Roundball Classic: Saginaw too much for Cass Tech, 66-47

BY ANTHONY FENECH FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

From the time its bigger, stronger, black-and-yellow clad opponents took the floor warming up to rap artist Wiz Khalifa's signature song "Black and Yellow" on Thursday evening, Detroit Cass Tech was on the outside looking in.

And from the time the ball was tipped minutes later, Saginaw High was on the outside thinking win.

The Trojans used a handful of early three-pointers to pound Cass Tech from the perimeter and set an early tone in its 66-47 Roundball Classic victory at Birmingham Detroit Country Day.

"We weren't just open," said Saginaw coach Lou Dawkins. "We've been practicing that kind of stuff and working on it lately."

Sophomore guard Dominique Jackson hit one. Junior guard Neidermeirer Ware hit another. Senior forward Travion Babers hit one, Jackson nailed yet another and quickly, the Technicians were out of reach.

"I thought my game was going to be inside," admitted Jackson afterward. "I was just shooting and it came to me."

Saginaw led by 15 at the half, prevented Cass Tech from getting closer than 12 points the rest of the way, and ran away with a 19-point victory.

"They're a very good team," said Technicians head coach David Dixon. "We're a very young team and there's a lot of experience we gained from playing on the big stage with them."

Senior center Tommie McCune was awarded game MVP honors with 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Senior Marquavis Ford led the Trojans with 15 points and six assists. Babers and Jackson added 10 points each.

Senior Kris Fulwood-Davis led Cass Tech with 12 points.

HOME WRECKED: Chicago Orr senior guard Mycheal Henry didn't just try to beat his man. He tried to beat everybody.

"I just tried to get to the bucket a lot," he said after a 42-point, 13-rebound performance for the Spartans in a 71-67 overtime victory over Detroit Country Day. "I tried to go through everybody."

The Illinois-bound Henry's steal with 5 seconds left in the extra period secured the game for Orr, and his lay-up as time expired put an exclamation point on the win.

"We just weren't able to contain him at all," said Country Day coach Kurt Keener. "We knew that they had a great player and he was really just able to take over the game."

Amir Williams scored 19 points and added 11 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.

DIGGING IN: It took nearly three full quarters, but Detroit Consortium finally decided to play defense.

"We had to dig in," said junior guard Deonte Smith. "We had to dig deep inside to play harder and defend."

The Cougars dug in, and then dug out of a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Benton Harbor, 62-58.

"Defense won that ballgame," said Cougars coach Al Anderson. "We got some turnovers, knocked down a couple of shots and showed a lot of grit getting back into the game."

Smith took home game MVP honors with 20 points and five assists.

"We showed up not playing hard," he said. "But we got that out of our system and dug deep."

HOOP DREAMS: Benton Harbor players are reminded of a dream every time they put on their jerseys.

Embroidered high on the back are the initials of Wilson Chandler, a Tigers alum, former Mr. Basketball (2005) and current New York Knicks small forward.

"It certainly gives them a boost," said Tigers head coach Marcus Muhammad. "They know that an alumnus went to college, is playing professionally and that it can be right in front of them."

Chandler donated the jerseys to the school and remains in close contact with Muhammad.

"We're grateful that he's given back to the program," he said.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was on hand to watch two of his commitments from the 2011 class go head-to-head.

Brandan Kearney and Detroit Southeastern got the best of Brandon Dawson and Gary (Ind.) Lew Wallace, 72-42.

Kearney took home game MVP honors with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists. His counterpart Dawson recorded a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds, and heard his fair share of good-natured trash talk from his future teammate.

"We were competing and having some fun out there," said Kearney. "Having Coach Izzo there made us play extra harder."

Farmington Hills Harrison 45, Detroit Communication and Media Arts 26: Senior guard Carlos Eubanks scored 11 points, recorded six rebounds and added three steals for Harrison. Junior forward Davonta Gilmore recorded a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds for CMA.

Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy 75, Detroit Community 65: Sophomore guard Derrick Walton scored 26 points, leading Chandler Park to victory. "We jumped out on them quick and our defense took it from there," he said. Senior forward Jaylen Floyd scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Community.

North Farmington 61, Dearborn Heights Robichaud 47: Senior Urbane Bingham led all scorers with 24 points, adding 12 rebounds, and junior guard Dorrell Foster scored 13 points for the Raiders. Junior Khalig Spicer scored eight points for Robichaud.

Detroit Pershing 69, Jackson 68: Shaerron Walker scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Pershing (2-3).

More boys basketball

Birmingham Brother Rice 70, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 53: Joey Alessi scored 21 points for Brother Rice (4-2) in the Venture Classic at Bishop Foley High School. Denzel Palm scored 13 points and Drew Holinski added 12. Jordan Walker scored a game high 24 points for Bishop Foley (3-1). Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 47, Roseville 46: Steve Menrath hit the game-tying and game-winning free throws with 12.8 seconds remaining for Chippewa Valley (3-0). Traye Williams scored 21 for Roseville (1-3).

Detroit Loyola 61, Highland Park 22: In the Loyola Christmas Classic, Montel Cooks scored 22 points for Loyola (4-1). Devonte Jones scored 13 points and Justin King added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Farmington Hills Harrison 45, Detroit Communication & Media Arts 26: Carlos Eubanks scored 11 points for Harrison (3-2). Devonta Gilmore scored 10 points for CMA (2-2).

North Branch 58, Brown City 42: John LaFavor scored 21 points for North Branch (1-5) in the Harry C. Moore Classic Basketball Tournament at North Branch High School.

Richmond 57, Warren Michigan Collegiate 52: Nick Manchikc scored 24 points for Richmond (5-0) and Mario Yamaino added 13. Tre Craighead scored 13 points for Collegiate (2-3) and Cameron Williams added 12.

Girls basketball

Belleville 59, Niles Brandywine 45: Jessica Whaley-Green scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Belleville (4-2) in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Karlie Newman scored 23 points for Brandywine (6-1).

Chicago Whitney Young 67, Detroit Renaissance 36: Chanise Jenkins scored 13 points for Whitney Young (9-2) in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Arrice Bryant scored 10 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Renaissance (4-3).

Detroit Consortium 49, Kalamazoo Central 29: Infiniti Maxwell scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Consortium (6-1) in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Kandice Johnson scored 20 points for Central (3-3).

Inkster 56, Pewamo-Westphalia 17: Janae Jackson scored 19 points for Inkster (6-0) in the Motor City Roundball Classic.

Niles 55, Detroit Mumford 50: Nichole Sly scored 17 points for Niles (5-3) in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Raven Bankston scored 29 points for Mumford (6-1).

West Bloomfield 55, Rochester 39: Sydni Davis scored 16 points for West Bloomfield (6-1) in the Falcon Classic at Rochester High School. Jailynn Hamilton added 13 points and 13 rebounds and Ashley Zeigler scored 12 points.

Westland John Glenn 57, Southfield-Lathrup 49: Erica Covile scored 22 points for John Glenn (5-0) in the Motor City Roundball Classic and Kairi Barnes added 15.