Balance, balance, and more balance. These were the words to describe the performance on display by the Saginaw Arthur Hill Lumberjacks in the Class A semi-final against Lansing Everett.
Four different Lumberjacks tallied double-digit points, Eric Davis with 20, junior guard Billy Burton 18 points on four three pointers, sophomore forward Brian Bowen 15 points, and Dequavion Johnson added 11 points.
“All of us are capable of scoring 20,” said Texas bound senior guard Eric Davis. “Some nights it’s probably my night, Brian’s night, Billy’s night, so you never know game-by-game.”
After holding a slim three point half-time advantage, the third quarter was dominated by Arthur Hill. The Lumberjacks outscored Everett 23-13 paced by Bowen with eight.
Head coach Greg McMath draws on experience to illustrate the importance of third quarter play.
“I felt the last two years when we got put out the tournament by Saginaw High they dominated the third quarter. Every drill we had the second-half of practice was just go hard.”
Everett has their own high-major college talent in 6’10” Oregon commit Trevor Manuel. However, Manuel found little success against the Lumberjack defense, a total of 13 points. Manuel’s inability to find a consistent rhythm was in large part the work done by football prospect Willie Rodgers, a 6’4″ sophomore defensive end. Further illustrating the depth of Arthur Hill.
“I had a meeting with just the other 10 guys on the team,” coach McMath said referring to Davis and Bowen. “And I told them if we’re going to make a run, if we’re going to win a state championship, it’s going to be on you guys.”
“These two (Bowen and Davis) always get the press and they deserve it, but it’s a total team effort.”
McMath returns to his first state tile game since capturing the Class A crown in 2006. The game is also special for Davis, who in his first three years of high school had not gone past the district round.
“I’m 32 minutes away from winning a state championship,” said Davis. “And I want to go out a winner. This is my first time being here, and I always say ‘better late than never.'”
The Prep Ball Report 
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