LSJ Blogs: Get Prepped

High School Sports: Prep Rally 3/28-4/3

This week, Geoff Kimmerly and Sean Merriman discuss the boys basketball state finals including Sexton's Class B championship and Fulton's Class D runner-up finish, plus the area athletes of the year in wrestling and gymnastics.

 

Basketball: Final Buzzer -- Big Red Champions

The last game of this winter season ended with a celebration 50 years in the making. Sexton is the Class B state champion, putting the finishing touches on the run only a few miles from its home court. Fulton didn't fare as well in the Class D final, but has much to celebrate from this month. Here's the final "Final Buzzer" of 2010-11 with the extended details from Saturday's local state finals. 

In a nutshell: SEXTON defeated Muskegon Heights 75-60 in the Class B final to earn its first state title since 1960. The Big Reds got off to a slow start, but turned on a 17-0 run that left the game out of reach for the Tigers. FULTON experienced almost the opposite of the big run that lifted it to a semifinal victory Thursday. The Pirates went from two down with five minutes to play to losing 67-50 to Wyoming Tri-unity Christian. 

Game balls: SEXTON  senior forward Tyrin Wade capped an all-state career with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists and even played the end through a slight ankle twist. He made 8 of 12 shots from the floor in a team-high 30 minutes. FULTON had its best highlights in the first quarter, when junior forward Cody Johnson scored nine of his 12 points. He's the often-overlooked third-leading scorer on the team, but a solid player who should be even better next season. 

Unsung heroes: The last three weeks have seen SEXTON sophomore Jalen Hayes go from 6-foot-7 contributor to 6-7 standout-in-making. He capped the run with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and really grabbed hold of his role this season as the team's tallest post presence. Eric Litwiller and Zach Baker were two of only four FULTON seniors and big parts even if the stats didn't always show it. Litwiller had seven rebounds and three assists in his final high school game, and Baker had four points and three assists. 

Magic Moments: The biggest WOW moment for SEXTON came in the closing seconds of the third quarter. The Big Reds had also played for the final shot the first two quarters, and this time Michigan State recruit Denzel Valentine started a drive from outside the top of the 3-point arc, past at least three Muskegon Heights defenders and finished with a two-handed jam. Stomping the same lane after the game he hollered "This is my house!" as he began his championship celebration. FULTON no doubt wishes it could've ended the game after a 14-4 start, but that excitement is something to build on for what should be another title-contending team in 2011-12. 

What's next: Both teams are junior-dominated -- FULTON will return its top three scorers, and SEXTON its next four after leader Wade. Of course, expectations will be high. But both groups will have plenty of experience handling them. Of the 16 semifinalists at Breslin this weekend, they arguably are the most set up to return next year. 

Basketball: Final Buzzer -- Sexton 69, Detroit Country Day 59

Some of mid-Michigan's most stunning basketball successes have happened during Class B boys finals weekend: DeWitt's surprise run to the 2004 final. Lansing Catholic's 2008 championship. And Sexton's 10-point upset of top-ranked and reigning champ Detroit Country Day definitely fits the bill. 

In a nutshell: Country Day and especially Amir Williams were giant obstacles. But the Big Reds came back from a six-point halftime deficit by running (20-6 fastbreak points advantage) and gunning (62 percent shooting in the second half) and taking advantage of their deep and talented guard rotation. 

Game ball: Junior Bryn Forbes has been a steady scorer for most of the last two seasons, but on another level since mid-February. He's scored in double figures in 12 of the last 14 games, and added to an 18-point quarterfinal with a season-high 29 points. He was a main cog in the transition offense and hit 6 of 7 shots during the second half. 

Unsung heroes: Senior Tyrin Wade has gotten his share of attention, but might not be remembered as much in this one because he scored just two points. But his best contribution was his work against Williams, who he tried to front most of the time. With some help as well from sophomore Jalen Hayes, the Big Reds gave up 14 points and 14 rebounds to the 6-10 Ohio State recruit -- but he didn't score during the fourth quarter. 

