January Basketball Nears End, March Madness a Month Away

For those whose life revolves around a round ball and a round hoop, this is the teasing part of the year. With the high school playoffs looming a little more than a month from now, all they can do is sit, wait, and dream of what could be coming in March. Well, boys and girls, March isn’t very far off now and we can begin to see the high school basketball playoffs on the horizon. Anything can happen in the playoffs. It will all come down to playing hard and executing on the offensive and defensive aspects of the game.

High Score of the Week
Charlevoix 93 Cheboygan 87 (180 points)

This past Monday, Charlevoix thought they were in good shape, leading by 20 with less than five minutes to play. Then Cheboygan stormed back. With 18 seconds remaining, they only needed three more points to tie the game. Unfortunately, they were unable to get those. Charlevoix was led by Brock Yenglin with 21 points and eight rebounds. On the Cheboygan side, Trevor Closs scored 25.

Low Score of the Week
Detroit University Prep 34 Dearborn Heights Star International Academy 19 (53 points)

It was a low scoring affair in the non league game. Star International Academy was led by Abdullah Al-hassani’s eight points. Deontae Refore had eight rebounds and four steals to lead the Star Academy Falcons.

Coach Cottrell’s Blowout of the Week
Saline Washtenaw Christian 81 Jackson Home School 14 (67 points)

This was an old fashioned routing. Justin Troost scored 15 points, pulled down seven rebounds, tossed seven assists, and stole the ball seven times for his Wildcats. He was outscored by teammate Byron Horton who had 16 points. Jackson Home School is 0-2 on the season after having lost to Ann Arbor Rudolf Steiner earlier this month.

Century Club Revisited

As far as I can find, Saginaw High is the only team to hit 100 points this season. Now, they are the only team to make it twice by beating Midland Dow 101-56. Saginaw Arthur Hill was very very close this week, getting to 99, but didn’t make it to the century mark. It will be interesting to see if either team can get to 100 tonight. They play each other for the second time this season, but this time, more is on the line with it being counted as a league game. Winner of the High vs. Hill game tonight will be on the fast track to the Saginaw Valley League basketball title.

Welcome to the Jungle

The undefeated Doughboys of Detroit Pershing lost their first game of the season to the Jungleers of Detroit Southeastern by a score of 78-77. The clock only had five ticks left when Southeastern’s Carlos Carter hit two free throws, giving them a 78-75 lead. Keith Appling, Michigan State commit from Pershing, made both of his free throws with two seconds left, but that gave the ball to Southeastern and they ran out the clock. Kiamani Boynton had 31 points for Southeastern while Appling had 33 points for Pershing.