The Prep Ball Report

Free-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.

Tags: Playoffs

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?

Tags: Playoffs