TUESDAY’S BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rochester clinches second straight league title for first time in 23 years; Adams upsets Ferndale; Royal Oak stuns Oxford
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — The last time Rochester captured back-to-back league championships in boys basketball, the trends of rolling pant legs up high or listening to heavy metal music were popular trends and far more common than cell phones are today.
There definitely wasn’t the Internet and all of the technology of the time was a walk man, not an I-Pad or I-Phone or I-Pod.
Madonna was the female vocalist of choice, not Lady Gaga or Kate Perry, and the No.1 single of the year was Chicago’s Look Away.
That was the 1988-89 school year when Rochester claimed its second straight Metro Suburban Activities Association league title in boys basketball. The Falcons were a state power back in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Rochester won another MSAA title in 1993-94 and the OAA Division II title in 1999-2000, but neither was consecutive. Finally, the Falcons ruled supreme in their league by winning the OAA Blue Division championship in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Rochester put the finishing touches on the league title outright Tuesday its home court by toasting Farmington, 70-49.
Senior forward Taylor Perry scored 18 and senior guard Paris Pereira added 17 points for Rochester (17-1, 8-0), who have road games this week at Birmingham Seaholm (Thursday) and a make-up game at Lake Orion (Friday). Junior Arben Camaj chipped in with 14 points and Kurt Apostol, one of eight seniors on the Falcons’ roster, scored seven points.
“I think it’s really cool that they did it at home,” said Rochester coach John Pleasant. “It’s been a few decades since they won back-to-back leagues. That was one of our goals. I think the big goal is winning the district. We haven’t won one of those (since 1988). But this is part of the legacy that the seniors have put together. Paris and Taylor have been up on varsity for all four years. They have helped make (Rochester basketball relevant) again.”
Bryan Green had a game-high 21 points for Farmington. Chris Hare added 10 points and Valentino Kalaj added seven points for the Falcons (10-8, 5-4).
Rochester led 23-18 after the first quarter and added a 12-7 run in the second quarter for a 35-25 lead at the half. The home-standing Falcons pulled even further ahead with a 13-10 surge in the third frame, good for a 48-35 lead entering the final quarter.
Rochester closed out with a 22-14 run.
BLUE STREAK: Rochester senior guard Paris Pereira has helped the Falcons win consecutive league titles for the first time since the late 1980s. File Photo
ROCHESTER ADAMS 63, FERNDALE 41: Adams pulled the OAA White Division upset Tuesday at home, and now can clinch a tie for the OAA White Division championship with a home win over Troy on Thursday.
“We have a chance,”said John Hall, Adams’ 13th-year head coach. “If we can beat Troy, than we will earn a share of the crown. Ferndale will play (Auburn Hills) Avondale, and they are struggling, so there is a chance for us to win a share. But we have to beat Troy and that’s no simple past.
“I’m pleased that we even put ourselves in this position,” said Hall, noting the Ferndale and Troy games to close out the regular season and a district semifinal game with Rochester next Wednesday is the toughest stretch of the season for the Highlanders. “After going through everything that we have this season and still have a chance at a league title shows the character of these kids.”
Sophomore Matt Sokol had a career game for the Highlanders (12-7, 7-2), scoring 20 points with 11 rebounds. Akemji Williams added 14 points and nine assists, James Berger scored eight and Zack Littleson twined seven points for Adams.
Adams led 10-9 after the first quarter and slowly pulled away from the Eagles (14-5, 7-2). The Highlanders used a 15-7 run in the second quarter to go up 25-16 at the half.
In the third quarter, Adams used a 13-9 edge to build a 13-point cushion (38-25) entering the fourth quarter, before tucking the Eagles to bed with a game-closing 25-16 run.
Nathan Stepney led Ferndale with 12 points, while Jacob Dotson chipped in with eight points for the Eagles.
ROYAL OAK 55, OXFORD 54: Oxford had a chance to win its first league title since 1981 this season, but that was wiped out with a league loss at Bloomfield Hills Lahser last week and this stunning one-point home loss Tuesday to the Ravens.
