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Freshman Foster Loyer’s Career High 35 lead Clarkston Past Dakota 63-58

19 Mar

IMG_0257And a freshman will lead them.

It seems a script made for a Hollywood production.  A freshman, leading an undefeated team with championship aspirations, in a highly anticipated meeting between two state top ten teams.

Clarkston freshman floor general Foster Loyer scored more than half his team’s 63 points, 35, in the Wolves’ regional final victory against MAC Red Division champions Macomb Dakota (21-3).

Foster scored 13 of his total points in the final period of play, and the Wolves needed every last one of them.  In a game of two evenly matched teams, there was little separation.  Until the fourth quarter, the largest advantage any team held was five points.

The Wolves built an eight point advantage twice in the middle of the fourth quarter.  However, uncharacteristic Clarkston turnovers and mishaps propelled a Dakota charge.  Junior point guard C.J. Marshall scored scored six points in an 8-0 run to put the Cougars down one exactly half-way through the fourth.

“They changed up their defense,” Loyer said of the Dakota spurt.  “Put the trap on us and worked pretty well against us.  Had some careless turnovers but we finished through.  That’s all that matters.”

Dakota even held a one point advantage at one point with under three to play.  Clarkston (24-0) needed to make a stand, this time it wasn’t Loyer, however, senior Andrew Myers scored five straight for the Wolves and gave the team the lead they would not relinquish the remainder of the contest, up two with 2:12 to play.

Now Clarkston needed to connect on free-throws.  Loyer shot 10 free-throws in the final eight minutes, and made eight of them, four of which in the final minute.

Loyer, son of former Piston interim coach John Loyer, said free-throws are an aspect of a game he takes great pride in, and he practices them every day.

“(I) try to make 50 free-throws at least every day,” Loyer said.  “Free-throw line wins basketball games.”

Head coach Dan Fife had high praise for his freshman point guard’s performance in a filled to capacity crowd.

“It’s hard to imagine he’s a freshman,” said Fife.  “It’s incredible to think a kid that poised can play that composure in this kind of environment, cause I don’t think he’s played in anything like this.

On the roster sheet, Dakota clearly held an advantage athletically.  A 6’4″ guard, and four 6’6” plus forwards the Cougars rotated through during the game.  On top of the Cougars athleticism, Dakota also has one  the premier sophomore guards, Jermaine Jackson Jr.

Jackson scored 14 points, but took well over 20 shots to reach that plateua.  In a match-up of two promising underclassman point guards, it was Loyer’s night.  On a key rebound in the final minutes, Jackson attempted to get an easy layup, however, Foster was there to thwart a would-be Jackson two pointer, only a microcosm of Loyer’s dominant night.

“Really wasn’t ready to block it,” Loyer said with a smile.  “Ball came my way so I did what I could.”

Following a rugged regional championship, Clarkston has six days to prepare for Catholic League Champion U of D Jesuit (21-3).  The Cubs have their own stud point guard in junior Cassius Winston, whose scored at least 20 point in each playoff game for U of D.  Clarkston last appeared in the Class A state quarterfinals in 2011.

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Western Advances To Regional Semi-Final 65-55 Over East English Village

17 Mar

IMG_0246This is what Josh McFolley came to Western for.  To win and lead.

Last season, McFolley was a key component on a Mt. Clemens team that reached the Class C quarterfinals.  Now as a senior, Josh is the primary leader of a Western team that was once a dormant program of the PSL.

“I’ve been in this position before,” McFolley said of his team’s position in the state tournament.  “I know how to control the team, calm things down a little bit, and the coaches keep us calm too.”

In the team’s 65-55 defeat of East English Village at the Sterling Heights regional semi-final, Josh scored 19 points, hauled in seven rebounds, and assisted on four Cowboy baskets.  For as good as he was, Josh surprisingly didn’t lead the team scoring-wise.  That was held by junior guard Brailen Neely, with a game-high 22 points.

In their short time together, Neely and McFolley have built a strong relationship among one another now reaping rewards on the court.

“We talk about this before every game,” McFolley said of him and Neely.  “Talk about it during practice, what we got to do, ever since day one we’ve been together.  We know we have to work together.”

McFolley struggled in the first-half, connecting on just one of his first five shot attempts.  However, Neely was there to pace Western with 11 points in the opening 16 minutes.

Western held a slim one point advantage at intermission.  Then, it was McFolley’s turn.  Josh scored 11 of the Cowboys’ 21 third quarter points, including six straight at one point.

