OURSPORTS

SECTION B
Log onto our Web site
for additional stories, local
video and daily updates
on everything Ann Arbor.

Heritage Media February 24, 2011

Skyline gets
GENERAL
ADMISSION

stung
MIKE LARSON

Pheonix
not
quite
ready
Last Tuesday I got to see one
of the most impressive basket- Saline comes from half,” said Saline head coach Jay Plitzuweit, “give
them credit, they really come after you.”
ball games of the season.
But what was almost even behind to beat Skyline’s athleticism across the board forced 11
turnovers and kept the pace quick during the first
more impressive than the game
was the fact that so many other Eagles, 57-54 half. The Eagles’ Jarrius Mann provided a first
half highlight with a spectacular one-handed put
people wanted to see the action
too. By Kevin Dobey back dunk near the end of the half, one of many
The game, of course, was the Heritage Media offensive rebounds that were present in the first
matchup between the Ypsilanti half that seemed to disappear in the second.
and Huron boys’ basketball With under a minute to play in Saline was down by 15 near the end of the first half
teams. their Southeastern Conference and then went on a little run to bring the game to
Huron had to travel to the Red matchup with Ann Arbor 30-19.
unfriendly confines of Ypsilanti Skyline, Saline’s “We gave up those four points at the end of the first
High School to try to hand the Garrett Stark half which I thought were going to be big and then
Phoenix their first loss of the hit a three and Saline owned the first 3 to 4 minutes of the second
season. two clutch half,” Skyline coach Mike Lovelace said. “Then
And they succeeded, defeat- free throws they were at home, and anything can happen with
ing Ypsilanti 73-53 in a game to solidify those shooters they got and
that wasn’t ever really close a huge they hit some great shots.”
after the first quarter. come- With One of those shooters who
But that didn’t stop the back video sparked a 17-8 run for Saline
win for online was Reece Dils. With two
crowd, which was comprised of
over 1,200 screaming fans, from the Hornets three’s he went into the half
taking in the game. 57-54. with six points. But in the third
“It was a big crowd out “I know my team’s quarter he came out firing and hit three three’s in
there,” Huron coach Waleed proud of me, I got the third quarter and added another in the fourth.
Samaha said. “But we’re used a great kick out from He finished with a game-high 20 points. David
to that.” Derek (Owings) and I felt Hendrickson, another one of those good shooters,
Huron had no trouble playing good shooting all day in prac- added 11 for the Hornets.
in front of the mob. Skyline’s Jordan tice yesterday so I let it fly and Skyline star Theron Wilson was kept in check for
After all, this is a team that Woods it paid off,” Stark said of his three most of the first half only scoring six points. But
played in the Class A State after the game. he also stepped it up in the second half, scoring 12
Finals last year. Stark scored eight of his 11 points on the even though he was in foul trouble for much of the
So far this season, the River night in the final three minutes of the game. half picking up his third midway through the third
Rats have played in packed Saline found themselves down for most of the and his fourth with 3 minutes to go.
gyms around the state, taking game, going into the half down 30-19 and trailing “He wasn’t able to be as aggressive as he usually
on the likes of Romulus, Dayton at the end of each quarter. After scoring the first is, and I wasn’t sure whether to keep him in on
Dunbar and Kalamzoo Central. bucket of the game, they did not take a lead until defense because we needed him to guard their best
This group is used to playing under 5 minutes to play when a free throw by shooters and he was just tentative enough that they
against the top opponents and Michael Smutny put the Hornets up 45-44. got some good looks,” said Lovelace.
in front of the biggest crowds. Skyline jumped out to an early lead thanks to Jordan Woods and Sambandan added 11 points for
Ypsilanti however, couldn’t two quick threes by Sakthi Sambandan and the Eagles.
boast the same thing. another from Clark Jack all within the first Although he may not have been as aggressive as
Don’t get me wrong, the 4 minutes of the game. That, coupled with a always, Wilson was able to find success driving the
Phoenix have been one of the tough pressure defense, led to a 16-9 lead at the lane in the second half. He found space where there
most pleasant surprises of all end of the first quarter. appeared to be none a few times, finishing with a
this season when it comes to “Their pressure really turned us over in the first 360-degree, basically no-look layup with around a
prep basketball.
Ypsilanti managed to start PLEASE SEE STUNG/2-B
the season 14-0.
That’s an outstanding feat
for any team. But for a Class A
squad, that really means some-
thing. Baptist Park no trouble Irish skate to win
for Greenhills boys in 3OT thirller
It means the Phoenix should
be in the conversation for a
PLEASE SEE LARSON/2-B

We’re more than just By Mike Larson scored four unanswered points
Richard wins extra frame for Tyler Staub to
lead his team to victory.
a sports section A2 Journal to end the frame, the Gryphons
held a slim advantage at half-
Catholic League Staub intercepted a pass
and broke towards Cabrini
Sometimes it all comes down time, leading 29-27 at the break. championship goalie Ryan Adams.
Staub fired a slick wrist
to free throws. In the locker room,
shot past Adams to light the
On Friday night at Greenhills’ coach Andrew By Mike Larson lamp and put the CHSL trophy
Greenhills, the Gryphons’ game Wright said he addressed his A2 Journal
in the hands of the Irish.
against Taylor Baptist Park team and told them to focus.
In addition to all of the sports Special teams was the key
wasn’t exactly won at the char- “We knew we had to There are few words impres-
stories and information found in for Gabriel Richard, as the
ity stripe, but some hot shoot- get things together and be sive enough to appropriately
these pages, the A2 Journal team successfully killed off 11
ing from the line sounder,” he said. “We describe the Gabriel Richard
sports section offers even more penalties in the game. In fact,
down the stretch With were rushing a lot and not hockey team’s Catholic High
media online. Staub’s game-winner came
definitely helped. video doing what we needed to School League championship-
Check us out on Facebook with the Irish down a man,
The Gyrphons online do.” clinching game on Sunday, but
(www.facebook.com/ playing 3-on-4.
won the Michigan The coach also said that “epic” might just be one of
A2JournalSports) for stories, “We had some trouble with
Independent Thomas, who hit three them.
photo albums video and more. penalties,” Richard head
Follow us out on Twitter to get Athletic Conference game 65-52, three-pointers in the first half, The Fighting Irish took on
coach Tom O’Brien said. “We
up to the minute scores from but the game was very close was getting too many looks. Allen Park Cabrini at Orchard
kept putting ourselves in a
your favorite high school teams early on. “(Thomas) was really hitting Lake St. Mary’s over the week-
hole. But our penalty kill
and get updates game After jumping out to a 6-0 a lot of shots, and we knew we end, and Richard came away
really stepped up and played
cancelations or time changes. lead to open the game, the had to play better defense,” he with a 4-3 win.
outstanding.”
Gryphons let the Wildcats said. “So we talked about how Although both teams scored
Cabrini opened the scor-
climb right back into it. to contain him.” three goals each in the first
ing in the first period when
Baptist Park went on an 8-2 The halftime talk worked, as three periods of play, the
Dominic Nichols put one past
run in the first quarter to close Greenhills came out after the “epic” part of the game didn’t
Richard’s Colin McMahon,
the gap. break and started to build its come in regulation.
however, Irish captain Mark
The Wildcats continued to lead back up. Rather, it came in overtime.
Theisen tied the game up
play well, eventually taking The Gryphons outscored To be more precise, triple
You can also become facebook before the end of the frame,
friends with sports writer Mike their first lead of the game at Baptist Park 12-8 in the third overtime.
taking a pass from Mason
Larson (www.facebook.com/ 4:38 in the second quarter when quarter and the team’s defense After skating to a tie in
Sarosi and scoring a power
A2SportsGuy) and follow him in Kirk Thomas hit a three-point- held Thomas scoreless in the regulation and two extra peri-
play goal.
realtime as he updates his er to make the score 20-19. frame. ods, the Richard team finally
In the second period, the
location using Foursquare. Track The Gryphons didn’t help Matt Jong opened up the got on the board in the third
Photo by Mike Larson/A2 JOURNAL back and forth game contin-
him down in and around Ann themselves much from the free fourth quarter by scoring overtime.
Greenhills’ Al Braun goes up ued, as Cabrini went up 2-1 on
Arbor to get the scoop on local throw line, hitting just three of back-to-back jump shots to give To be fair, though, it only
sports happenings. for a shot against Baptist their 12 free shots. took 16 seconds of the third PLEASE SEE IRISH/4-B
Park. However, after Greenhills PLEASE SEE GREENHILLS/2-B
Page 2-B  Thursday, February 24, 2011 • HERITAGE MEDIA/A2 JOURNAL

