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Junior Class Leads East English Village Past Ford 72-65 In City Quarterfinals

12 Feb

photo-6Detroit East English Village is chartering into unknown territory. The school was formed as a merger of Finney and Crockett High Schools in the Fall of 2012. With East English’s victory over Detroit Henry Ford, the Bulldogs will play in the first PSL city semi-final in school history.

EEVP trailed 28-25 at halftime in an evenly matched contest. However, the Bulldog game plan would have to change. 6’3″ junior standout guard Kamari Newman took an awkward fall attempting to secure a rebound. Newman would be forced to leave the game with 7:38 seconds left in the third with his team trailing 30-25. Ford would make their move. Led by division one point guard James Towns, the Trojans would go on a 14-0 run over the next 2:23 and lead as large as 19 points at one point, Towns scored six in the third.

The Bulldogs needed to counter and quickly, and received it from the unlikeliest of sources. Junior guard Lamar Neely does not play the most minutes on a particularly deep Bulldog squad, but with the injury to Newman, Neely needed to make his presence felt.

“On the bench I was kind of nervous,” Neely said after the game. “But once I got in there the jitters went away.”

Neely and fellow junior guard Chris Rollins orchestrated the Bulldog comeback. Rollins connected on a three pointer to trim the Trojan lead to nine to ending the third. Rollins would continue his onslaught in the fourth, he scored seven points in the final stanza, and Neely launched a three pointer with 3:40 left to give the Bulldogs a 59-57 lead, capping off a 16-5 spurt in the fourth.

“I was real confident,” Neely said regarding the three pointer. “I’m not going to say I knew it was going in, but I was real confident.”

Neely scored all ten of his points in the second half. Ford knotted the score 61-61 after junior Jeremy Crawley sinked one of two free throws with under a minute to play. Bulldog junior Jaylin McFadden had a chance to win the game, but his contested five footer was off the mark. Overtime.

Overtime was all EEVP. The Bulldogs forced six Trojan turnovers, outscored Ford 11-4, and four different Bulldogs scored in the final four minutes of play, finishing the largest comeback in school history.

“Any team down by 19 most of the time they’re going to give up, think it’s over.” junior forward Jaylin McFadden commented after the game. “But the way our coaching staff is, we’re not allowed.”

McFadden did not start, he came off the bench and provided starters worthy minutes with 17 points and 10 rebounds, the fourth Bulldog in double figures for scoring, joining Chris Rollins (21 pts), the aforementioned Neely, and 6’5″ forward Cedric Lattimore (12 pts).

Newman did not play the majority of the third, entire fourth, and overtime session. McFadden alluded to Newman’s presence on the bench, even with his injury, as motivating to the team in moments of adversity. McFadden said he kept on pushing them, and were eventually able to get over the hump. But on a team as talented EEVP, it’s pick your poison according to Jaylin.

“It’s kind of hard,” McFadden said to key in on one player. “We all know our role, we are all trying to get it done for the same goal.”

The Village moves onto face Renaissance this Friday in the city semi-final. East English defeated Renaissance by two points on a last second shot January 20th. With a trip to Calihan on the line, the Bulldogs will not expect the Phoenix to lay down easily.

“They’re a hard team,” McFadden added. “Beat them by a buzzer last time, we know they’re trying to get back at us, we’re just going to play our game.”

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Eagle Combination of Hansbro and Walker Lead Romulus Past Fordson 58-40

11 Feb

photoRomulus needed a spark.

The Eagles trailed Fordson by two with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Junior point guard D’Angelo Hansbro launched a 30 footer, nothing but net. Hansbro gave the Eagles a 17-16 halftime advantage. In the first 16 minutes of the game, the Eagles committed nine team turnovers, shot 7-19 from the field, and converted on only one of eight free throw attempts.

“It probably was the shot at the buzzer,” Hansbro said which sparked momentum for the second half. “Gave me a little momentum and my teammates just told me to keep attacking.”

