MHSAA Boys Basketball - Hitting Stride And Going For Gold

We have rolled through the holidays and now basketball is the main focus. Fall sports are behind us. The gyms are heating up with conference play and great

We have rolled through the holidays and now basketball is the main focus. Fall sports are behind us. The gyms are heating up with conference play and great action for both the boys and girls teams. I urge you to go out to a game. These students work hard in the class room and on the field. They deserve our support…win or lose.

Low Score of the...Well, Since December 21st I Suppose

Mount Clemens 20 Richmond 14 (34 points)

It seems like every week, one of the games has no report on it. This week is no exception.

High Score of the “Week”

Gobles 94 Comstock 92 (2OT) (186 points)

Clutch baskets pushed this game into double overtime. Ty Rock from Gobles scored on a layup with less than six seconds left to play in regulation. In the first overtime session, Comstock’s Aaron Gipson nailed a three pointer with 5.6 seconds left to get another overtime. Gobles coach Marc Kline said that free throws at the end of the game really helped them get the victory. Rock from Gobles scored a game high 25 points. Jack Tiller chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds. Mitch Walker had 20 points, three steals, a block, and five assists. For Comstock, Bobby Brinkert led the way with 21 points. Aaron Gipson and Mike Hicks tied for second place in their team’s scoring order with 18 points each.

Coach Cottrell’s BLOWOUT of the Week

Pontiac Academy for Excellence 85 Detroit Universal Academy 9 (76 points)

This got ugly. Leading scorer Deon Fears scored 17, almost double what Detroit Universal Academy scored as a team. He also grabbed two rebounds, tossed two assists, blocked three shots, and stole three balls. Savonne Keys scored 16, had four assists, and grabbed two rebounds. Jordan Jones scored 12 and grabbed eight rebounds. Not sure what the Detroit Universal Academy players did.

Future Lady Spartan

Tori Jankoska nailed 15 of her 21 shots for 40 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals in a 71-56 Freeland win over Midland Bullock Creek December 18th.

Future Spartan Drake Harris

Harris had a nice game in a loss to East Kentwood. He scored 23 points. They have been off for the holidays and start back up tomorrow against Kalamazoo Loy Norrix.

He’s A Young Coach, But Knows What’s Up

If you follow basketball, the name Tory Jackson might ring a bell. He played high school ball at Buena Vista and went on to a great college career at Notre Dame. Injuries and the loss of his mother ended his pro career, but he hasn’t stopped with basketball. He is now a 24 year old rookie coach at Buena Vista here in Saginaw (well, BV is actually next to Saginaw, but that’s just semantics.) With a historically strong program and multiple state titles in the trophy case from his playing days, Jackson went to work. Some of the players were acting foolish, feeling entitled and not wanting to work the way coach thought they should. So, instead of feeding the fire, Coach Jackson did the nearly unthinkable; he forfeited a game with Shepherd to prove a point. He’s not going to allow them to skip practice or arrive late. “If I didn’t make a statement it would have been a terrible season regardless of the record. I wouldn’t be doing the job as a coach, helping these kids become better men. That was a big-picture thing.  I wanted them to understand it’s more than just basketball at the end of the day,” said Coach Jackson to Free Press writer Mick McCabe. It’s hard not to root for a guy like this, who is taking his attitude that he cultivated as a player and imprinting it on his team.