“I rushed a little bit in the first-half,” McFolley said, “kind of slowed me up a bit.”  “Then the coaches told me just to stay composed and I was expecting it in the second-half too, so I managed to play through it.”

Western knew the game would be an up-and-down affair.  In the first meeting of the year, the two squads combined for 149 points.  Just as it was in January, this game would be dictated by guards.  Three Western Cowboys standing 6’8″ scored just 10 points, and EEVP’s two primary forwards scored combined for 15 points.

The one Bulldog that found any form of success against Western was 6’3″ junior guard Kamari Newman.  Newman scored 22 points, and seven off free-throws.  Yet no other Bulldog scored more than 12 points.

“That was the key,” McDowell added about the team’s defensive strategies.  “Hold the rest down, we knew Kamari (Newman) would get his, but basically hold the rest down.”

A three-ball by Neely gave Western their largest lead of the fourth quarter, 59-48 exactly half-way through the period.  However, a desperation surge by East English placed the Bulldogs down just five with 1:50 in regulation following a Newman three pointer, his only basket of the final stanza.  Despite inconsistent free-throw shooting in the final minutes for Western, EEVP’s could not connect on challenged perimeter jump-shots, the Bulldogs went scoreless on the team’s final five possessions.

East English concludes the year with 16-5 overall record.  The Bulldogs have reason to be optimistic for next season, as just one player graduates from the team’s nine-man rotation.

Western improves their record to 22-0, and have a date with Warren De La Salle Wednesday night in the regional semi-final.  Josh is familiar with De La Salle’s style of play, but remains confident in his Cowboys.

“I know they’re a pretty good team,” he said.  “Pretty scrappy team.  So we just got to play our normal game and continue to play hard and we’ll get the win.”

 

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Class A Regional Playoff Preview

16 Mar

The state’s biggest class is the most open.

Contenders remaining: Western (21-0), Muskegon (21-1), Clarkston (22-0), Kalamazoo Central (22-1), Macomb Dakota (20-2), U of D Jesuit (19-3), Saginaw Arthur Hill (20-3)

Sleepers remaining: Lansing Everett (21-2), Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (23-0), Ann Arbor Huron (20-2), Romulus (17-5), East English Village (16-4), North Farmington (19-3).

Best Regionals:

Holland West Ottawa

Teams: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Muskegon, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, Hudsonville

Outlook: The defending Class A champs meet Forest Hills Central Monday night.  Forest Hills might have the undefeated record, but Muskegon has future Michigan State Spartan and Mr. Basketball candidate Deyonta Davis.  Davis’ Big Reds haven’t lost in over two months, December 30th to be exact.  This should be a nice match-up between Davis and 2017 stud forward Xavier Tillman for Central.

A sleeper in this regional is Ottawa Hills.  The Bengals slayed previously unbeaten East Kentwood in the district title.  Ottawa Hills’ strength is guards, with Ojani Echevarria, Lance Clanton, and Anthony McIntosh.  OH prefers an up-temp run-and-gun style of play.

Troy

Teams: Macomb Dakota, Clarkston, Auburn Hills Avondale, Utica Eisenhower

Outlook: The two favorites in the Troy Regional are Clarkston and Dakota.  Clarkston is a well-oiled machine that has not lost a game the entire year.  While Dakota has not lost since the second week of the season, a 15 point defeat to Clarkston.  Dakota found their stride in January, when Mt. Clemens transfers Charles Penn and Jermaine Jackson Jr. were granted eligibility.  A third transfer, forward Tarriq Jones, also from Mt. Clemens, has found his role in the Cougar game plan as well following a return to Michigan in the second semester.

As for the other two teams, Eisenhower lost twice to Dakota, one by two points.  Avondale plays Clarkston on Monday, a rematch from December 12th, a 38 point dissmaintling by the Wolves.  However, Avondale has not loss since late January, and tied West Bloomfield for a share of the OAA White.

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Class B Regional Playoff Preview

16 Mar

Class B is entirely open this year.

Contenders remaining: Milan (21-2), New Haven (23-0), Wyoming Godwin Heights (21-1), Detroit Henry Ford (16-5)

Sleepers remaining: River Rouge (18-5), Consortium (16-5), Benton Harbor (17-6), Goodrich (21-2).

Best Regional:

Dearborn Heights Robichaud

Teams: River Rouge, Henry Ford, Consortium, Detroit Northwestern

Outlook: Rouge pummeled teams in district play, winning by double-digits in each game.  While Ford and Consortium needed to claw their way to the second week.