According to Hansbro, Romulus is a team which thrives in the open court, with exceptional guards and athletes. Romulus nearly doubled their first half scoring output in the third quarter alone. Romulus and Fordson exchanged seven lead changes throughout the third stanza. And once again, Hansbro concluded the third the same way he did the second, a three with time winding down to give Romulus a 32-29 advantage entering the fourth.

“We just didn’t want to give them any momentum,” D’Angelo said was the strategy into gaining a third quarter advantage. “So we had to play Romulus basketball, and that’s play in transition.”

The fourth quarter was complete domination by Romulus. The Eagles opened the stanza on a 15 to five run in the opening 3:15, capped off once again by a D’Angelo Hansbro three, his third of the second half. Teammate and senior Jaylin Walker scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, to aid Romulus in building a lead as large as 19 in the final minutes of play.

Hansbro and Walker accounted for 42 of the team’s 58 points. Hansbro led Romulus with 22 points, 17 in the second half, and five rebounds, while the Kent State bound Walker added 20 points and six rebounds.

“It’s hard honestly.” Hansbro had to say about stopping the combination of him and Walker. “I think because if we’re in attack mode and confident, I think our team will feed off our energy, and will become hard to beat.”

A key to Romulus gaining an advantage in the second half was the team’s game plan of Fordson senior guard Moe Zahr. Zahr, the leading scorer for the Tractors, scored only three of his 20 points in the fourth, and shot 9-20 from the field the whole game.

“I think we did a good job of getting ball pressure on him,” Hansbro said was the game plan on Zahr. “Making him pass the ball more, but he is good honestly.”

The Western Wayne Athletic Conference Blue division is a three team race between Romulus, Belleville, and Fordson. With the win, Romulus is now in sole possession of first. Friday’s game against rival and second place Belleville will be important in the divisional race, however, the team will also return with the services of senior center Rio Washington, who has sat out the past couple of games for an undisclosed reason.

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February 9th Statewide and Class A-D Team Rankings

9 Feb

Statewide

1. Detroit Western (14-0)

2. Muskegon (14-1)

3. Clarkston (14-0)

4. University of Detroit Jesuit (13-1)

5. East Kentwood (14-0)

6. New Haven (13-0)

7. Kalamazoo Central (14-1)

8. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-0)

9. Milan (12-2)

10. West Bloomfield (11-1)

11. Wyoming Godwin Heights (12-1)

12. Saginaw Arthur Hill (12-3)

13. Lansing Everett (12-2)

14. Detroit East English Village (12-3)

15. Ann Arbor Huron (11-2)

16. Flint Northwestern (12-0)

17. Macomb Dakota (11-2)

18. River Rouge (10-3)

19. Walled Lake Western (13-1)

20. Detroit Loyola (10-2)

21. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (12-2)

22. Flint Beecher (12-1)

23. Romulus (10-5)

24. North Farmington (12-2)

25. Stevensville-Lakeshore (13-1)

Class A

1. Detroit Western (14-0)

2. Muskegon (14-1)

3. Clarkston (14-0)

4. University of Detroit Jesuit (13-1)

5. East Kentwood (14-0)

6. Kalamazoo Central (14-1)

7. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-0)

8. West Bloomfield (11-1)

9. Saginaw Arthur Hill (12-3)

10. Lansing Everett (12-2)

11. Detroit East English Village (12-3)

12. Ann Arbor Huron (11-2)

13. Macomb Dakota (11-2)

14. Walled Lake Western (13-1)

15. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (12-2)

