Northwood commit scored game-high 25 points while helping Pirates move to 2-0 with CMAC win over Lansing Christian.
LANSING — Grady Eklund was a major contributor for the Pewamo-Westphalia boys basketball team as it made a run to the state semifinals.
The Northwood commit and returning all-state state performer hopes to help the Pirates get back to the Breslin Center once again and finish the job this time around.
And that experience from last winter provided plenty of motivation for Eklund in the offseason as he prepared for his senior season.
"You get so close and you fall a step short and you don't make it to the championship game and you just get yourself in the gym every single day after that just hoping to get back there and maybe win it all," Eklund said.
That motivation has been on display in the infant stages of his senior season as Eklund played a part in P-W moving to 2-0 with its 67-23 victory over Lansing Christian in a CMAC contest Friday, Dec. 12.
Eklund had a game-high 25 points for the Pirates, who have won both their games by at least 40 points. Eklund has averaged 22.0 points through the opening games.
Getting stronger and being able to finish through contact have been focuses for Eklund as he prepares for his college future at Northwood. And he invested plenty of time in the gym during the offseason to becoming the best player possible as the Pirates chase their state championship dreams.
"(I was) in the gym every day, no matter what (or if I was) sick or not," Eklund said. "I played travel ball and traveled around and played those games. Even the day before travel games where you travel out there, I would go to an LA Fitness and play there with some people."
P-W coach Dominic Schneider has been impressed with how Eklund has grown in numerous ways during his four-year varsity career. Schneider has seen Eklund evolve from primarily a 3-point shooter as a freshman to having the ability to drive to the basket and also have a growing presence on the court as a leader after playing in the shadows of older brother Jamison at the beginning of his varsity career.
Eklund showed that leadership from the bench after helping the Pirates break Friday's game open against Lansing Christian and turn a 13-9 advantage after the opening quarter into a 30-13 lead at the half. After scoring 17 points in the first half and eight in the early stages of the second half, Eklund provided encouragement to teammates on the floor.
"He's always been a great basketball player but seeing him off the court and seeing him lead in the locker room and within our youth and within different areas of our program, that's what makes me smile the biggest is when you see someone like that make a bigger impact for other kids that might be struggling or might need someone to look up to," Schneider said. "He's kind of that guy that puts his arm around them and he'll say some uplifting words to them where he wouldn't have said that in the past."
Eklund was one of three players in double figures scoring for the P-W on Friday as it gave Schneider his 100th coaching victory. Logan Farmer had 12 points and Trent Piggott added 11 points for the Pirates.
Charlie Baker had 12 points to lead Lansing Christian (1-2, 0-2).
Contact Brian Calloway at [email protected]. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grady Eklund motivated to help P-W boys basketball reach title dreams
Category: General Sports
