BELDING – It would have been easy for the Fruitport boys basketball team to be a little nervous and tight on Friday night, heading into the biggest game of its season.

After all, the Trojans came in tied for first place in the O-K Silver conference, and were one victory away from clinching at least a share of the championship.

That was a lot of pressure for a team that only won seven games last season, and does not have a long history of success.

But the Trojans were more than up to the task, dominating from the beginning, beating Belding 75-43 and accomplishing their immediate goal of being at least co-champions.

Then the night got even better when the Trojans learned that Godwin Heights, the team they were tied with at the top of the standings, lost to NorthPointe Christian on Friday.

That means Fruitport is the outright champion, and as it turns out, the first boys basketball conference champion in school history.

Fruitport has basketball records dating back to 1963, but apparently the program first started in the 1930s. Over all those years, none of the teams managed to do what the 2024-25 Trojans did.

“One of the goals this team had was to win a conference championship,” said Fruitport head coach Steve Erny, whose team ended the regular season with a 17-5 overall record and a 10-3 mark in conference play. “For us to do it tonight, and to do it in a resounding fashion, is special.

“It’s a celebration tonight, and I’m so proud of this group, but the trajectory of Fruitport basketball is kind of a train that we’re on. I think it’s only going to get better, but nothing can be taken from this group, because they were the first to do it.” .

Fruitport Sophomore Hudson Hazekamp, who scored a team-high 20 points on his 16th birthday, was thrilled to be a champion in his second year of varsity basketball-

“It means everything,” he said. “We’re not known as a basketball program, and we kind of proved everyone wrong tonight. We’re showing we can compete with anyone on any night, and it just feels great to win a conference championship.”

Fruitport junior Trevor Rusnak, who also had a big night with 15 points, said the Trojans are a close-knit team. and that made all the difference this season.

“This team chemistry is like something I’ve never been a part of,” he said. “It’s great to be a part of that, and honestly, it has helped us a lot. So we’re happy to be conference champions.”

The Trojans were ready to go from the jump, grabbing a 24-12 lead after one quarter behind seven points from Hazekamp and six from Rusnak.

The teams were even in the second quarter, with each scoring eight points, and Fruitport led 32-20 at halftime.

The Trojans pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Belding 23-9 to take a convincing 55-29 lead into the fourth.

Hazekamp led the Trojans with eight points in the third quarter while Dexter Lillmars, DayDay Williams and Ryan Bosch added four points apiece.

Fruitport had a 20-14 edge in the final quarter, then the celebration began.

The Trojans will enjoy the championship for a few days before preparing for next week’s Division 2 district tournament, which will pose a new challenge.

They drew a first-round bye, and will play either Oakridge or Montague in the semifinals on Wednesday at Whitehall High School.

The winner will advance to Friday’s championship game.

“We’re going to give them the weekend to enjoy this,” Coach Erny said. “Thankfully we do have a bye, so we play Wednesday. So we’ll have two good practices on Monday and Tuesday to get ready. This group will be ready.”