In a game delayed by one day due to inclement weather, the Ann Arbor Skyline Eagles evened their overall regular season record at 3-3 with over city rival Ann Arbor Pioneer 62-54.
The Eagles led from tip-off to final whistle, starting the game on an 8-1 run within the first six minutes of the contest. Skyline’s lead would never be less than four points in the first half of action, and would gain a 35-27 advantage after 16 minutes.
Pioneer would continue to trail through much of the second half, but would cut Skyline’s lead to as few as 2 points in the fourth quarter after sophomore point guard Chris McGaughy nailed a three pointer with 5:34 left.
However, Skyline senior Jon Muir-Cotton and freshman Jack Ammerman scored consecutive buckets and defensive holds to regain the lead for good. Fellow senior guard Marshal Alexander-White scored a game high 23 points, including two 3s in the fourth, and was 9-10 from the free-throw line on the day and hit four crucial foul shots within the final seconds of play.
Along with Alexander-White, freshman 5’9″ guard Jack Ammerman scored 17 points for Skyline off the bench. Ammerman scored 11 points in the first half, two threes, and made the first five shots he took on the night.
“Jack is a special player,” said Muir-Cotton. “He is a freshman, but he’s playing at a very high level.”
The win for Muir-Cotton is special, he scored seven points and hauled in the same amount of rebounds. As a senior, the feeling to beat a rival never gets old.
“I have only lost to Pioneer once,” John added, “and that was on the JV level.”
“So it means a lot to keep my record perfect vs. Pioneer in varsity.”
After winning their first two games of the season, Skyline sputtered into losing their next three. Cotton is hopeful the win will aid the Eagles in learning what it takes to win in the SEC this season.
“I think we can take away how we need to play to win games at beginning of the game,” John noted. “Coach Lovelace wanted us to set the tone because for all of our other games we had to adjust to the other teams tempo.”
“We have another game Tuesday vs. Monroe, and we know that they will be hungry and ready to play, so we will have the same keys to build on from what we did tonight.”
Pioneer was led by sophomores Jorsan Currie with 15 points 8 rebounds, and classmate Deric Murray with 14 points.
The Prep Ball Report 
You have to possess athletic aptitude to start as a freshman. Great things are to be gained with experience.