16. Romulus (10-5)

17. North Farmington (12-2)

18. Stevensville-Lakeshore (13-1)

19. Wyoming (12-2)

20. Canton (10-3)

21. Redford Thurston (13-1)

22. Dearborn Fordson (10-3)

23. Alpena (11-2)

24. Grand Ledge (13-0)

25. Taylor Kennedy (10-2)

Class B

1. New Haven (13-0)

2. Milan (12-2)

3. Wyoming Godwin Heights (12-1)

4. Flint Northwestern (12-0)

5. River Rouge (10-3)

6. Benton Harbor (12-3)

7. Goodrich (13-2)

8. Otsego (11-2)

9. Detroit CMA (13-3)

10. Detroit Community (11-3)

11. Detroit Henry Ford (12-4)

12. Haslett (11-2)

13. Battle Creek Harper Creek (12-1)

14. Wayland Union (10-3)

15. Flint Southwestern (9-3)

16. Yale (13-1)

17. Alma (10-3)

18. Detroit Consortium (8-3)

19. Detroit Osborn (11-5)

20. Detroit Cesar Chavez (12-0)

Class C

1. Detroit Loyola (10-2)

2. Flint Beecher (12-1)

3. Jackson Lumen Christi (12-1)

4. Monroe St. Mary (10-1)

5. Shelby (14-0)

6. Hillsdale (15-0)

7. Detroit Edison (10-3)

8. Southfield Christian (11-3)

9. Michigan Seminary Lutheran (13-1)

10. Mt. Clemens (10-2)

11. Beaverton (13-0)

12. Lainsburg (11-1)

13. Iron Mountain (13-1)

14. Ferndale University (10-2)

15. Hanover Horton (12-1)

Class D

1. Cedarville (12-0)

2. Powers North Central (12-0)

3. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (14-0)

4. Munising (12-0)

5. Hillman (13-1)

 

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Great Games February 9th-13th

9 Feb

Monday February 9th

Old Redford (8-3) @ Pontiac (7-4) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Both team’s have been relative surprises in their respective leagues. Redford sits alone top of the Charter School League, while Pontiac is tied for first with Oak Park and Athens in the OAA White.

West Bloomfield (11-1) @ Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (10-3)

Outlook: West Bloomfield leads the OAA Blue, while Stoney Creek has lost two out of their last three.

Tuesday February 10th

Kalamazoo Central (14-1) @ Benton Harbor (12-3) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Southwestern Conference crossover with both team’s having Breslin Center aspirations.

Flint Northwestern (12-0) @ Flint Beecher (12-1) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Classic Flintown rivalry renewed.

Muskegon Heights (8-4) @ Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (12-2) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Interesting non-conference game on the west side of the state.  Heights can make a run in Class C while Ottawa Hills has been one of Class A’s most surprising teams.

Canton (10-3) @ Livonia Churchills (10-4) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Battle for first in the  KLAA South with conference tournament seeding implications.

Utica Eisenhowe (9-3) @ Macomb Dakota (11-2) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Dakota has won 11 straight games since beginning the season 0-2, and have been even more state relevant since Jermaine Jackson Jr. and Charles Penn have gained eligibility.

Wyoming Godwin Heights (12-1) @ Otsego (11-2) 7:15 PM

Outlook: Good bet to say won’t be the last time these two Class B powers play again this season.

Fordson (10-3) @ Romulus (10-5) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Fordson gave all Romulus could handle the first time these two played, and will look to take control of the WWAC Blue.

Wednesday February 11th

Detroit CMA @ Detroit Renaissance 5:00 PM

CMA has been a sleeper in the PSL’s division two, now get their first true test against the Phoenix in the city playoffs.

Detroit Henry Ford vs. Detroit East English Village @ Detroit Renaissance 7:00 PM

Outlook: EEVP beat Ford on February 4th. This is the best of the PSL quarterfinal matchups.

Thursday February 12th

Ferndale University (10-2) @ Cornerstone (6-4) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Ferndale beat Cornerstone earlier in the year, but Cornerstone has won four out their last five.  By the way, Jamal Cain is a beast for Cornerstone.

Clarkston (14-0) @ Rochester Adams (8-4) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Clarkston is looking to run away with the OAA Red, but Adams has something to say in this one.