What a difference STUNG time out with 3 seconds to play, but both brought
nothing but iron and a hard-fought victory for
Saline.
FROM PAGE 1-B In the JV game Saline beat Skyline by a score of
61-42. KC Borseth led the hornets with 15 points

a year makes
minute and a half to play. and two three pointers. Sedic Bazzy knocked
This layup came in an exciting last 3 minutes down two three’s of his own and added 14 points
that started with an old fashioned three-point for the Hornets. Max Recknagel also added 12 for
play from Stark followed by Dils lone three of the Saline.
fourth quarter. Skyline was led by Marcus Wallace who scored14
Wilson made another layup after his 360 to bring points. Akeme Okonkwo added eight for the
Eagles.
After finishing last season 2-18, the
the game within a point but on the next posses-
sion Stark showed icy veins as he hit two free Mike Larson can be reached by email at
throws, the only player on the night to success- Mlarson@A2Journal.com. Follow him at www.face-

Grphons are playing for a MIAC title fully make both attempts from the line. book.com/A2SportsGuy and www.Twitter.com/
Skyline got two decent looks before and after a A2JournalSports.

By Mike Larson The coach said there were son, and now, you can really see
A2 Journal two big reasons his team has the difference it made.
been able to rebound after last “Also, moving to the new
Last year wasn’t very much year’s two-win debacle: experi- league has helped. We are play-
fun for the Greenhills boys’ bas- ence and moving to the new ing teams that are a little more
ketball team. league. on our level, and that has given
How could it have our guys some confi-
been? dence.”
The team only won
two games all season.
“Last season we had a chacne Most recently, the
Gryphons took down
“We went 2-18 last to play a lot of our younger Taylor Baptist Park, and
year,” Greenhills head they did it at home in
coach Andrew Wright players. There were a ton of our front of a large student
said. “It was a pretty section.
big struggle.” guys who were getting a lot of “The students are get-
This year hasn’t ting really excited,” the
been nearly as much playing time in varsity games coach said. “They want
of a struggle, and it’s to see a winning team.
also been a lot more last season, and now, you can Their support has been
fun for the Gryphons. outstanding.”
Greenhills is 12-6 really see the difference it made. At this time last season,
so far this season, the Gryphons were just
ANDREW WRIGHT
and standing pat trying to endure the rest
with a 9-1 record Greenhills basketball coach of their schedule, but this
in the Michigan year, the Greenhills team
Independent Athletic is looking to make some
Conference. noise in the postseason.
“This season has definitely “Last season we had a chance Mike Larson can be reached
been a lot more fun for the to play a lot of our younger by email at Mlarson@A2Journal.
team,” Wright said. “They have players,” Wright said. “There com. Follow him at www.face-
been working hard and learn- were a ton of our guys who book.com/A2SportsGuy and
ing a lot, but winning regularly were getting a lot of playing www.Twitter.com/
does a lot to raise moral. time in varsity games last sea- A2JournalSports.

File Photo/A2 JOURNAL

Skyline coach Mike Lovelace watches the action from the sidelines during a recent game. On
Friday the Eagles dropped a close one to Saline.

Mike Larson/A2 JOURNAL

Greenhills’ coach Andrew Wright enjoys a moment of levity with his team during a recent win
Huron, Pioneer both pick
over Baptist Park. The Gryphons have gone from 2-18 last year, to title contender this year.

GREENHILLS “We played a great game,”

