COMSTOCK PARK – His first name is spelled Grade (although it’s pronounced Grady), and his heroic final shot on Tuesday with the game on the line was Grade-A.

With just 4.1 remaining in regulation, the Fruitport boys basketball team found itself down 52-50 and inbounding the ball with one final chance to avoid defeat.

Comstock Park elected not to put any pressure on the ball as Grade Anspach dribbled up the court, and he took advantage by firing a three-point attempt from well beyond the arc.

The shot hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, Fruitport won 53-52, and the Trojan bench mobbed the junior guard who had just saved the day.

“I figured out they weren’t going to press up,” Anspach said about the Comstock Park defense. “I just took the ball and figured I might as well shoot it, since they were back. I haven’t hit any threes in the last three games or so. I’ve had a hard time, but it felt good after it left my hands. It was really fun.”

Fruitport head coach Steve Erny admitted the play wasn’t what he drew up in the huddle, because he expected ball pressure from Comstock Park.

“We haven’t had a buzzer-beater in a long time,” Erny said. “We thought they might pressure, so we drew up a stack where we’d get DayDay downhill to the basket, but Grade identified they were all back and kind of broke off. He took the ball and shot with confidence. I think he was ready to hit the shot and thankfully it went in. It was the right play.”

Fruitport displayed a lot of perseverance all night after losing two starters to fouls and a third starter to an injury.

“Even the guys on the bench were trying to stay positive,” said Erny about his team responding to the adversity. “A lot of things weren’t going our way. A lot of missed open shots and layups, but Grade hitting that shot was exactly what the doctor ordered.”

The Trojans started the game strong, taking a 17-12 lead after one quarter behind nine points from sophomore DayDay Williams.

Things tightened up in the second quarter and the Trojan lead was ultimately cut to just 27-26 at halftime.

Freshman Hudson Hazekamp had six points in the third quarter, helping Fruitport extend its lead to 41-36 with one quarter remaining.

With 4:38 left in regulation, Comstock Park cut the deficit to 43-41 and Fruitport suffered a setback when big man Ryan Bosch fouled out.

Just two minutes later, senior Nathan Carlisle fouled out and Comstock Park took a 48-47 lead with 2:32 remaining.

On the ensuing Fruitport possession, Hazekamp knocked down a three-pointer and the Trojans regained the lead at 50-48 with 1:58 left.

A Comstock Park free throw, followed by a two-point bucket with 1:02 left, gave the Panthers a 51-50 lead.

A missed three-pointer by Fruitport on the ensuing possession required the Trojans to foul with just 4.2 seconds remaining.

Comstock Park split the free throws, then a final Fruitport time out with 4.1 ticks remaining set up the game-winning play.

Williams led the Trojans with 18 points on the night while Hazekamp totaled 13.

Comstock Park was led by Charlie Commeret with 14 points.

With Anspach heroics in the final moments, Fruitport is now 3-2 overall and will next host Muskegon Catholic Central on Friday in non-conference action.

“Keep sticking with it, and good things will happen,” said Erny about what his team can take from the victory. “That’s kind of been the message all season. So tonight was a good microcosm of that. I like the positive energy we had and how we fought till the end. We have a lot to do to get better, so we’ve got to continue striving to improve.”