Friday February 13th

Dearborn Heights Crestwood (9-3) @ Redford Thurston (13-1) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Thurston leads the WWAC Blue at 8-0, Crestwood is second at 7-1.

Flint Beecher (12-1) @ River Rouge (10-3) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Rouge passed their first test of February, an OT victory against Romulus.  Now the Panthers face top five ranked Class C foe Flint Beecher.

Belleville (10-3) @ Romulus (10-5) 7:00 PM

Outlook: Battle for Hannan Road, enough said.

Saginaw Arthur Hill (12-3) @ Saginaw (9-5) 7:00 PM

Outlook: In all likely hood, the closing chapter on a historic middle of Michigan rivalry.

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Grand Rapids Union Redhawk Showcase Recap

8 Feb

photo-6Grand Rapids Union held their first annaul Redhawk showcase with five stellar contests highlighted by premier players both in Michigan and Ohio.  A kind thank you to Union head coach Brandon Guyton for his hospitality throughout the day.  Coach Brandon will undoubtedly grow the showcase into a premier destination and event as the years come.

Results:

Baldwin 58 Paw Paw 52

Allen Academy 62 Union 60

Wyoming Godwin Heights 65 North Farmington 55

Ypsilanti Lincoln 71 Toledo Rogers 45

Lima Central Catholic 68 Kalamazoo Central 53

Overall MVP: Ty Groce 6’6″ forward Ypsilanti Lincoln

Groce had his highly anticipated coming out party on the season, scoring 33 points, and hauling in 14 rebounds.  The division one recruit Groce hit three spot-up three pointers, made several trips to the free-throw line, finished on and ones, and was extremely active around the basket on put backs and layups.

Other First Team Members:

Jason Williams 6’0″ point guard Allen Academy

It’s not an Allen Academy game unless Williams scores at least 30 points, which he did, this time finishing with 33 to reach the 1,000 point plateau only as a junior.  His jump shot wasn’t working normally, yet he knew to be effective in the game he had get downhill and drive to the basket, initiating contact with taller defenders.  Jason scored 14 of Allen’s 20 fourth quarter points, including the game winning fadeaway at the buzzer.  Williams also filled the Wildcat stat sheet, four assists, six rebounds and steals.

Video of Jason’s game winner

Dantez Walton 6’4″ forward Lima Central Catholic

Mismatch.  Walton is a walking double-double.  Dantez set the Thunderbird tone early in the team’s route of top five ranked Kalamazoo Central, 16 first half points.  Walton was methodical when he chose to go outside, four threes, and when to score from ten feet and in.  Often the tallest player on the court for Lima, Walton is called to rebound at a high level, which he did with ten.

Delaney Blaylock 6’4″ guard Wayland Godwin Heights

The Lewis bound senior Blaylock carried his Wolverines against a taller and physical North Farmington front court.  Blaylock started strong, nine in the first quarter, and 12 at half.  However, Delaney did not score the entire third.  But, the senior knocked down two crucial threes with under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter for Godwin Heights to gain the separation needed to defeat the Raiders.  Blaylock finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Brandon Childress 6’4″ guard Baldwin

Childress is a Central Michigan commit for football, but he has a thing for basketball as well.  He was the most athletic player on the court, aggressively rising and outworking opponents for 11 rebounds.  Childress usually plays up to four positions for Baldwin, and was effective at each with 18 points, and four assists.

Second Team

Tre Cobbs 5’10” point guard Lima CC

Cobbs is a tough handle for a team, let alone one defender.  Cobbs’ handling ability is on display against a usual defensively stout Central team, Tre created separation with either hand, and exploding past defenders off the dribble.  Cobbs excells in the paint, a true playmaker.  He let the aforementioned Walton control the first half, but somehow managed to finish with 14 points on the night and six assists.  Cobbs also rebounds well for a guard, six on the night.