sophomore Andrew Khouri
said. “We’ve been losing a lot
Baptist Park with 14 points
while Noah Combs added 13
and Blake Speck added 10.
up important SEC wins
FROM PAGE 1-B of games lately, so we really Greenhills will be off for By Mike Larson
wanted this one.” a week as the school goes on A2 Journal
Greenhills a 45-50 lead. Khouri and Al Braun led the Winter Break.
After that, the Gryphons way for the Gryphons as both Mike Larson can be reached Three River Rats scored in
found their stroke from the free players scored 19 points. by email at Mlarson@A2Journal. double figures Friday as the
throw line. Jong also scored in double com. Follow him at www.face- Huron boys’ basketball team
Greenhills hit 13 of 16 free digits for Greenhills with 12 book.com/A2SportsGuy and defeated Bedford and extended
throws in the fourth quarter to points. www.Twitter.com/ its winning streak to 13 games.
coast to a 65-52 win. Thomas led the way for A2JournalSports. Huron took it to the Kicking
Mules, winning 85-65 at the
Riverdome.
LARSON better team.
And it isn’t that Huron has
better athletes. If you want the
sive discipline to weather those
big scoring droughts and come
back and win.
The Rats jumped out to a big
lead in the first quarter, outscor-
FROM PAGE 1-B ing Bedford 21-11.
honest truth, I think the players Huron is a complete team The Huron team only built
from Ypsilanti were, as a whole, that has at least three reserve on their lead throughout the
state championship. more athletic than the River players who could start on
But I just don’t think that is rest of the game, coasting to an
Rats. almost any other team in the easy Southeastern Conference
in the cards for Ypsi. The Phoenix have speed, Southeastern Conference.
After watching the team victory.
length and jumping ability. In my opinion, Huron is just A.J. Mathew led the way for
play against Huron, I just have Yet the River Rats won by 20. better than Ypsilanti
a hard time believing that the Huron with 20 points, while
Why is that? However, perhaps the team Mike Lewis added 18 and Jesse
Phoenix could hang with the It’s because Huron has the will prove me wrong.
River Rats if the two teams met Buchsbaum scored 10.
experience, depth and discipline Perhaps Ypsilanti will be Ryan Rightnowar scored 20
again. to win big games. ready to make a run when the
Sure, Ypsilanti has had a for Bedford, Jackson scored 19
Ypsilanti looked great in the tournament starts. and Jordan Palulski added 10.
great season so far with wins first few minutes of the game, I, along with a lot of other
over Flint Northern and Detroit taking control and making good basketball fans in the area, fully
Catholic Central, but after the Pioneer 80
shots and equally good deci- expect Huron to be in the mix Monroe 38
beating I saw the River Rats sions. for the state semifinals.
hand down to the Phoenix (on Monroe was a long trip for
But as soon as the shots Coincidentally, because of the the Ann Arbor Pioneer boys’
Ypsilanti’s home floor no less), I stopped falling, Ypsilanti way the district and regional
just don’t think the team could basketball team on Friday.
couldn’t figure out how to get tournaments were drawn up However, the lengthy bus
upset a team like Huron. back on track. this season, in order for the two
I know this will draw ire from ride didn’t faze the Pioneers as
Between the final seconds of teams to play again, they will they took on a Southeastern
the Ypsilanti faithful, but I just the first quarter to about the have to meet in the state semis.
don’t think the Phoenix can do Conference foe.
4:40-mark of the second quarter, Think it could happen? The Trojans posed no prob-
it. the Phoenix were outscored Over 1,200 people watched
It’s not because their team lem for the Ann Arbor team as File Photo/A2 JOURNAL
12-1. River Rats blow out the Phoenix Pioneer left town with a huge
isn’t good or they are poorly Some of that stretch can be last week. Huron’s Matt Hastings take a shot during a recent game. On
coached. 80-38 win. Friday, the River Rats defeated Bedford.
attributed to Huron’s defense, I imagine the majority would The Pioneers jumped out to
I don’t think it really has any- but overall, it’s a telling sign say it probably won’t.
thing to do with Ypsilanti. On a quick lead and never looked Anthony Hugan and Grant and Mike Kielczewski both
that while undefeated before Mike Larson can be reached back, beating up on the Trojans Grimard both scored nine added a field goal.
the contrary, I think it has to do taking on the River Rats, the by email at Mlarson@A2Journal.
in a big way. points, Aaron Schoenfeldt and Mike Larson can be reached
with Huron being so good. Phoenix just might not be ready com. Follow him at www.face- by email at Mlarson@A2Journal.
Anyone who watched Senior James Kelly scored Jeremiah Strode added eight
to compete for the big title. book.com/A2SportsGuy and each, Jimmy Holman and com. Follow him at www.face-
Tuesday night’s game against www.Twitter.com/ 20 points to lead the way the
Ypsilanti is a team of athletic Pioneers, while Ja’Korey Davis Darien Hill each scored four, book.com/A2SportsGuy and
the two teams had to come away run-and-gun players who all A2JournalSports. www.Twitter.com/
thinking that Huron was the added 11. Garrett Hardenbrook added
have talent, but lack the cohe- three points and Grant Schafer A2JournalSports.