Rouge meets Consortium on day one.  The Panthers routed the Cougars by 64-48 February 10th.  However, the defending Class C champions Consortium might be finding their groove at the right time, the Cougars are 8-1 since the last meeting with Rouge.   If Consortium is to return the favor to Rouge, they will need to control senior point guard Lamonta Stone.  The future Eastern Michigan Eagle scored 31 against the Cougars in the first meeting.

The winner of Consortium/Rouge will likely meet Ford in the regional championship.  Ford was challenged twice the district tournament by CMA and Detroit Community.  Ford has one of the state’s best perimeter shooters in senior Josh Davis, and lock down defender in point guard James Towns.  Will Ford’s stellar perimeter play be able to compensate the taller paint-play of either Consortium or River Rouge?

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Class C Regional Playoff Preview

16 Mar

Is Class C a one team class?  What challengers remain?

Contenders remaining: Flint Beecher (21-1), Hillsdale (22-0), Beaverton (23-0), Shelby (21-1, Horton (21-1)

Sleepers remaining: Monroe St. Mary (20-3), Southfield Christian (20-3), Detroit Edison (16-5)

Two Interesting Regionals:

Whitmore Lake

Teams: Detroit Edison, Monroe  St. Mary, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, Melvindale ABT

Outlook: After winning the school’s first district championship, Edison moves onto regional play.  The young Pioneers in the first round meet familiar foe, Melvindale ABT.  DEPSA beat the Gators 69-58 in early February.

On the other side of the bracket, Monroe St. Mary won each district game by an average margin of 33 points.  Arbor Prep started the year a dissapointing 3-5, but enter the regional round with momentum winning their last six contests.

Sandusky

Teams: Flint Beecher, Sandusky, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Southfield Christian

Outlook: This regional will be decided Wednesday night between Beecher and Southfield Christian. The two teams have combined for five state state championship the past five years, Beecher with two in Class C, and SCS with three in Class D.  Can the talented young guards of Christian keep up with the speed, athleticism, height, and experience of Beecher?

Class D Regional Playoff Preview

15 Mar

Chalk for the most part held serve in Class D district play.

Contenders remaining: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (22-0), Powers North Central (22-0), Cedarville (22-0)

Sleepers remaining: Munising, Boyne Falls, Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, Adrian Lenawee Christian, Hillman, Baldwin

Best Regional:

West Bloomfield

Teams: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Bloomfield Hills Roeper, Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, Adrian Lenawee Christian

Our Lady has looked to be the team to represent Metro-Detroit in Class D for most of the year, guards Andrew Kline and Nick Robak are quite the duo for the Lakers.  Last year’s state runner-up, Lenawee Christian, has not had the year which was expected in the pre-season.  Despite a mediocre record, 12-11, the Cougars have the personnel to succeed in a playoff format.  6’8″ junior forward Maxwell is among the state’s top interior scorers and rebounders, and can single-handedly dominate a game.

Lenawee’s opponent, Inter-City has been to this very point the past three seasons, never advancing farther.  The combination of Garrett Kraatz and Luke Barber may need to shoot their way to a regional championship.

 

 

Ypsilanti Outlasts Rival Lincoln 60-48

14 Mar

IMG_0239Free-throws count for just one point, but separate the contenders from pretenders in a tournament setting.

Ypsilanti Community shot 22 free-throws in the Grizzlies’ district-final contest against rival Ypsilanti Lincoln, and made 18.  Senior point guard Avery Williams connected on all 11 he took.  So does Williams take pride in his free-throw ability?

“Every day,” said the senior with a smile.

Williams not only scored 11 points from the free-throw line, he also made four three pointers on the night, and led Ypsilanti with a game-high 25 points.  The performance his head coach has been waiting for.

“I’m going to be honest,” Ypsilanti head coach Steve Brooks said, “Avery Williams goes like that we may be undefeated.”  “He’s the guy we’ve really been waiting on to have that kind of game, he’s one of our captains.  I’m glad he chose tonight.”

Lincoln had already lost to SEC White Conference foe Community twice during the regular season, both double-overtime affairs.  The game was close well into the fourth quarter, the largest lead by any team was seven points.  With 2:04 remaining in the contest down four and the Rail Splitters holding the ball, sophomore guard Marlin Talley swiped a Lincoln pass and finished a high-difficulty lay-up.  Then less than five seconds later, Williams stole a Lincoln pass and found Talley for another lay-up, four points in less than 15 seconds.  This key series of events handed Ypsilanti momentum and control of the game.

