What a season it was for the 2024/2025 Beal City Boys Basketball team. Reaching 20 wins for consecutive seasons, winning another District Title, introducing the 7th 1000-point scorer in school history on Senior Night, and winning their first Regional Semifinal game in 12 seasons.

This one was one the Aggies players, coaches, parents and fans will remember… and it ended on Thursday night with a loss to McBain in the Regional Final.

This game had the highest energy of any we have covered this season, with the Aggies fans showing out in Lake City – and the Ramblers fans doing the same with a much closer trip.

A battle between two foes who split during the regular season, and the rubber-match couldn’t have had higher stakes with a Regional Title trophy awaiting the winner.

McBain has only lost two Highland Conference games in the last 3 seasons – both of which coming to Beal. This has really become the new basketball rivalry at Beal City – ever since moving up to Class C/Division 3 in 2013/2014.

McBain would start with a quick and-one for Sophomore Clayton Hueker, and they would hold onto a 2-8 point lead for the entirety of the first half. However, it was not Hueker who dominated in the first 2 quarters, it was Senior Guard Benny Rodenbaugh – who led with 15 at the break including 3 triples.

The Aggies were playing solid in the first half trailing by just 3 at the break, 33-30, and were led by Sophomore Cuyler Smith who had 10 points off the bench. Cuyler is used to playing in big games like these with major stakes, as the QB and his fellow teammates recently just received their state championship rings from this past football season.

At the start of the second half, McBain hopped into a traditional 2-3 zone – and this could not have played more into the Aggies hands. Beal hit 3 straight threes to open the quarter – and leading scorer on the season Austin Small (who only had 3 first half points) would knock down 3 triples of his own in the quarter to give the Aggies their first lead of the game late in the quarter.

Joining Austin from range in this one was Kyle Martin who hit 2 threes in the game – and one a piece coming from each of Garrison Zuker, Drake Gatrell, Cole Tilmann and Cuyler Smith. The Aggies hit 10 team threes on the night.

McBain would quickly regain the lead, and hop into a box-and-one style defense against Small, who torched the zone to start the quarter. This defense would be effective for McBain as it limited the Aggie offense just enough throughout the remainder of the contest.

The Aggies fought hard and continued to cut the McBain lead to 2 or 3 points, but Benny Rodenbaugh and Clayton Hueker were just too effective as they always seemed to have a response. Each of them finished with 25 points by the end of the game.

McBain went onto defeat Beal City 64-56 to win their second straight Regional Title, and win their 23rd game of the season.

Austin Small finished with 12 for Beal, Drake Gatrell added in 9, Cole Tilmann had 7, Owen McKenny & Kyle Martin each had 6, and Garrison Zuker finished with 4.

Our JNR Engraving Player of the Game for the Aggies went to the Sophomore Cuyler Smith – who provided a much needed first half spark for Beal off the bench and finished with 12 points.

A big shoutout to the 4 Seniors of the Aggies: Kyle Martin, Cole Tilmann, Owen McKenny & Austin Small for great basketball careers with Beal City.

That concludes our 2024/2025 Boys Basketball Coverage on Buck92.3 & Buck92.com, thank you to everyone who followed along and to all of the coaches and players for being great teams to cover.

Our Girls Coverage continues tonight as the Beal City Girls head to Beaverton to play for a District Title against Sanford Meridian at 7pm. Our coverage will begin at 6:45 on Buck92.3 & Buck92.com.

Kyle Sandel – Buck92 Sports Director