Smith Propels Romulus to Regional Championship
Jerret Smith has heard the from a bevy of critics over the years. Slowly but surely,
though, they are starting to decrease in number. With three minutes remaining
in the game and the Eagles behind 67-65, Smith canned a huge triple to put his
team up for good. That capped a furious comeback from 15 points down, as Romulus
went on to win 75-69. He told GoBlueWolverine.com afterwards, "I had to take that shot!
I wanted to take that shot." He finished with 20 points. (GBW will have
more from Smith later in the week).
Romulus coach Nate Oats said his senior guard's play this season serves as
vindication against all of the doubters. "Jerret has gone through a lot
over the years with people questioning if he should be going to Michigan on
a scholarship and questioning his heart," Oats told the Detroit News.
"He led Romulus to its second regional championship in school history so
those people can get off his back."
Next up for Romulus is a class A quarterfinal match-up with Deshawn Sims and
Detroit Pershing on Tuesday.
Renaissance advances; Legion Comes up HUGE in Blowout victory.
Detroit
Renaissance won its fourth straight Regional title yesterday with a 53-42 victory
over Dexter. Michigan football signee Carson Butler had 10 points, along with eight rebounds
and two blocks. "We had a bunch of players on different pages early in
the game," Butler told the Detroit News. "We had to re-focus, since
they had the momentum. Our defense was coming along, we just had to execute
on offense. Regardless of who's on the team, we're still Renaissance. It's the
program, not just the players."
The Phoenix will match-up with Detroit Country Day in the Class B quarterfinals
on Tuesday at Calihan Hall. The Yellow Jackets thrashed Warren Lincoln, 79-59,
for the Regional championship. The story of the game was the 41 point, 10 rebound,
four assist, two steal effort from sophomore sensation Alex Legion.
"The last time we had a sophomore that went for 40 in a regional final,
his name was Chris Webber," Country Day coach Kurt Keener told the Oakland
Press. "Alex does it a little differently, but that's what it reminded
me of. Alex is just a special talent. He's just gotten better and better. He
has learned to play within the team's framework and he takes good shots. He
does things on the basketball court that you just can't teach. He's an amazing
basketball player and he's playing his best ball right now."
Other notables
Grand Blanc was eliminated from the playoffs by Clarkston Friday evening, 50-47.
Michigan commitment K'len Morris finished with eight points, while Zach Gibson
finished with 12.
Class A powerhouse Benton Harbor was put out of the playoffs by Holt yesterday
in a 58-54 overtime thriller. Mr. Basketball favorite and DePaul signee Wilson Chandler finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Jevohn Shepherd Named Player of the Year
The Hoopla all about West Hill’s Jevohn Shepherd
From: www.thehoop-la.com
(Hamilton, ON) — The Hoopla has named Toronto West Hill’s Jevohn
Shepherd, the Ontario Player of the Year. The award was presented to him after
his team’s semi-final game at the Quad ‘A’ OFSSA Championships
held at Cathedral High School.
Jevohn,
is a 6’5” All-Canadian shooting guard who has been rated as one,
if not the top NCAA Division I prospect coming out of Canada this year. He will
be making his home away from home in Ann Arbor, Michigan this fall as he will
be entering his first year at the University of Michigan on a full athletic
scholarship.
“Jevohn’s game is flat out nice.” said Kirk Alfaro, founder
of The Hoopla web site. “He’s good right now but it’s scary
to think how much better he’s going to get once he starts playing against
D-1 talent day in and day out. I really don’t think it’s going to
take him that long to adjust once he gets there.”
The Hoopla had selected 10 nominees for the first ever annual award, which
included the likes of Toronto Eastern Commerce Saint Ronnie Williams, Mississauga
Loyola Warrior Ryan Wright and Tecumseh St. Anne Saint Dan Trepanier. The winner
was selected by a panel of judges which included Jim Thomas of All Ontario scouting
services and is given to the player who best exemplifies consistency, leadership,
determination and excellence on the court.
The Hoopla was founded as a labor of love by Kirk Alfaro in 2000. In five years,
through its game recaps, scouting reports and news stories, its popularity has
grown immensely and has come to be recognized as the leading voice on the internet
when it comes to basketball in Ontario.