Nick Klingel 6’4″ shooting guard Paw Paw

Klingel dominated the first half for Paw Paw, he scored half of the team’s 30 points in the opening 16 minutes, with three threes.  His shot started to slow down in the second half, scoring only once in both quarters.  However, he has the desirable size for a small school shooting guard, but rebounds well for the position, eight on the game.

Curtis Davison 6’1″ combo guard Union

Davison is one of Michigan’s premier true scorers.  Allen held Davison scoreless in the first quarter, but Davison erupted for 15 points in the second quarter alone.  He’s a solid defender, ball handler, and athlete.  Comfortable playing with or without the ball, and has a picture perfect form on his jump shot.

Devin Haygood 6’8″ forward Ypsilanti Lincoln

Devin let his teammate Groce shine in the team’s route of Toledo Rogers, but Devin still came away with a solid day of work.  The future Youngstown State Penguin absolutely filled the stat sheet.  10 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and two steals.  Lincoln will look to build off this win and salvage the remainder of the season after entering the year as a top ten squad.

Sherrod Motley-Dismuke 5’9″ guard Ypsilanti Lincoln

Sherrod did what a point guard needs to do on a team as talented as Lincoln, handle the ball, don’t turnover the ball, and facilitate the game.  He’s a plus shooter from outside, and strong handler and decision maker.  Dismuke finished with 12 points, and three rebounds.

Other Standouts On The Day:

Miguel Mahan 6’6″ forward Baldwin

Mahan is intriguing due to his combination of size, length, mobility, and potential.  He finished with 17 points on the day, many were within 5 feet of the basket although the lefty did hit a corner three.  Mahan could blossom into a promising shot blocker and defender.

Jeffrey Lee 6’2″ guard Union

Lee shot the ball well despite coming up short on the scoreboard to Allen Academy.  He scored from both the perimeter and the midrange department, three threes, and several midrange pull ups.  Finished with 15.

Keidren Davis 6’6″ forward Union

Davis had a battle against Allen’s Danny Pippen.  Good mobility, developing offensive skill set and footwork.  Strong rebounder, had 10 in the game, promising defender, four blocks.

Jacob Joubert 6’2″ point guard North Farmington

Deep range on three pointer off the bounce, finished with three and 11 points. Progressing into true point guard as passer, handler, and playmaker.

AJ Howard 6’5″ forward Ypsilanti Lincoln

All the physical tools necessary to thrive at the college level for a wing, just needs to put it all together.  Stat line reads eight points, four rebounds and assists.

Hunter Hale 6’1″ point guard Kalamazoo Central

Central overall struggled to have success attacking the Lima CC 2-3 zone, yet Hale found success.  He scored a team high 17 points.

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Kennedy Shows League Superiority With Win Over Anderson

6 Feb

Taylor Kennedy is in a class of their own within the Downriver League.  The Eagles sit alone top of the conference with a two game lead over Woodhaven and Allen Park.

The latest win for the Eagles was against Southgate Anderson, the lone blemish on Kennedy’s conference record of 8-1.

“Tonight we played good help side defense,” senior point guard Andia Marsh said.  “Last time we settled for long threes, this time we dissected their zone and got layups and free throws.”

Marsh scored Kennedy’s first five points of the game, and finished with a team high 19.  The Eagles built a six point advantage after the opening eight minutes of play.  The deciding quarter was the second.  Kennedy limited Anderson to five points  the entire second quarter, while holding the Titan senior guard trio of Dejon Matthews, Juwan Graham, and Trey Harris to a combined 13 first half points.

Kennedy led by 14 at half, and would lead by a comfortable margin the remainder of the game.  Marsh said he started to suffer from cramps as the game went on, and scored only four points in the second half.  However, fellow seniors also contributed for Kennedy.  Shooting guard Anton Hogan scored nine points and rebounded six balls, 6’3″ forward Ciante Roach scored six points with 13 rebounds, and junior Charles Pritchett missed one shot on the night, but with three baskets and six free-throws, contributed 12 points and five rebounds.

