Friday Excitement in Michigan

Hoops all over the state of Michigan and Inside Prep Sports' took in two games. Detroit's marquee game was on the eastside where Detroit Finney packed their (Green) house for a stand-off with Southeastern. Southeastern won a December matchup decisively but this was before eligible players were...available.

It looked again that the Jungaleers were on their way to victory over the Highlanders after trailing 13-10 to end the first when they outscored the home team 20-3 in the second quarter. 30-16 young guys.

Starting the third quarter, 6'5 junior guard Isaiah Sykes moved to the point and a resurgence in the Finney front line led them to a Buffalo Bills' Fran Reich-ish comeback as they matched Southeastern's second quarter output of twenty points. Their defense caused six turnovers and by the end of the third quarter 6'6 senior power forward Kyle Bryant's two free throws was a block of sand as Southeastern struggled to hold thier 37-36 lead.

Finney created another six turnovers in the fourth quarter and if those in the crowd that thought Finney's second quarter drought was a treat then welcome Steven Wright as they held Southeastern to a single point in the final quarter. 47-38 was the final and Finney's victory puts the Highlanders in a second place tie for the PSL's East Divsion. Finney plays the divsion's first place squad Detroit Pershing next Tuesday.

Finney has a solid junior class that was led by 14 points from 6'6 forward Devon Haynes, 12 from 6'3 wing Tremaine Jackson, and eight from Sykes. Don't let the eight points fool you.

Michigan, Western Michigan, Northwestern, and Tennessee were in the crowd.

The 7 o'clock game was a twenty-five minute travel to Oak Park where the #3 team in Michigan, Clarkston, traveled down I-75 for an OAA matchup. This game was no roller coaster as Clarkston rolled 74-54 and led from beginning to end. A 28-21 Clarkston lead to end the half was as close as Oak Park would get and the third ended, 51-33.

Clarkston head coach Dan Fife has Clarkston clicking with talent to secure them as one of Michigan's top teams. A couple of unsigned senior's leading the way were 6'3 two-guard Brandon Pokley' 27 points and 6'6 hybrid guard Tom Staton' 16 points. 6'7 forward Matt Kamienieki was mighty efficient around the hoop and finished with 20 with double digit boards and a few blocks.

University of Detroit-Mercy, Western Michigan, Northwestern, and Loyola-Chicago.

Future Central Michigan wing K'allante Miller DNP.