It’s been a rough first month for Romulus. The Eagles lost their first game of the year in a prime time affair to Chicago Bogan at Detroit Mumford, and then a ten point set back to Detroit Western on the opening day of Romulus’ Winners’ Circle Classic.
Desperate for a signature victory, the Eagles defeated previously unbeaten University of Detroit Jesuit 56-53, a team they had lost to twice last season, including the state quarterfinals.
“This game was huge,” senior center Rio Washington said. “Coming in as the underdogs and playing hard, and finishing the game strong, and finally getting over are hump.”
Washington is listed as Romulus’ tallest player at 6’8.” However, he didn’t start the contest, but finished the game with 15 points, and seven points. Rio’s greatest impact on the game was seen on the defensive end of the floor. He held U of D’s two 6’7″ sophomore forwards to a combined nine points.
“I just was hungry,” Washington added, “and so ready to play the past year.” “They beat us every time so I felt like this was the rematch to get them back.”
Romulus held a brief two point lead at the beginning of the contest, but found themselves trailing throughout much of the first half, and a 25-20 defecit at intermission.
In the third was where Romulus made their surge. Senior guard and Kent State commit Jaylin Walker scored 13 over his team high 23 points in the stanza, including a three pointer to knot the game at 35 with three minutes left. Romulus would take the lead on their very next possession on a Rio Washington basket, a lead the Eagles would never relinquish the rest of the game.
“It was big,” junior point guard D’Angelo Hansbro said of Walker’s performance. “I always tell him he has to be big time for us to win every night, but I expected it out of him.”
U of D junior floor general Cassius Winston did all he could, he scored 15 of his points in the fourth to keep the Cubs in contention. But with Winston the only one getting his shot off consistently in the period, Romulus was able to take away U of D’s role players. Only three players scored more than one point for the Cubs, and were led by Winston with a game high 33 points, compared to Romulus who had five players eclipse the one point mark.
The Eagles missed six team free throws in the final period of action, but a win is a win for Romulus and they will take it any way they can get it now.
“It’s big,” Hansbro added, “gives us a lot of momentum. “We just have to stay hungry and know we are good as any team in the state.”
Romulus improves to 4-2, while the Cubs fall to 5-1.
The Prep Ball Report 
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