“The bench came in with the same energy or more it never went down,” Marsh added. “When they saw I couldn’t really move they realized they had to step up and contribute more and that’s exactly what they did.”

The Eagles find themselves in a position the program hasn’t been in for four years, first place.  That 2009-2010 team eased to the conference championship with a record of 9-0, and made an appearance in the state quarterfinals.  Marsh aspires to greater lengths, but knows it is better to start off small.  An outright conference title has been one of Marsh’s goals for the past four years.

“It would be a great accomplishment,” Marsh said. “In my four years we never won a league, district or anything. But our goals are way more then just a league title, it would be great but we have our sight set on something bigger. But it would be a great accomplishment for the entire team.”

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Anderson’s Juwan Graham Leads Titans To 49-33 Victory Over Melvindale

30 Jan

When a teammate goes down, another must step up.

Southgate Anderson senior guard Juwan Graham fulfilled that statement against Downriver League rival Melvindale.

When fellow senior DeJon Matthews left the game early in the second quarter with an apparent leg injury, Graham led the Titans with a game high 20 points.

Graham a 5’7″ combo guard, scored 14 points in the first half, and nine in the second quarter to give Anderson a nine point advantage heading into the locker room.

“I started making some shots early in the game,” Graham said.  “And forced the defense to key on me which allowed open look for my teammates.”

Defense played an important role in Anderson’s victory as well.  Whether Melvindale was off, or Anderson’s defensive strategies were stellar, the Cardinals only managed to score 15 total first half points.  Melvindale stud sophomore Koby Boyton scored a team high 15 points, on 5-19 shooting from the floor.

“Just to match their intensity,” Graham said was a factor in the Titan defensive game plan.  “Pressure the ball to cause turnovers.  We knew Kobe Boyton was their scorer, so we tried to limit his touches.”

Graham would handle a facilitator role in the second half.  Melvindale attempted to force other Titan’s to beat them, and for Anderson, the team did not revolve around Juwan.

Senior guard Trey Harris added four and forward Joe Galetto scored six in the second half for Anderson to lead at times by 19 points.  The closest Melvindale would shrink the defecit to was 14 points, but Graham added four free-throws in the fourth quarter to seal any hopes of a Cardinal comeback.

The win for Anderson positions themselves into third place in the Downriver League with a record of 5-3 in conference play, only 1.5 out of first.  Next week will be crucial if the Titans wish to capture the conference crown, with games against fourth place Carlson and first place Taylor Kennedy.

Graham is opportunistic about where his team is at and headed.

“My team and our coach feel this could be our year for a league title,” Graham added.

“Next week, we really have the opportunity to make a statement in the league and achieve our goals.”

 

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Prep Ball Review Episode Four

29 Jan

Episode four of the Prep Ball Review features an interview with U of D Jesuit junior guard Cassius Winston, a discussion on important transfer, answer submitted questions, and post game predictions on Southfield vs. West Bloomfield, Rochester Adams vs. North Farmington, Cass Tech vs. Renaissance, and Detroit Community vs. Arbor Prep.

Western Defeats Henry Ford 72-55 On Impressive Three Point Shooting

28 Jan

To say Detroit Western is talented would be an understatement.  Yet the ability to win when one if not two key pieces do not play or meet their usually standards separate good teams from great teams.

And Western wants to be a great team.

Detroit Western improved to 11-0 overall and 7-0 in DPS play following a 72-55 victory Tuesday over Detroit Henry Ford.  However, senior guard Josh McFolley played sparingly with a stomach virus.  The U of D Mercy commit went 0-6 from the field, and received no playing time in the fourth quarter. Josh recorded 21 points in the team’s win over East English Village last Friday.  Fellow senior and U of D Mercy commit Gerald Blackshear did not play or seen on the bench with a reported tooth injury.  The 6’8″ Blackshear scored 14 points and recorded 14 rebounds in the EEVP game.

