in the second quarter, then Cass Tech outscored the Big Reds 12-4 to take a 41-31 halftime lead.

Offensive rebounds gave the Technicians a big edge. They had a 23-14 rebounding advantage in the first half and scored 14 points on putbacks.

Muskegon fought back in the third quarter, with Briggs scoring eight points in just under three minutes. Justin Watson nailed a three-pointer with 1:44 remaining in the quarter, giving the Big Reds a hopeful 47-46 lead.

“We were down 10, so I just  felt like we needed some shots to go down to get some momentum,” Briggs said. “I just knocked a few down and got us going.”

Coach Keith Guy discusses a call with an official. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The lead didn’t last long, however, and Cass Tech entered the fourth quarter with a 50-47 advantage.

The Big Reds went cold on offense at a pretty bad time, going without a basket following Watson’s third-quarter triple until the final few minutes of the game. They did knock down a few free throws, which kept them within a fighting distance, but Cass Tech did the same and pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Muskegon made 17 of 53 shots from the field, including 11 of 31 from three-point range. The Big Reds were outrebounded 36-32 and turned the ball over 14 times.

Briggs led Muskegon with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists while Day totaled 15 points.

The Muskegon team holds the Division 1 runner-up trophy. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Sydnor finished with 13 points while Watson had 12 on four three-pointers.

Cass Tech was led by Darius Acuff and Travon Cooper with 19 points apiece.

Sydnor is hopeful that his younger teammates will remember Saturday’s experience and be right back at the Breslin next year playing for a title.

There is good reason to hope for that, because everyone but the three seniors are expected back next season.

“This season meant a lot to me,” Sydnor said. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play with the guys anymore. But I’m hoping the young guys will use the offseason and make a run to get here again.”