I can honestly say Friday's Sexton/Eastern boys basketball game was the best I've watched this season. And the girls game was a solid one too. Here are some final thoughts as the girls regular season comes to a close, and the boys enters its final week.
Scores:
Sexton boys 86, Eastern boys 81
Eastern girls 64, Sexton 60
Sexton boys: What a difference a healthy Drew Valentine makes. But he wasn't the only one from when the Big Reds lost to the Quakers by 16 at the start of January.
--The bad news is Sexton is without senior guard Jordan Howenstine and freshman forward Denzel Valentine -- two of its better players who are both out for the season with knee injuries. But the team's depth is paying off.
--Remember the names Michael Stepter, James Suttles and Marcus Cain once the playoffs start. Stars Drew Valentine and Nate Duhon are indeed the stars, but Stepter has stepped in well at the point, while Suttles has taken big strides as a 6-foot-7 post in the middle, and Cain was flying all over the place and provides a great 6-4 option.
--I've sometimes seen Sexton as a team so athletic the last few seasons that it can get out of control and fall into bad decisions. But Friday, the Big Reds played smart. And when they hit a lull, they came back. That's a great sign of growth heading into the tournament.
--I get asked about Duhon maybe more than any other player in mid-Michigan. He missed his first two shots in this one, then scored off turnovers on two straight possessions. He heats up in a hurry, and was as athletic as anyone on the floor Friday. Count me among those wondering where he'll end up at the collegiate level.
--This is the Valentine we remembered -- 28 points, nine rebounds, six assists. He said he's about 90 percent recovered from the knee injury he suffered on opening night of football season, and he didn't look at all tentative attacking the basket and getting his teammates going. This game might have featured the area's two best players this season -- and I can see Valentine again as possibly No. 1.
Eastern boys: The Quakers seemed on the verge of breaking out of their recent slump of five losses in six games. But I'd hardly take Eastern lightly with one more week to snap back into shape. Friday might have been the start.
--This team was high up on some of my Class A state ballots heading into the season's midpoint, and the talent is obviously still there. Coach Rod Watts makes perfect sense of things -- a team that wasn't used to much success suddenly had a ton and is now learning how to keep the foot on the pedal. The team had a similar wave last season, but ended it with an upswing. I can see that happening again. This program is still making huge strides. The proof? We're actually having this conversation.
--When senior guard Rico Stewart is on top of his game, he can play with any guard in the area. He can score going to the basket or behind the arc, he'll make some awe-inspiring passes, and he can defend with a ton of energy.
--Good for Tim Wells. You don't see a lot of the big guys from the football team running the basketball court (East Lansing's Blake Treadwell and DeWitt's Paul Jorgensen are a few others), but Wells is providing a strong body in the middle and showed a nice move in the post in this one. College football coaches love seeing prospects take on other sports, and this winter should help Wells heading into the fall as well.
--Wells is a great example of how this team has gotten deeper as the season has progressed. Nine Quakers scored Friday, and that's a big boost for what has been a strong starting five all along.
--Oh, and in case it isn't clear, sophomore LaDontae Henton is that other player I consider one of the area's top two at this point. He's dominant in the post, and he's really established a 3-point shot.
Eastern girls: Six players scored for the Quakers on Friday, and only one was a senior. This team has plenty to look forward to as the program continues to come back.
--With sophomore guard Deborah Hoekstra continuing to elevate her game, she's the main focus of most. But sophomore center Kelly Christopherson has made some big strides this season as well, and had 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists Friday. She plays a smart game around the basket.
--Among girls coaches in the area, Hoekstra's name is coming up more and more. She had 21 of her 29 points in the second half against the Big Reds, along with 11 rebounds and four assists. This after 36 points and 17 rebounds against Okemos on Tuesday.
--No matter what happens when districts begin Monday, this season is a success. The team is 7-13 after winning two games a year ago. They'll finish over .500 easily in 2009-10.
Sexton girls: This has been a tough season for the Big Reds, no question. But the good news is the team definitely looked better Friday than in the first matchup with Eastern. And there are some young players learning the ropes.
--Senior guard Brieonna Thompson showed why we thought of her among players to watch coming into this season. She had 19 points and five rebounds. Another senior, guard Niesha Manuel, had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
--Two sophomores -- guard Keisha Clay and forward Breana Briggs -- combined for 22 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman guard Sophia Morrell logged some minutes off the bench. The team is graduating five, but these three are among six underclassmen on the roster.
--Although Eastern got big rebounding performances from Hoekstra and Christopherson, Sexton still outrebounded the Quakers by four.
One final note: I've known Paul Cook only as the Lansing Catholic girls coach. Seeing him at center court Friday made me wish I'd been able to watch him coach those amazing Eastern boys teams. You'll quickly notice the writing at center court now on the floor bearing his name. Classy, just like the legend whom it celebrates.
High school sports editor 
