BOYS BASKETBALL: Patton’s 44 points leads Rochester Hills Christian into third straight MACS-I state finals; Troy Bethany edges Davison Faith

CLARKSTON — After graduating nine players and four starters, Ryan Patton has taken matters into his own hands at Rochester Hills Christian.

Instead of allowing the Eagles to fall into a rebuilding mode, the 6-foot-1 junior has emerged as Oakland County’s top scorer on the basketball court this season. Patton has also guided the young Eagles back into the Michigan Association of Christian Schools state finals for the third straight year.

Patton scored a game-high 44 points Friday night in the MACS Division I state semifinals at Clarkston Springfield Christian and helped Rochester Hills Christian tame longtime state powerhouse Temperance Stateline Christian in overtime, 71-66.

Patton added 13 rebounds, sophomore Jardon Smithers chipped in with 11 points and senior Brandon Tuttle contributed seven points and five assists for the Eagles (17-6).

Rochester Hills Christian will face top-ranked and FBAC Red Division rival Troy Bethany Christian at 5 p.m. Saturday at Springfield Christian in the MACS Division I state finals. The two teams split in the regular season.

Rochester Hills Christian won the MACS-I state title in 2013 and finished as the state runner-up in 2014.

TROY BETHANY CHRISTIAN 50, DAVISON FAITH BAPTIST 36: Troy Bethany Christian advanced to the state title game with this 14-point victory over the Eagles in Friday’s Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state semifinals at Clarkston Springfield Christian.

The top-ranked Bruins (17-5) will face FBAC Red Division rival Rochester Hills Christian in the state finals Saturday at 5 p.m. at Springfield Christian.

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