Grand Haven's student publication of community significance since 1927

The Bucs' Blade
Grand Haven's student publication of community significance since 1927

The Bucs' Blade
Grand Haven's student publication of community significance since 1927

The Bucs' Blade
A FOOT ABOVE: Keefe gets her hands on the basketball as Hudsonville point guard goes up for the shot. Even at 5'8" which is relatively short for her power forward position, Keefe is a strong defender.

Sole senior Avery Keefe sets example for entire basketball program

Grace Ostric, Editor in Chief • March 18, 2021

Intermittent squeaks of shoes on the shiny hardwood floor, the overpowering sound of Lil’ Wayne’s “Uproar” blasting through the loudspeaker and harsh iridescent lights overwhelm the senses when...

Sophomore Alyssa Hatzel goes in for a lay up to get another bucket for the Bucs. The girls varisty basketball team lost against East Kentwood on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Girls varsity basketball suffers a tough loss to East Kentwood

Addy Wachter, Photo Editor • January 30, 2020

What happened The girl’s varsity basketball team was defeated by East Kentwood on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at their home court. The Bucs remained strong throughout the whole game and never seemed to give...

Houle passes the ball in the Bucs Pride game against Spring Lake on Friday Dec. 20. "Obviously, I'm the coach, but she has played a lot of high level basketball and knows the game so well. I think she is a natural leader," Kowalczyk-Fulmer said.

The Journey of Jolee

Addy Wachter, Photo Editor • January 16, 2020

The level of focus on the game becomes maxed out as senior Jolee Houle tunes into the voices of her coach and teammates, zeroing in on where the ball will be next. The shouting from the crowd is lost from...

Caydee Constant goes up for a layup while player from Central High School tries to block it.

Girls varsity basketball defeats Traverse City Central High School

Addy Wachter, Photo Editor • December 11, 2019

What happened The girl’s varsity basketball team defeated Traverse City on Friday, December 6 in their first game of the season. The Bucs started off strong, backing off right before the second half....

Senior Autumn Buikema looks to pass to junior Esther Byington while being heavily guarded by Forest Hills Central defenders. Buikema had a solid night with six points against the Fighting Scots.

Excellent defense leads the Bucs in stifling of Caledonia

Sam Woiteshek, Co-Editor-In-Chief • January 27, 2018

What Happened: The Grand Haven varsity girls basketball team hosted Caledonia Friday night and came out victorious in a 35-24 win. Stellar defense propelled the Buccaneers to this win as points were at...

Byington attempts to knock down a free throw from the line in last year's Bucs Pride game.

Byington’s road to recovery

Ashton Voorhees, Reporter • January 25, 2018

The first thing you notice about Esther when she walks into the room is that she’s tall. Really tall. It’s not every day that you see a 6-foot-3-inch figure towering over everyone else, whether it’s...

Senior Autumn Buikema gets ready to take an uncontested shot. Buikema knocked down several key shots against West Ottawa friday night.

Lady Bucs emerge victorious in defensive battle against Panthers

Ashton Voorhees, Reporter • January 13, 2018

What: The girls varsity basketball team bounced back from a close loss against East Kentwood with a 37-30 win against shoreline rivals West Ottawa. After a tough game littered with turnovers forced by...

Junior Anna Strom goes up for a lay-up against Traverse City Central on Friday night, which was the first of two games in two days for Grand Haven. The Bucs only allowed a combined total of 22 points this weekend.

Girls basketball team cruises to victories in back-to-back games

Sam Woiteshek, Co-Editor-In-Chief • December 3, 2017

What Happened: Friday night Grand Haven took on Traverse City in their season and also home opener, defeating the Trojans in a blowout 55-10. Junior Alli Keyser paced the Bucs with 19 points and 10 steals,...

Head Coach Kowalczyk-Fulmer leads the team in a huddle during their first game of the season against Traverse City Central. The Lady Bucs hope to win consecutive games against Traverse City schools with a victory today over TC West.

Lady Bucs basketball closes out home series against second Traverse City school

Ashton Voorhees, Reporter • December 2, 2017

The Lady Bucs will face Traverse City West in their second game against a Traverse City team in two days on Dec. 2. Coach K pinpointed that playing fast transition basketball is a goal of the team early...

The Girls Basketball team joins together before their Purple Pride game last season. Returning leaders like junior Alli Keyser hope to bring the team to new heights this season.

Lady Bucs look to “Raise the Bar” in upcoming season

Sam Woiteshek, Co-Editor-In-Chief • November 30, 2017

After coming off of a somewhat disappointing end to last year’s season, albeit a second place finish in the O.K. Red, the Grand Haven varsity girls basketball team is hungry to finish what they started. Loaded...

Senior Amanda Merz dribbles the court in a practice on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Merz averaged 4.9 points per game as a sophomore, 11.9 as a junior and will carry the scoring load in her senior season. "I was more of a passer and more of a role player my sophomore year and then became a little more of a scorer my junior year, but now since Taylor [Craymer] and all them graduated, I'm definitely more of a scorer and everybody is looking to me to make the play," Merz said.

Senior Amanda Merz finds success through scrappy play and hard work

Schaefer Thelen, Sports Editor • December 15, 2014

When senior guard Amanda Merz missed two critical free throws in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss to East Kentwood last season, it did not sit well with her. That weekend, the tough-minded Merz...

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