University of Detroit Jesuit senior guard Gary Collins knows what it takes to win. As a junior, he helped lead the Cubs to the Breslin Center for the first time in school history. Now as the team’s only senior in the starting lineup, he has found ways to impact not confined to the offensive end of the floor.
In U of D’s first two games of the season, Collins has had to guard the opponent’s best overall offensive player, Chicago Morgan Park’s Marcus LoVett, and East English Villages’ Kamari Newman, holding them well below their season averages.
“I put the work in in practice,” Collins said. “I just have to be ready when the opportunity arises.”
The third game of the year for the Cubs was against defending Class C state champion Detroit Consortium. Both teams struggled to find any rhythm to their offense, as over 20-30 combined turnovers were committed in the contest. U of D jumped out to a 12-4 lead at the end of one, thanks to five early points from Collins. The second quarter started by a 8-2 spurt for Consortium to cut the U of D lead down to two with 5:35 left in the half. Junior forward Jaylen Moore added seven of his 12 points in the second stanza. The remaining five minutes of the second would remain relatively even, U of D would lead at halftime 25-19.
However, the Cubs would gain separation from the Cougars in the beginning of the third. A 10-2 run ignited the home crowd and forced Consortium to call a timeout. In the third, Collins scored seven of his 14 points, while junior backcourt mate Cassius Winston had four in the third. U of D led 42-34 entering the final quarter of play. Consortium senior guard Larry Williams was the only bright spot in the third, his seven points brought the Cougars into striking distance mid-way through the quarter.
U of D was able to build and maintain a double digit lead in the fourth quarter, and coast the rest of the way to the victory. The aforementioned Winston scored 14 of his game high 23 points in the final eight minutes of play, including 7-9 from the charity stripe.
Collins primarily guarded Consortium standout junior Luster Johnson, a friend he has played AAU with, and held him to 13 overall points.
“I had to step it up, simple as that.”
The Cubs lost four senior starters from last year’s semi-finalist team, the added role for Collins has meant he has had to provide senior leadership throughout much of the early season.
“Just experience,” Collins added. “Playing last year for the whole year, first year on varsity, comes with a lot of experience and senior leadership.”
Consortium falls to 2-1 on the season, while the Cubs remain undefeated at 3-0 and will wait until Saturday to face off with out of state Jesuit rival Toledo St. Johns.
The Prep Ball Report 
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