Early start fuels Southfield to regional finals victory over Adams
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
SOUTHFIELD — As a Final Four team last season, Southfield is trying to make it back to that coveted destination.
The Bluejays are making believers out many, including Rochester Adams coach John Hall.
Southfield bolted out to a 14-4 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in ousting the Highlanders 65-49 in a Class A regional final at Southfield.
NO MORE MAGIC: Rochester Adams sophomore Zack Littleson and the Highlanders saw their dream state tournament run come to an end Wednesday in a Class A regional final against Southfield, 65-49. Courtesy Photo | LaVance Sykes, www.solinvance.com
The Bluejays, who improved to 19-5 but fell out of the state rankings earlier in the season, advanced to the state quarterfinals next Tuesday, where they will face upstart Eastpointe East Detroit at University of Detroit’s Calihan Hall.
It marked the second straight regional title for Southfield, which previously had not won a regional since 1985.
“We lost to a state championship-caliber team,” noted Hall, whose program won its first-ever regional semifinal game on Monday against Pontiac in only the school’s fourth-ever trip to the regional round. “They are very athletic. They have great guards and their bigs (post players) are very good. That’s how they hurt us, really. Their post players beat us on the glass.”
Southfield led 36-21 at the half and never allowed Adams (17-8) to claw back to within single digits.
“I thought we hung with them in the second half,” said Hall. “We brought it back to within 10 points twice with the ball in the fourth quarter, but each tome Southfield came back down and hit a three. That’s what great teams will do.”
University of Michigan-bound Carlton Brundidge led Southfield with 19 points. Patrick Owenu added 18 points, Landon Atterberry scored 16 and Joshua Bronw twined seven points for the Bluejays.
Andrew Hammett and Matt Nestor, a pair of all-league seniors, bowed out with 14 points and 13 points, respectively, for Adams. Zack Littleson and James Berger both scored six for the Highlanders.
“I couldn’t be happier with this team. To finish up winning 11 of our final (13 games) after the rut we were in during the middle of the season is great,” said Hall.”We had guys that were role players last season step and be leaders and we have a good nucleus of some younger guys that did a great job. Plus, our (junior varsity) was 18-2, so I think we have some players that will make us very competitive in the future.”
Adams used a 14-11 surge in the third quarter to close the gap to within 47-35. Southfield held off the comeback with an 18-14 fourth-quarter.
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Category: High School, Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams
