FRUITPORT – A lot of people probably assumed that Ryan Bosch made a late return to the Fruitport basketball team this season because of all the winning.
After all, Bosch, a 6-foo-8 senior post player, was a starter on a Trojan squad that won only seven games last year, and endured a 14-game losing streak along the way. He wanted to come back and help the team improve this season, but had other big responsibilities to attend to.
He’s a standout baseball pitcher who recently committed to play at Wake Forest University, and the college coaches wanted him focusing on baseball workouts this winter.
But Bosch was in the bleachers at the early basketball games, cheering along in the student section as his old team started to pile up victories.
Meanwhile, his baseball workout schedule started to taper off a bit as the calendar turned to 2025.
“I just wanted to show the community that I didn’t want to leave them,” he said. “I still want to leave some kind of legacy in basketball and not give up on it. Find time or make time to do the things that you love to do.”
The Trojans, now 16-5 on the season, have had a lot of success all season with a deep and talented lineup, featuring unselfish players who take turns having big games.
Some nights junior DayDay Williams lights up the scoreboard. Other nights it’s sophomore Hudson Hazekamp or senior Grade Anspach doing the most offensive damage.
Freshman Dexter Lillmars, a three-point specialist, has been a huge addition this season, and the Trojans have gotten a lot of mileage out of several good role players and a deep bench.
Now Bosch is back in the mix, and the Trojans are even deeper and more dangerous.
He doesn’t start anymore, and it looks like his days of having double-digit scoring or rebounding games, like he occasionally had in the past, may be over.
Instead he comes off the bench and gives Fruitport a little more presence in the post with rebounds and blocks, plus a few key points here and there.
He’s averaging 4.8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks per game in the seven he’s played in.
Bosch is now part of the team that set a new program record for wins in one season – 16 – with a victory over Kelloggsville on Tuesday.
Even better, the Trojans will clinch at least a tie for the O-K Silver conference championship if they win on Friday in Belding.
“It would mean so much to me!” Bosch said about the possibility of a conference championship. “We have always been an overlooked team, and to finally prove that we are capable of winning one is crazy to think about.”
Bosch also said it meant a lot when his old friends and teammates welcomed him back with open arms.
“It’s really cool,” he said. “They are all my brothers and want to see what’s best for the program and the community. They were all very welcoming and I don’t think anyone had harsh feelings about it.”
Coach Erny said Bosch has been a welcome addition down the stretch run of the season.
“Ryan’s return has been a huge positive for the team,” he said. “Not just on the court, but also off the court. He has brought a humble, hard-working attitude, and a willingness to do whatever the team needs. Ryan understands that his time with us has obviously been abbreviated, and the key is to make the most of every moment.
“He and our other big men – Trevor Rusnak, Keontay Thompson and Braden DeBoer – have embraced their roles and are willing to do whatever the team needs to win. Their attitudes have been key in this process, and I want to give them all a lot of credit.”
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