Magic Moment: Sexton regained the lead on an Anthony Clemmons basket with 1:48 to go in the third quarter, but then put the game out of reach with a string of plays by Forbes. He scored on a fastbreak bucket, had an assist on another, and finished the third quarter with one more on the break with 4.6 seconds left in the period. The run gave the Big Reds a 54-46 lead. 

What's next: Think of "Miracle on Ice" when the United States beat the Soviet Union, but still had to come back for the gold medal game. Odd comparison maybe, but at 11:47 p.m. it's the best I've got. And it works. The Big Reds can't rest after knocking out Country Day, despite playing this entire season for that moment. Muskegon Heights is talented, cruised to a win in its semifinal, and lost to Sexton by only five at the end of January. The Big Reds should win. They'll be expected to win. And I expect them not to let down. Lansing will be celebrating by 10:30 Saturday night. 

Basketball: Final Buzzer -- Fulton 59, Detroit Westside Christian 55

March is made on games like this Class D state semifinal at Michigan State's Breslin Center. Only so much can fit in a newspaper story, so come inside for the extended coverage from the Pirates' historic win. 

In a nutshell: Fulton started off fast, got behind for the second and third quarters, and then finished on a 20-2 run that continues to defy logic hours later -- but might go down as the most memorable moment in Fulton basketball history. Saturday's final will be the Pirates' first. 

Game ball: A rec league teammate and former Okemos gunner told me once that if a shooter makes two straight shots, he shoots a third time because he's hot. If he misses two straight, he shoots the third because it's bound to go in. Fulton junior Tyler Walden sounds like he subscribes to a similar theory. He made two NBA-length 3-pointers in the first quarter to remind us why he's all-state this season. Then he missed six straight shots before hitting his 79th and 80th 3-pointers this season among his nine points over the final six minutes of the game. He finished with 19 points total. 

Unsung heroes: Juniors Corey Hungerford and Cody Johnson and senior Garrett Slavik. The Pirates' trio of 6-foot-3 post players went up against 6-9, 6-8 and 6-6 from Westside -- and outscored them 28-20 and tied them rebounding 15-15. 

Magic Moment: Of course there were plenty during the 20-2 run. Walden and I agree on the same: With two minutes and change to play, and Fulton down seven, Pirates guard Brandon Trefil got a steal, drove the length of the court and finished with a layup, and was fouled. He missed the free throw, got the rebound and missed again, but the momentum was swung. It was the fourth of seven straight Westside turnovers, and it energized his teammates to finish the comeback. 

What's next: No. 2 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian is back on the other side of the bracket to little surprise -- the Defenders have played in six of the last 15 D finals, winning three times. They are a strong defensive bunch led by all-state guard Durant Vega, who Friday held Class D co-Player of the Year Jordan Chartier of Eben Junction Superior Central to 15 points, but on 5 of 16 shooting. EJSC shot just 28 percent from the floor as a team. Tri-unity sophomore Joey Blauwkamp earned an all-state honorable mention this season and had 21 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in that semifinal. But the Defenders get offense from a variety of sources, and will provide Fulton with a championship-caliber challenge.

High School Sports: Prep Rally 3/21-3/27

This week, Geoff Kimmerly and Sean Merriman take a look at the final four in every class at boys basketball finals weekend at Michigan State's Breslin Center -- and make their champion picks. 

 

Class A: Kimmerly -- Detroit Southeastern, Merriman -- Detroit Southeastern

Class B: Kimmerly -- Sexton, Merriman -- Detroit Country Day

Class C: Kimmerly -- Flint Beecher, Merriman -- Detroit Consortium

Class D: Kimmerly: Eben Junction Superior Central, Merriman -- Wyoming Tri-unity Christian

Prep basketball: What's next?

Lots of hoops are on the way. Here's a rundown of what's on the schedule for the rest of this week:

Thursday: The story of Fulton -- how a football school became a basketball power. Also, capsulized looks at all eight semifinalists playing this weekend in Classes C and D at the Breslin Center. Plus, the Class B all-state team.

