East Lansing dominates Wayne Memorial 66-46 in Division 1 Michigan boys basketball state championship

East Lansing won its first boys basketball state championship since 1958 on Saturday

East Lansing's KJ Torbert carries the championship trophy after beating Wayne Memorial to win the Division 1 state title on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. / © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- East Lansing (28-1) won its first ever Division 1 (or Class A) boys basketball state championship on Saturday with a 66-46 beatdown of Wayne Memorial (24-4). The Trojans last raised a boys basketball state championship trophy in 1958 (Class B).

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Wayne Memorial got out to a 7-2 lead in the first quarter, but its momentum was short lived. East Lansing junior guard Kelvin Torbert hit two three-pointers before the end of the frame, and going into the second the Trojans were down 16-12.

Everything changed in the second quarter. From the end of the first until halftime, East Lansing outscored the Zebras 21-4, including a 19-0 run. Sophomore Trojan guard Kingston Thomas gave his team a boost in the second with 14 points, and he also had nine rebounds before halftime.

Junior Wayne Memorial guard Carlos Medlock Jr. had ten points in the first quarter, but he was held scoreless until the fourth to follow. Medlock Jr. said East Lansing's work on the glass was a big factor.

"They were being tough on the offensive boards, that's what really killed us in that stretch," Medlock Jr. said of the second quarter. "We were just so focused on what happened the previous play and not focused on the next one."

East Lansing went into halftime up 33-20, and Wayne Memorial never got back in the game.

The second half was a mix of Torbert, Thomas and Cameron Hutson for East Lansing. The trio ended the game with 55 points combined, which would've beaten the Zebras on its own. Thomas finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

East Lansing head coach Ray Mitchell said Thomas was prepared for this moment.

"Kingston steps up on the big stages," Mitchell said after the game. "I've been on him all year, calling him my rookie. The last couple weeks I've been wanting to put him in punishment because he's been doing a lot of talking back, but do you know why he was talking back? Because he's ready.

"... He has Big Ten teams calling me about him already. He's a big-time player so he's kind of like our secret weapon."

The Trojans coasted to the win in front of a majority pro-East Lansing crowd. Hutson (Saint Louis commit) finished with a game-high 20 points, and Torbert totaled 16.

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Michigan high school Division 1 boys basketball state championship: Live score updates

1ST QUARTER UPDATES

Jaylohn Allen scores the first bucket of the game and gives Wayne Memorial a 2-0 lead.

With four minutes left in the quarter, Wayne Memorial is up 7-2 and playing intense half-court defense.

Timeout called (media) with 3:32 left in the first frame. Wayne Memorial is up 10-6 after two three-pointers from Carlos Medlock Jr. Allen has the other four points for the Zebras.

Kelvin Torbert hit two free-throws for East Lansing to bring its deficit to two (12-10) with two minutes left in first.

East Lansing's Cameron Hutson hit a buzzer-beating layup at the end of the quarter, but the Trojans still trail heading into the second. Medlock leads all scorers with ten points, and Hutson leads the Trojans with six. Allen is still the only other Zebra to score, as he had six points.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Wayne Memorial 16, East Lansing 12

2ND QUARTER UPDATES

Hutson has scored four straight points to give the Trojans the lead in the beginning of the second.

Wayne Memorial takes a timeout as East Lansing is on a 12-0 run and now leads 24-16. The Trojans are attacking the rim consistently and the Zebras are struggling to pull down rebounds. Five minutes remain in the first half.

Hutson now has 11 points and Torbert has six.

Kingston Thomas has emerged for the Trojans and has ten points. East Lansing is up 29-16 with 3:10 left in the quarter. Wayne Memorial has yet to score in the second frame.

East Lansing takes a timeout with 1:43 left in the half. Wayne Memorial guard Jahlahn McClellan scored the first points of the second quarter for his team with a layup. East Lansing leads 31-18.

The Trojans exploded the in the second quarter and outscored the Zebras 21-4. East Lansing was lightning quick in transition and had Wayne Memorial flustered. The Trojans are being led by Thomas (14 points, nine rebounds), Hutson (11 points), Torbert (six points), and Jayce Branson (six rebounds).

HALFTIME: East Lansing 33, Wayne Memorial 20

3RD QUARTER UPDATES

Austin Tory gets the second half started with a jumper for Wayne Memorial.

The third quarter has been played at a much slower pace so far. East Lansing leads 37-27 with 5:30 left in the frame.

Timeout called (media) with 3:40 left in the third and East Lansing leads 43-27. Torbert has six points and is taking charge for the Trojans.

East Lansing has kept Medlock off the scoring sheet since the first period.

With two minutes left until the final quarter, East Lansing is up 43-32.

The Trojans end the quarter on a 7-0 run.

END OF THIRD: East Lansing 52, Wayne Memorial 34

4TH QUARTER UPDATES

Medlock scores his first bucket of the game, but East Lansing is beginning to flex its muscles with dunks. It may be too late for any heroics as the Trojans lead Wayne Memorial 59-36 with 5:27 left in the game.

After a timeout with 3:40 left in the game, East Lansing is up 62-38. Hutson has a game-high 20 points for the Trojans, followed by Thomas (19) and Torbert (16). Medlock (14) is the only Zebra to reach ten points.

Allen is now at 14 points for Wayne Memorial but it still trails 64-40 with 2:15 left in the game.

FINAL: East Lansing 66, Wayne Memorial 46