Calihan Hall on the campus of University of Detroit Mercy was the site where two Metro Detroit schools punched their tickets to play one another on Friday at the Breslin Center. University of Detroit Jesuit defeated Romulus 54-53, while Bloomfield Hills Hills bettered the Marauders of Warren Mott 74-68.
Bloomfield Hills 74 Warren Mott 68
In the first game of the day, Bloomfield Hills, in their first year of existence after Lahser and Andover High Schools merged over the Summer, proved to be a team when one man goes down, another steps up. In the absence of Kahlil Gracey for still undiscovered reasons, senior Yante Maten led Bloomfield Hills with a game high 31 points and 17 rebounds. The Blackhawks built their largest lead over Mott in the second quarter, a 32-22 advantage with 2:40 before halftime. Mott was able to respond with a 10-0 run by themselves to knot the game at 32-32 heading into the locker room. After a back in forth third quarter which saw Bloomfield Hills never trail, the Blackhawks held a 4 points advantage at the end of the third. Senior Kenny Goins was the go to man all game long for Mott, his and-one put back for Mott with 5:55 left gave the Marauders a 58-55 lead. However, the lead would be short lived as on the next possession for Bloomfield Hills, junior Cameron Dalton nailed an and-one three pointer to give the Blackhawks the lead they would never relinquish the rest of the game. Combined with questionable shot selection and turnovers on the offensive end of the floor for Mott, Bloomfield Hills was able to put the game away at the free-throw line and earn a trip to the Breslin Center.
Cameron Dalton chipped in with 15 points for Bloomfield Hills, while senior point guard Armand Cartwright had 15 points as well for the Blackhawks. For the Marauders, Kenny Goins finished his high school career out strong with a 25 point performance to go along with 15 rebounds. Fellow senior Vondale Kelley had 15 points, and junior guard Derek Murphy added 14 points for the Marauders.
University of Detroit Jesuit 54 Romulus 53
The Cubs of University of Detroit Jesuit finished their regular season with a win over the defending Class A state champion Eagles on February 25th with a 67-57 victory, and proved the state quarterfinal game would be no different. Leading by one with 17.5 seconds left, Romulus rebounded an U of D miss and called timeout looking for one last chance to save their season. The first shot on their last possession resulted in a contested three pointer by junior Jaylin Walker in the right corner, Romulus was able to get a a second rebound with roughly two seconds left, but Kris Clyburn’s fade away two missed the rim, earning the Cubs the first trip to the Breslin Center in the school’s history.
U of D has now won their last three playoff games by a combined four points, vs. Southeastern 47-45, a 52-51 decision vs. Cass Tech, and another one point contest vs. Romulus.
Sophomore Cassius Winston scored 11 points, hauled in 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists for the Cubs. Noah King added 11 points and four rebounds for the Cubs, while junior Gary Collins added 10 points off the bench for U of D.
Romulus was led by Tyron Hamby with 15 points, fellow senior Deonte Bell chipped in with 10 points, and junior Jaylin Walker scored 13 points and 14 rebounds.
U of D will now play Bloomfield Hills on Friday at Michigan State’s Breslin Center.
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