BLOG 45: Ferris men will build for the future

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris basketball player Jason Holder plays defense during a game earlier in the season at home against Northern Michigan (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Bowing out in the first round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament spelled the end of the Ferris men’s basketball season.

The season ended after a 67-49 loss at Grand Valley last Tuesday in Allendale. With that season-ending defeat, rebuilding for the future begins quickly. The team loses a pair of hard-working seniors in forwards Jason Holder and Mark Gildersleeve, but should be in solid shape if head coach Bill Sall and his staff can keep the rest of the team in the crimson and gold and perhaps add a few pieces.

The good news is the Bulldogs have a group of sophomores who will be juniors next season in Justin Keenan, Darien Gay, Bryan Pasciak (who missed most of the season with a foot injury, but should get that year back) and Lou Williams. That group has experience and needs to become the leaders for Ferris to take the next step toward becoming a GLIAC title contender and entering the mix for an NCAA Division tournament bid.

Newcomers like Josh Young and Austin Randel, both of whom made big impacts after transferring in, should return as seniors to help lead. Both contributed to the team’s efforts with perimeter shooting, toughness and college-level playing experience on the wings.

Ferris should be far healthier next year with Pasciak, one of the team’s leaders and a starting guard, returning. Verdell Billingsley, a key inside player for the Bulldogs this past season, had a wrist injury that limited his effectiveness. Jon Yeazel, a former Central Michigan University player, sat out last season and could be back to add depth at the guard positions.

The returners will have to lead next year. Time is running short as Ferris hopes to improve from its record of 14-14 overall and 12-10 in the GLIAC.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com