Not too many surprises Friday from the rematches between host East Lansing and Okemos.
Scores
East Lansing girls 56, Okemos 33
Okemos boys 71, East Lansing 40
East Lansing girls: The Trojans are still improving and could play their best basketball when it counts -- during the state tournament.
--Victoria Lipscomb is one of the best guards I’ve seen in the area this season, which probably goes unnoticed at times because she plays with other stars. Her scoring average isn’t stunning, but it doesn’t need to be on this team. And yet, Friday, she had 19 and was draining perfect 3-pointers with ease. She can clearly score when the need arises. And she’s a great defender and floor leader as well.
--Lipscomb’s 3-point shooting was among ways this team is getting better. A month ago, East Lansing was seeking some 3-point shooting to replace graduated Rachel Woodruff and transferred Tori Klewicki-McNutt. With Lipscomb, senior guard Kori Reinhart and senior forward Sami Tucker, the Trojans may have found the perimeter threats they needed.
--Although Okemos is bigger in the post, East Lansing nearly doubled up the Chieftains in rebounding. That’s big heading into the state tournament.
--East Lansing won’t be picked to beat Class B No. 1 Detroit Country Day on Tuesday. But a loss might be a blessing in disguise. Few teams go undefeated from start to finish. A win in this one would be a confidence boost; a loss would provide its own motivation
Okemos girls: I honestly don’t know what to say about these Chieftains. A 15-3 record is obvious evidence of their talent. But in two games against East Lansing, they’ve yet to keep it close.
--Okemos went up 4-0 off the opening tip with two baskets in the post, where they had a size advantage. Junior Whitney Turner and senior Lauren Rosenthal are a good 1-2 punch in the paint.
--I appreciate how Nichole Schiro plays. I had her for four assists, and she does all the little things and plays tough. I imagine she was frustrated with how this one played out, and I don’t blame her. After four years watching her star in soccer as well, her competitive fire is obvious. Also a standout volleyball hitter, she’s a frontrunner along with East Lansing’s Tucker for this school year’s State Journal Athlete of the Year.
--Turner is on the verge of taking off. She does a lot of things for the Chieftains -- rebounding, blocking shots, defending in the post, but also working the perimeter and bringing up the ball. I haven’t seen her perimeter shooting because that’s not her role in high school. But her variety of skills should give her plenty of options in the college game.
Okemos boys: What a fun team to watch. And especially Friday, when the Chieftains couldn’t miss a shot.
--This Okemos team is what’s great about high school sports. There is a star for sure -- senior guard Travis Bader -- but there are at least nine others who could join him in the starting lineup. Some rebound, some are there for defense, some shoot 3s. But all have a role and play it unselfishly. It’s entertaining to watch a team play this intelligently.
--Bader would be valuable to any team in the state. He has an incredible shooting touch, and some college program would be wise to take a chance on him as a potential shooting guard/small forward. Coach Dan Stolz thinks Bader could add 25 pounds and grow a few more inches to 6-6 or 6-7. He’s worth taking a risk.
--Not that anyone was arguing the opposite, but Stolz is clearly one of the elite coaches in mid-Michigan. He’s won with some great players and great teams. And a lot of those teams might beat this one. But maybe not. The only disadvantage for this year’s team taking on some of its predecessors is that Stolz would be coaching against himself.
East Lansing boys: Hard to say much here, because this team is hurting from a health standpoint.
--Four frontcourt players are either ill or injured. There is some great potential here and they’ll add to a solid nucleus next season.
--Worth noting was power forward Effe Scott-Emuakpor. Brought up from the junior varsity to provide depth, he’s got plenty of energy and will be a contributor the next few seasons.
--Watch out for this team in the district. When healthy, it can play with anyone locally.
High school sports editor 