The fourth quarter steals were a part of Community’s game plan.  Ypsilanti’s tallest player is listed at 6’3″, compared to Lincoln’s starting front-line of 6’5,” 6’6,” and 6’7.”  Ypsilanti’s guards needed to use their speed and quickness to combat a more vertically gifted team, in particularly on the defensive end.  Lincoln committed 18 total turnovers.

“We always understood that we’re a lot quicker than them,” Avery Williams said.  “Even though they always have the size over us, we always have the quickness, we also had the toughness as well.”

Again, free-throws win championships.  When Lincoln decided to foul from 1:17 on down, Ypsilanti went 8-10 from the charity stripe.  Junior guard Corey Allen with four, Williams two, and Talley two.  Lincoln scored just one time on their final five possessions.

Allen contributed 12 points, while Talley added 10 points, two steal, rebounds, and assists respectively.  Lincoln was led by senior forward Devin Haygood with a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds.

Ypsilanti (17-4), wasn’t expected to capture the school’s third straight district championship.  Community lost All-State 6’10” forward Jaylen Johnson to Louisville, as well as three starters from a 21 win team one season ago.

“It’s a down year maybe talent wise, but it’s never a down year character wise,” added Brooks.  “They’re very coachable kids.”

Williams is just one of three seniors on the 15 man roster.  Brooks says he has gained greater confidence in the roles of his underclassman as a result of added playing time.

“You basically got sophomores that’ve played 20 games, so what it does is officially make them juniors, and the juniors seniors,” said Brooks.  “And when they’re a close-knit group, they’re going to grow anyway, because everyone is going to encourage one another.

Ypsilanti’s next opponent is Southgate Anderson (11-12), Monday night in the Gibraltar regional.  Along with Anderson, Romulus and Dearborn Fordson will join Ypsilanti.  Romulus ended the Grizzlies’ season a year ago in the regional final by seven.

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Six Great Games for District-Final Friday

13 Mar

Hardware will be passed out.  See what the best district-finals of the night are across the state.

Class A

Lansing Everett (20-2) vs. Grand Ledge (20-2) @ Okemos

Outlook: The third edition for these two CAAC Blue Division rivals, both winning on each other’s home court.  This one, however, is on a neutral site, and could serve as the best game of the night in Michigan.

Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (19-3) vs. East Kentwood (21-0) @ Byron Center

Outlook: Did anyone think these two teams would have their respective records at the beginning season?  If so please raise your hand.  Unfortunately, one of these team’s season must come to conclusion.  This one will not disappoint.

Walled Lake Western (22-0) vs. Walled Lake Central (17-5) @ Walled Lake Central

Outlook: A fourth meeting  between the Warriors and Vikings.  Western won twice, once at Central, and the other for the KLAA Lakes Conference Championship.  Refs, we did not come to see you.  Please let the players decide this one unlike the previous meeting.  Nice point guard match-up here between Central’s Walter Kelser and Western’s Jerald Booker.

Clarkston (21-0) vs. Rochester Adams (15-7) @ Clarkston

Outlook: Continuing on the theme of conference foes reuniting, Adams and Clarkston play for the third time on the year.  Clarkston won the two prior meetings both by nine points.  However, as evident during the regular-season, the odds of defeating a team twice are extremely low, let alone three times.

Class B

Wayland Union (19-3) vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights (20-1) @ Wyoming Godwin Heights

Outlook: The best Class B district-final of the night.  Wayland lost their three games by a combined seven points.  The Wolverines are in the midst of another stellar season as one of Class B’s elite.

Detroit Henry Ford (15-5) vs. Detroit Community (16-5) @ Livonia Clarenceville

Outlook: The best east side district final of the night is at Clarenceville.  Community pummeled Bradford by 20 points, while the Trojans had to claw their way to a victory against CMA.  Will Community’s length and athleticism be enough to neutralize the speed and perimeter shooting of Henry Ford?

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Henry Ford Tops CMA In Rugged PSL Playoff Meeting

12 Mar

IMG_0228Baskets were few and far in-between for both Detroit CMA and Henry Ford in a district semi-final meeting at Livonia Clarenceville.  However, defense, senior leadership, and free-throws aided Ford in a 52-45 defeat of CMA.

