As a senior, Gray helped lead the Patriots during a run to the MHSAA Division 3 boys state quarterfinals. But as exciting as that was, the dream of a trip to Michigan State University’s Breslin Center fell one game short.

The opponent who knocked off Gray and his Westwood teammates? The McBain Ramblers.

On Tuesday, Gray saw himself against McBain in another quarterfinal showdown. Only this time, he was guiding the Patriots as head coach.

Nine years later, Gray found himself hugging fellow coaches and players as his Patriots got sweet revenge on the Ramblers in a 48-40 triumph at Boyne City. That was almost the exact score — just the opposite result — of the 2016 game when McBain prevailed 49-40.

With head coach Luke Gray pacing the sidelines in front of them, Westwood boys basketball players on the bench clap and yell their encouragement to teammates on the floor during an MHSAA Division 3 boys basketball tournament state quarterfinal game played against McBain at Boyne City on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Jared Greenleaf)

“We talked about it this summer that we knew we were capable of being a good team, but we didn’t know where that would take us this year,” Gray said. “We knew that we had to play some really good teams early in the playoffs, and you’re lucky enough to get those wins and keep advancing.

“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of preparation that comes down to one hour of basketball. We’ve just got to do our best to compete and try and score more points than the other team and then get to the next round.”

Playing against many of the Upper Peninsula’s elite programs, the Patriots (22-5) held their own all season long and picked up some impressive wins.

But perhaps where the belief of reaching East Lansing truly sunk in was when the Patriots collided with powerhouse Iron Mountain in a rubber match. Westwood captured a thrilling 55-53 regional semifinal triumph that night, then earned to their first regional title since 2016 with a dominating victory over Maple City Glen Lake.

“We (started to believe) after we beat Iron Mountain,” Westwood junior star guard Ethan Marta said. “We’re just a bunch of dogs who love to play defense.”

Defense proved to be the pivotal factor in Westwood’s victory over the Ramblers, as several Patriots did their part to make McBain’s stars uncomfortable. When it mattered, they outlasted one of the premier programs in Division 3, something their coach was proud of.

“They trust each other, even with how unsmooth our first half was,” Gray said. “They shared the ball well, they found the open spots, they all attacked, but I think what’s even more special about that is the defensive effort. Our guys know that the four people playing next to them are playing as hard as they possibly can, they know the bench is involved, and when we communicate, we have a great defensive team.”

The Patriots look to make their first-ever state championship game when they battle Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (20-1) in a semifinal at the Breslin Center at noon today.

What Westwood will have to its advantage is a loud and proud community of supporters who made their voices heard throughout Tuesday’s quarterfinal. In the final seconds, the all-too familiar “U.P. Power!” chant was heard in Boyne’s gymnasium.

No matter what happens, Gray and his players are grateful for the support the community has provided them since the start of this magical run.

“It’s a blast,” Gray said. “When you get the elementary, the middle school and the high school involved, you see the number of students that came down here and two fan buses, the parents the teachers, administration — it’s special. We’re happy to have the community that we do and we’re going to do everything we can to make them proud.”

Jared Greenleaf is the sports editor of the Cheboygan Daily Tribune, where he has worked since 2010.