Behind strong performances from seniors Kenny Goins and Stef Johnson, as well as junior Derek Murphy, the Warren Mott Marauders were able to run past Grosse Pointe North 88-72 to improve their record to 10-5 overall, with a 7-2 record in the MAC White division.
With regular starters wing Derek Murphy and power forward/center Kenny Goins not starting for Mott, senior combo guard Stef Johnson came out hot for the Marauders, scoring 10 points in the opening 8 minutes of the game to give Mott a 31-20 advantage after one.
“Stef set the tone,” Derek Murphy had to say, “he knew his situation without me or Kenny out there, and he held it down.”
Once Mott returned to full strength in the second quarter, with Murphy slashing to the basket, and Kenny Goins dominating the paint, running the floor, and controlling the boards, the Marauders built up their largest lead of the game at 49-28 with one half of the game left.
North came out strong in the third quarter trailing only by 13 with 4:31 left in the period with senior forward Justin Kennedy doing all he could to match Goins down low on the block. Kennedy had his moments throughout the game, he has a nice back to the basket style of play, and can score on either side of the basket.
However, Mott opened the floodgates in the fourth, and took the starters out with 4:34 remaining in the contest and coasted for the easy victory.
Goins finished with a double-double for Mott with 27 points and 18 rebounds, Derek Murphy had 24 points, and Stef Johnson contributed with 15 points of his own.
Kennedy finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for North.
“I feel that we have the tools to be a top contender in the state,” Murphy noted, “but it’s going to have to start with our leaders. Intensity is key. We must play 32 minutes every night!”
The Prep Ball Report 