Leading by three with two minutes remaining, Ford senior Josh Davis held the ball at the top of the key.  Multiple Pharoh defenders converged on Davis for an attempt at a jump-ball.  In self-defense, Davis pushed a CMA player.  Davis was awarded a controversial technical foul, and CMA received two free-throws and possession.  CMA connected on one free-throw, but did not score.  Then with 1:15 in the fourth, CMA forward Jaylen Haiston tied the game 44-44 with a lay-up.

Then on the ensuing Trojan possession, Davis was fouled well-over 30 feet from the basket, Ford was in the bonus.  Mr. PSL calmly knocked down two free-throws, in what turned out to be the game winning points.

Davis shot six free-throws in the final seconds of the game, and was perfect.

“That’s all I want,” Davis said. “I want the game in my hands.”

Although Davis averages double-figures scoring wise, it was an abnormal performance for both Josh and Trojans throughout the contest.  Josh scored just six points in the first half, and made just one three-pointer.  Combined with Trojan turnovers, and CMA’s unique flex-offense, the Pharohs were able to dictate tempo and control the game, holding leads by as much as nine during moments of the game.

“We had to learn how to switch,” said Davis on CMA’s offensive attack.  “Because we never switched the whole season, so we had to maintain our man, and limit them to one shot.”

Davis scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the second-half.  CMA led Ford by one at half, but the Trojans found continuity and rhythm in the second-half.  An 8-1 run the final three minutes of the third capped-off by a Davis three gave the Trojans an eight point advantage entering the fourth.  On a night which Davis didn’t have much individual success, his teammates filled the void.  Alston Hunter contributed a few second-half baskets and rebounds, junior point guard James Towns applied on-ball pressure and created turnovers, and senior shooting guard Jamal Edwards tallied 11 points, and served as the primary Trojan scorer throughout the game.  This is the type of team-effort Davis has been waiting for.

“We had a real hard time staying together in the beginning of the season,” said Davis.  “This is the time of the season we have to learn how come together.”

Although CMA and Ford are both in the PSL, the two had not yet met on the year.  Ford competes in the prestigious division one, while CMA sits in division two.  Given a near scare in the team’s opening round of the playoffs, Davis believes the Trojans cannot afford the same start against charter school power Detroit Community (16-5) on Friday in the district championship.  The Hurricanes are just two years removed from playing for a Class B state title.

“We’re just going to come out harder next game,” Davis added.  “This is my last year, I want to make history for the school, get us a ring, make everybody happy.”

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Five Great District Semi-Final Games for Wednesday

11 Mar

Class A

Saginaw Arthur Hill (18-3) vs. Saginaw (13-6) 6:00 PM @ St. Johns

Outlook: Could this be the last time these two bitter rivals meet?  Also, Arthur Hill stud Eric Davis has never gone past the districts in the playoffs.  Saginaw has defeated Davis’ Lumberjacks the past three years.

U of D Jesuit (17-3) vs. Detroit Renaissance (13-7) 5:00 PM @ Renaissance

Outlook: Take Renaissance’s record with a grain of salt.  The Phoenix have won nine of their past ten games, while U of D Jesuit has played arguably the best non-conference schedule of any team in the state.  By the way, keep an eye on the point guard battle here.

Class B

Detroit Community vs. Southfield Bradford (15-6) 6:00 PM @ Livonia Clarenceville

Outlook: Community has the roster to succeed in March, though, periodically the Hurricanes underachieve.  Perhaps a first-round draw against the Charter School Conference champion Bulldogs is the spark Community needs to garner post-season momentum.

Detroit Henry Ford (14-5) vs. Detroit CMA (14-5) 7:30 PM @ Livonia Clarenceville

Outlook: Ford is and has been a legitimate Class B contender for sometime, led by senior Josh Davis and junior floor general James Towns.  CMA will wish to continue what already has been a monumental season in school history.  First place in the PSL’s division two, combined with eye-catching victories against Warren De La Salle and Detroit Community in December.

Class C

Warren Michigan Collegiate (15-5) vs. Mt. Clemens (15-5) 5:30 PM @ Madison Heights Madison

Outlook: Not the most hyped or pretty match-up, but for a Class C district semi-final on the state’s east side, this is as best it gets.  If you were to think Mt. Clemens would win double-digit games following a coaching change and multiple players leaving a year ago, you would need your sanity checked.  Their opponent, Collegiate, finished with an above .500 regular-season record  for the first time in four years.

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