Down goes number one. There will be a new recipient for the Class B crown following Wyoming Godwin Heights’ 70-64 victory against defending class champion Milan.
It wasn’t pretty, but there are no style points this time of year. The Wolverines shot a porous 32.9% field goal percentage the entire game, 6-23 from beyond the arch, and 23-70 overall.
Fortunately for Godwin Heights, shots fell in the most important time, the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 57 and three minutes remaining, Godwin went on a 8-2 spurt to seize control from Milan. Six of those eight points were junior guard Leon Redd’s. An and-one three point play, and then a cold blooded trifecta to place Godwin up six with under a 1:30 to play. Often the case in that situation, a player would be told not to take the shot, but to work the clock and draw a foul. However, not under first year head coach Tyler Whittemore, his players always have the green light.
“Told him to shoot it,” said of Redd’s shot. “He’s a tough kid, confident, he knew he as going to make that shot, I knew he was going to make that shot if he got the ball.”
Redd scored 12 of his 19 points in the final stanza of play. The senior combination of Delaney Blaylock and Mike Williams also had crucial efforts on the night as well. The 6’4″ Williams was matched-up against Buffalo bound 6’7″ Nick Perkins, Nick scored 21, but scored just six points in the fourth and was 8-19 from the floor. Williams concluded the contest with double-double of 13 points and 13 boards, nine of which were offensive.
“He’s been guarding the other team’s biggest/best player and most physical players,” Whittermore said of Williams. “Being only 6’4,” but with the biggest hear that’s the biggest thing that he does. Plays hard and moves his feet quite well, and he’s able to get above the rim.”
The Wolverines out-rebounded the Big Reds offensively 25-19.
“We work hard in practice on offensive rebounding,” said Blaylock. “Rebounding is just what we do.”
For Blaylock, he was part of the Wolverine backcourt that limited future Youngstown State Penguin guard Latin Davis 17 total points on 8-19 shooting, and five in the fourth. Davis holds state-records for three pointers made in the championship round of play, which he accomplished just last year. Davis was a major assignment for the Wolverines coming into play.
“Just keeping turning them back and forth,” said Whittermore. “Getting the ball in other guy’s hand, had them make plays, see what they could do with it.”
“We had five guys guard him, deny him when he doesn’t have it. Help the helper.”
Both Williams and Blaylock were just sophomores the last time Godwin Heights made a Breslin Center appearance, 2013, a loss to Detroit Community in the semi-finals. The Wolverines face Henry Ford representing the Detroit PSL for Class B supremacy Saturday night.
The Prep Ball Report 