The Cowboys would lead 14-8 after the first eight minutes after junior guard Kareem Murray tallied seven points.  The pivotal moment of the first half occurred when fellow junior guards Armani Tinsley and Kyree Boyton entered the game.  The two accounted for five of the Cowboys’ seven second quarter threes, Kyree with two and Armani with three.  Western was able to stretch their halftime advantage to 39-20.

“I dont think that was part of the plan,” said Tinsley following the game regarding the three-point shooting.  “But you always have to be ready for change-ups, and they also played that zone so we were pretty happy that they did that.   All we had to do was penetrate and kick to the open guy and hit our shots, they made our job easy.”

Ford would fight in the third, closing the deficit to ten with 1:06 left in the quarter, capping a 6-0 run which included a thunderous slam from Western Michigan bound senior Josh Davis.  The Cowboys would respond with an 11-3 run behind an effective five guard lineup at times over the next four minutes into the fourth quarter to coast for victory.

“This one today made a huge statement,” Tinsley said.  “Henry Ford is like our rivals so getting this win was very important to the team.”

Ford’s Davis was held to 13 points on 3-11 shooting.  Trojan point guard and division one recruit James Towns also found his difficulties with the Cowboy defensive plan, a season low four points on 2-5 shooting.

Brailen Neely has been the Cowboy leading scorer throughout much of the early season, he contributed 24 points, and four rebounds.  Kareem Murray had 15 points, but Armani Tinsley and Kyree Boyton both came off the bench for 11 and 16 points respectively.

“Me and Ree (Kyree), we are just always ready when our number is called,” said Tinsley.  “So we got the job done.”

Western has been considered a top five team since the preseason and are currently the number one team in the state.  The Cowboys have only played one game truly as a whole, and Armani doesn’t even think they have all “gelled” yet.  Not the words opposing teams want to hear from an undefeated squad.

“I think the ceiling is high for this team,” Tinsley added.  “Everyone expects to win, and we are not clicked just yet, we’re almost there but a couple more days or games with McFolley and Gerald, then we’ll be where we need to be as one whole.”

 

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First Annual Coaches Against Violence Review

25 Jan

3L9A6857On behalf of Detroit Westside Christian head coach Greg Boler, The Prep Ball Report would like to thank all schools, players, coaches, parents, and fans who participated in the first annual Coaches Against Violence Invitational.  We would also like to send kind regards to our gracious hosts, Southfield Bradford Academy.  From 12 AM to 10 PM, five competitive games were played and accounted for a tremendous post-holiday basketball showcase atmosphere.  The defending Class C state champions made an appearance, and a new member of the 1,000 point club was admitted.

Game Results

Detroit Public Safety 38 Taylor Prep 19 (Girls)

Detroit Public Safety 62 Taylor Prep 29

Detroit Collegiate Prep-Northwestern 65 Southfield Bradford 49

Detroit Consortium 59 Farmington 49

Detroit Allen Academy 92 Detroit Westside Christian 68

Storylines:

Guards, guards, and more guards.

On the day, the Coaches Against Violence Invitational witnessed three stellar performances by guards from the City of Detroit.

3L9A6613The four o’clock game featured a breakout performance from Northwestern junior guard Terrance Sewell (pictured left).  Sewell stands 6’3,”and already has the presence and build of a college level athlete.  Terrance was not hesitant when he received a pass, he took the ball straight to the rim and finished strong with defenders repeatedly draped on him.  His points either came within five feet of the basket or at the free-throw line.  Yet, Sewell not once committed a charge or offensive turnover, he knows when to attack and read situations.  Sewell also had the highlight of the event, a flying alley-oop which brought the fans to their feet.  Sewell accumulated a game high 25 points, and nine rebounds.  Defended both forwards and guards efficiently throughout the day.

