On an icy Monday evening in Shepherd, the Bluejays boys basketball team hosted the visiting Beal City Aggies in a local matchup. Both teams had no school on Monday, but the weather improved enough throughout the day to keep the action alive as the Aggies looked for their 3rd straight win to open 2025 – and the Bluejays returning home for the first time in the new year.
Beal City has been rollin’ on the road – not playing a true home game in a full month (since 12/13 vs McBain). The Aggies defeated conference opponents Roscommon & Manton last week to open the new year, and had a much shorter road trip Monday to take on the Bluejays.
Shepherd had also been on the road for quite some time, as Monday was their first game in their own place since the 18th of December, where they defeated Bullock Creek 58-57. 
In the first quarter things started quickly from behind the arc, as Senior’s Austin Small and TJ Powell each drilled a triple for their respective squads. Small would be the one to catch fire early however, hitting four first quarter three-balls to end the first eight minutes with 16 – as the Aggies led 18-12. Powell hit two triples himself to lead the Bluejays with 8.
In the second, Shepherd was able to cut the deficit to just two – but a good close to the quarter gave the Aggies a 7 point lead at the break, 32-25. Big quarters from the two aforementioned Seniors led the way for both squads, as Small led Beal with 22 and Powell led Shepherd with 17.
In the 3rd, Coach Fazi of Shepherd dialed up a great defensive gameplan as the Bluejay defense did not allow a point in over 5 1/2 minutes to open the 3rd! Both Mason Eisenberger and Michael Pung got hot from behind the arc in the quarter, each hitting multiple threes as Shepherd took their first lead of the game with 3:20 left in the quarter, 34-32.
A dominant 18-6 quarter from Shepherd gave them the lead going into the final eight minutes, as they led 43-38.
Things would change immediately at the start of the 4th, as Beal City would go on a 7-0 run in the opening 2 1/2 minutes of the quarter to take a 45-43 lead thanks to second chance opportunities and free throws from Owen McKenny.
Michael Pung of Shepherd would answer immediately, hitting his 3rd three-ball of the game to give the lead back to Shepherd.
With 2:52 to go, the Bluejays held onto a three point lead, 49-46.
The game of runs decided it had one more in it, as from this point on the Aggies would end the game on a 13-2 run to close it out. An Austin Small triple followed by a quick steal from Drake Gatrell and layup finished by Cole Tilmann gave the Aggies the lead 51-49 with 2:15 to go.
Clutch free throw shooting from Garrison Zuker, Austin Small and Drake Gatrell in the final 2 minutes (a combined 8/8 – 4/4 from Zuker) propelled the Aggies to their 3rd straight victory to open 2025, as they won 59-51.
Beal City was led by the headbanded Senior Austin Small, who hit all 6 Beal City threes, and led the Aggies with 34. You could say Small came up BIG for the Aggies Monday night…
We had a chance to talk to Austin on the Buck92 Sports Show the day before the game, and if you want to listen to that, click HERE.
Drake Gatrell finished with 11 for the Aggies, and Garrison Zuker had 5 – all coming from the free throw line.
TJ Powell dropped a 20 piece for the Bluejays, hitting 3 threes himself. The Bluejays hit 9 triples as a team, 3 coming from Michael Pung, 2 from Mason Eisenberger, and one from Bryce Smith.
The Aggies improve to 7-2 on the season, and will look to stay undefeated in conference play as they head back home Wednesday to host Lake City.
The Bluejays move to 2-9 on the season, and will be right back at home Wednesday to host Farwell.
Our High School Coverage continues Thursday as we also head to Beal City High School, with the Aggies girls hosting Houghton Lake.
Kyle Sandel – Buck92 Sports Director