Dre Smith led a balanced Royal Oak effort in the upset, scoring 18 [points. Martel Porter followed with 10 points, Andrew Glenn and Joel Gorbold both scored eighth and Devin Carmen followed with six points for the Ravens.
Mark Hazelwood scored 16 to lead Oxford, Jacques Toussaint adde3d 14 points and Mike Kitchner followed with eight points for the Wildcats (13-6, 6-3), who must win at Bloomfield Hills Andover Thursday and have league-leader Lahser lose at Birmingham Groves in order to gain a share of the elusive league title.
Royal Oak (11-8, 5-4) sailed out to a quick 19-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and held off the Wildcats, who used a 14-6 run in the second quarter to climb to within 25-24 at the half.
In the third stanza, the Ravens again surged ahead with an 18-11 run, only to see Oxford close with a 19-12 run but to fall one point shy of overtime
BIRMINGHAM SEAHOLM 64, LAKE ORION 51: The Maples chopped down the struggling dragons with this 13-poiint home win Tuesday.
Paris Bass scored a game-high 22 points for Seaholm and Brett Houghton nailed four 3-pointers and added 22 points for the Maples (12-7, 5-4).
John McCarty and Justin Walukonis both scored 15 for Lake Orion (12-7, 5-4).
TROY ATHENS 55, ROCHESTER STONEY CREEK 45: Caleb McIntosh scored a game-high 19 to lead Athens to the OAA Blue Division home win.
Aaron Fox added nine points and both Tim Shayoka and Robert Dema chipped in with seven points apiece for the Red Hawks (13-6, 4-5).
Stephan Makowski scored nine for Stoney Creek and Patrick Mertz followed with eight points for the Cougars (0-19, 0-9).
CLARKSTON 67, SOUTHFIELD-LATHRUP 57: Lathrup built a 34-27 lead at the half, but couldn’t hold on for the OAA Red Division upset Tuesday over the visiting Wolves, who have already clinched their 13th OAA title in 18 seasons.
Clarkston outscored the Chargers 40-23 in the second half, including 25-13 in the fourth quarter.
Mitch Baenziger scored a season-high 29 to lead Clarkston (17-2, 11-0). Jordan Dasuqi followed with eight points for the Wolves.
Jonathan Williams led Lathrup with 25 points and Jamal Lyles chipped in with 11 points.
HOLLY 57, FOWLERVILLE 44: Blake Ordiaway led the charge with 16 points, while Jared Palwski had 13 points and Nic Stoll scored 11 to lead Holly to the non-conference win Tuesday.
Morgan Baylis provided seven points off the bench for the Bronchos (14-5).
Mike Thomas scored 14 for Fowlerville (3-17).
PONTIAC 63, WEST BLOOMFIELD 43: A 24-7run to start the game enabled Pontiac to throttle host West Bloomfield in this OAA Red Division encounter.
Dijon Cogdell scored 11 and Mark Hoover added 10 points for Pontiac (13-6, 7-5). Jemarea Samples followed with eight points and Jarod Jones chipped in with seven points for the Phoenix, who had eight players scored between four and 11 points.
Daryn Byrd scored 14 for West Bloomfield (4-15, 1-10).
MT. PLEASANT SACRED HEART 64, WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES 56: Jake Doetsch scored 15, Steven Laczewski added 14 points and Garrett Ross twined 12 in this non-conference loss Tuesday.
ROMEO 73, PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP 45: Kellen McCormick scored 18, but it wasn’t enough as the Fighting Irish fell prey to the Bulldogs.
Troy Sassack added eight points for the Irish (8-10).
Romeo is 14-6.
TROY 75, AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE 45: James Young continued to dominate and the Colts remained in the OAA White Division hunt with this lopsided road win Tuesday.
Young fired in 26 points, followed by 20 points by Zak Noor to pace the Colts (13-6, 7-1).
Jabbar Mims, Deonte Randoplph and Erik Stubbs scored eighth apiece for Avondale(4-15, 2-7).
AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRSTIAN 43, LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE 41: The Lancers received a scare form Clarenceville Tuesday, but held on for the non-league win.
Oakland Christian led 20-13 after the first quarter, only to see the Trojans slowly climb back.
Josh Peterson scored 15 and both D.J. Stevens and Drew Perrin scored eight apiece for the Lancers.
DETROIT DENBY 62, CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE 43: The Mountaineers went up against a Class A school but could not hold on after being tied at the half.
Denby, which used an 119 second quarter edge to tie the game at 24-24, ventured on a 23-1 third-quarer blitz to go up for good.
K’Von Barton had 13 points, Willie Garwood scored 11and Keith Sykes followed with seven points for Everest.
Blake Beaychamp scored 26 to pace Everest Collegiate (13-6), just a third year program, Donald Allen and Richie Cross scored six apiece for the Mountaineers.
AUBURN HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 57, MILFORD WEST HIGHLAND CHRISTIAN 44: Taylor Barton was a one-man wrecking crew and West Highland Christian found out the hard way.
Barton, a senior guard from Auburn Hills Christian Academy, scored a game-high 25 points with six assists and six rebounds to lead the Cougars to the non-league win.
Geoffrey Wickson added 13 points for the Cougars, while Ashton Drew provided seven pints, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots for Auburn Hills Christian.
Randy Taylor scored 15 for West Highland Christian (6-12).
TROY BETHANY CHRISTIAN 52, ROCHESTER HILLS CHRISTIAN 35: Troy Bethany Christian and Rochester Hills Christian split during the regular season en route to sharing the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference Red Division boys basketball title.
The rubber match Saturday was not even close.
Troy Bethany rolled past Rochester Hills Christian, 52-35, in a Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I section game.
Troy Bethany led 27-18 at the half.
Junior Ryan Woodham scored 18 for Troy Bethany (15-6). Senior forward Daniel Sprankle added 16 points for the Bruins, who are ranked sixth in the state.
Bethany Christian will face Temperance Stateline Christian in the next round at a site and time to be determined on Monday.
Rochester Hills, ranked third, was led by senior Nathan Simon’s 12 points, Sophomores Marquez Hatcher and Aaron Berry added 10 points apiece for the Eagles (16-6).
TEMPERANCE STATELINE CHRISTIAN 77, LAKE ORION BAPTIST 46: Stateline Christian shot 53 percent from the floor and the Patriots toasted the Lions in a MACS Division I sectional contest Friday in Temperance.
Stateline Christian (16-6) led 28-14 by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. The Patriots went on a 17-11 surge in the second quarter for a 45-25 lead at the half.
In the third frame, the Patriots added to the damage with a 20-12 run in the third quarter to put the game away.
Senior Todd Gardiner scored a game-high 36 points with eight steals and seven assists to lead Stateline Christian. Sophomore Daniel Ellerbrouck added 20 points for the Patriots.
Senior James Noruk bowed out with 21 points and seven rebounds for Lake Orion Baptist. Sophomore forward Mark Dewar added 15 points and eight rebounds and freshman James Noruk supplied eight points and five rebounds.
MACS DIVISION II
ADRIAN BEREAN BAPTIST 69, CLARKSTON SPRINGFIELD CHRISTIAN 52: The Bobcats overcame a scare to ousts the Eagles in a MACS Division II sectionals contest at Adrian Middle School.
Berean Baptist (17-10) 38-19 at the half, only to see Springfield Christian rally back to tie the game at 47-47 entering the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats outscored Springfield 22-5 in the fourth period to advance to the next round, where Berean Baptist will play the winner of Corunna Immanuel Christian and Midland Christian at a site and time to be determined. The Midland-Immanuel contest will be made up Monday.
Ryan Helinski scored 28 points to lead Berean Baptist. Brandon Jordan added 14 points, Drew Helinski scored 13 points and Ben Waters scored nine for the Bobcats.
Daniel Alonzi scored 21 points for Springfield Christian, which bowed out with a 4-16 record.
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