Friday: Fulton vs. Detroit Westside Christian in a Class D semifinal. Plus, Sexton -- On guard with a backcourt that continues to come up big. Also, the Class A all-state team and capsulized looks at all eight semifinalists playing this weekend in Classes A and B.

Saturday: Sexton vs. Detroit Country Day in a Class A semifinal. Also, a look at Fulton's Class D state final. And a look at the MSU matchup between Detroit Southeastern (Brandan Kearney) and Bay City Western (Matt Costello).

Sunday: Fulton in a Class D state final and Sexton in a Class B state final. Plus, coverage of the Class C and A state finals.

Tuesday's TWEETS

Can't make it to Marshall on Tuesday? Follow us on Twitter @lsj_hssports for real-time updates from the Sexton/Dearborn Divine Child boys basketball quarterfinal. I'll also be trying to update from the Fulton/Manistee Catholic game from Hope College. 

Banking for Buckets

Suttons Bay's Dwaun Anderson was today named Michigan's Mr. Basketball, which is given to the state's top high school senior basketball player based on a vote by members of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

Anderson is an excellent talent who will join Michigan State after graduating this spring. He led his team to the Class C state final as a junior and certainly had the numbers to make a nice case. But with all due respect -- and to make it clear, taking nothing away from the worthy winner -- let's take one last post-award look at the credentials of Lansing Eastern's LaDontae Henton.

Sure, I've seen Henton play for four years and the rest of the five Mr. Basketball finalists a handful of times combined. So I leave it up to you to comment on who was most worthy. But outside of winning a state title, I'm not sure he could've done much more:

• The Dayton-bound senior upped his scoring averages every season – from 16.7 to 20.4 to 24.8 to 25.6 points per game this winter – while keeping a consistent rebounding average within a few tenths of 14.5 per game every season throughout his career.
• Not taking into account postseason numbers, those averages over four years equal 1,750 points and 1,160 rebounds -- the rebounding total the fourth-highest in state history.
• Henton scored at least 10 points in all of Eastern’s 24 games this season. He scored 20 or more points 18 times and 30 or more in six games. He had points-rebounds double-doubles in 19 of 20 regular-season games.
• He was a Class A all-state pick his first three seasons. This season's team comes out Friday. Freshmen rarely make all-state, much less in Class A. 
• Eastern has faced many of the state's top teams over the course of his four-year career. This season that slate included Saginaw, Kalamazoo Central, Okemos three times, East Lansing twice, Saginaw Arthur Hill, Lansing Sexton twice, and probably a few more that aren't coming immediately to mind. Put him in northern Michigan or Class C -- where Anderson played most of his games -- and it's impossible to calculate how much more ridiculous those numbers would've been.
• And although he didn't get the Quakers to a state final, Henton did bring a proud Class A program back to an elite level. Eastern was 62-28 during his career after going 9-13 the season before he entered high school. The team’s CAAC Blue and district titles in 2009-10 were its first since 1990-91. The Quakers repeated as district champions this season before falling to No. 3 Kalamazoo Central by two points in the regional final.

Again, no disrespect to Anderson or any of the other three finalists. All are excellent and have bright futures ahead. Any of the five would've been a credible choice. 

But for the guy nicknamed "Buckets," this seemed like a slam dunk.

Girls Sports Month

This is the last week to submit a video of the "Ultimate Female Athlete" to HighSchoolSports.net with a chance to win $1,000 among other honors. Check out the link to find out the details: http://www.highschoolsports.net/gsm/index.cfm

High School Sports: Prep Rally 3/14-3/20

This week, Prep Sports Editor Geoff Kimmerly and reporter Sean Merriman talk state championship gymnastics, state finals diving, the end of the mid-Michigan girls basketball season, and offer their picks for this weekend's girls hoops state championships. Those picks also are posted below this video. 

 

Championship picks

Class A: Kimmerly -- Inkster, Merriman -- Grand Haven

Class B: Kimmerly -- Goodrich, Merriman -- Goodrich

Class C: Kimmerly -- University Liggett, Merriman -- Flint Hamady

Class D: Kimmerly -- Central Lake, Merriman -- Central Lake