In the night cap of the day, fans were treated to an entertaining showdown between two of Detroit’s best point guards, Allen Academy’s Jason Williams and Westside Christian’s DeShawn Brocks (pictured top first).  For Brocks, he needed only 25 points to become a 1,000 point career scorer, and he exceeded that margin, pouring in a team high 38 points.  He’s a lefty, shifty, quick yet strong ball handler, and shot creator for himself anywhere on the court.  Brocks drew fouls in the paint, converted on high-difficulty isolation midrange pull-ups, and hit three threes on the day.

3L9A6798His counterpart, Williams (pictured left), matched his former AAU teammate with 38 points, but contributed eight rebounds, and five assists.  In a span of 4:30 seconds left, Williams scored a total of 15 points, and 27 overall in the second half.  Williams’ offensive game is centered around his quick first step, creating separation from defenders and getting in the paint.  Many of his points came from the mid-range department, floaters, and runners.  On the defensive side of the floor, however, Williams has quick hands that allow him to force turnovers, six of them on the night.

Consortium Shows Toughness In Tough Victory

3L9A6722-2The defending Class C state champions have had to adjust to two changes from a year ago, the departure of Josh Jackson, and a transition from Class C to B.  Yet, the Cougars find themselves with a 6-2 record with their two losses against Class A top 25 teams U of D Jesuit and Rochester Adams.

In the Cougars’ latest victory, Consortium trailed throughout much of the game against Farmington.  Coach Tobias Tuomi found his spark in 6’0″ senior Larry Williams.  Williams erupted for ten second half points and five within the final 4:39 seconds of the fourth to give the Cougars the separation needed to win an old-fashioned slug out.

Fellow senior Mykel Tyson (pictured) was also effective for the Cougars.  Tyson’s first basket didn’t come until deep in the second quarter, but somehow and someway, Mykel managed to finish with a team high 16 points and six rebounds, including the go-ahead score midway through the fourth.  Tyson is currently one of Michigan’s best remaining low-post senior options.

Junior point guard Charles Figueroa connected on four free throws to end hopes of a Falcon comeback.

Public Safety Shows Promise In Onslaught Of Taylor Prep

3L9A6595Detroit Public Safety is in their second season of varsity competition.  The Class D charter school sits in the city’s historic Corktown neighborhood, with an enrollment of barely 150.  With no senior on the roster, let alone a senior class in the school, the Eagles are a primarily a sophomore/junior laden team.  6’0″ junior shooting guard DeMario Sanders led the Eagles with 18 points, including three threes. 6’4″ sophomore guard Michael Smith had been averaging double figure scoring totals in games prior, but recorded only eight points.  Regardless, Smith found other ways to succeed.  He’s long, lanky, and a reliable facilitator with size for the position.  Smith corralled a team high 12 rebounds, assisted on four scores, and stole three Tiger passes.

DPSA had at least six players score six points.  Aside from Smith, the most complete stat line went to Eddie Rhodes, a 6’4″ powerfully built junior.   Rhodes tallied six points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and two assists.

DPSA will not be eligible for playoff contention in 2014-2015.  However, with a young nucleus that will have played with each other for at least three years, the Eagles are a program to take notice next year and in the future of Detroit city basketball.

Other Individual Standouts On The Day

3L9A6703Jordan Graham (pictured) 6’4″ guard Farmington- Smooth and skilled wing.  Gets to the basket off the bounce, and solid mid-range game.  Promising defender.  Scored 14 points, and recorded seven rebounds.

Jawan Snoddy 6’3″ guard Allen Academy- Snoddy had arguably the best game he played all year for the Wildcats, with 15 points, and nine rebounds.  Often the tallest player on the court for Allen, it will be interesting to see when Snoody transitions to his more natural position of wing when 6’7″ junior Danny Pippen returns from injury.

Kylard Shipp guard Northwestern

Marvin Stewart guard Westside Christian

 

 

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