A Look at the Big Nine

 

By Gavin Raath

28 March 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

 

2006-07 Finish

 

Flint Powers Catholic Central

Flint Carman Ainsworth

Davison

Grand Blanc

Flushing

Owosso

Flint Kearsley

 

All Conference Team

Coach of the Year:  Tim Herman  Flint Powers Catholic

Starters:

Nate Cox  6’6”  Senior  Flushing

Laval Lucas-Perry  [right]  6’3”  Senior  Flint Powers Catholic – Conference Player of the Year

Ricky Rowse  6’3”  Senior  Flushing

Adrian Hunter  6’0”  Junior  Grand Blanc

Jon Lee  6’1”  Junior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

 

Bench:

Eric Bannan  6’0”  Junior  Owosso

Andrew Charlesworth  [below, right]  6’5”  Senior  Flint Powers Catholic

Shane Moreland  6’2”  Sophomore  Flint Powers Catholic

Tyler Moreland  6’2”  Junior  Flint Powers Catholic

Reggie Stallings  6’2”  Junior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

David Swain  [left]  6’4”  Senior  Davison

Brandon Williams  6’3”  Senior  Flint Kearsley

 

Review:

The Big Nine has seen better days. With only seven teams this year and six next [with the loss of Owosso to the CAAC], the Big Nine is looking at an impending collapse. I still feel the best solution is for a consolidation with the SVL. In addition the conference in terms of competition has seen better days. Powers was the flagship with their talent and new head coach Tim Herman and I suspect that they will continue to be one of the top teams. They dominated with their second high division one player in just two years in Laval Lucas-Perry and a superb backcourt in the Morelands. Flint Carman Ainsworth didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but next year was supposed to be their's anyway. Davison is usually a tougher squad, but the last two seasons have been surprisingly average.

 

2007-08 Outlook:

 

Flint Carman Ainsworth

Flint Powers Catholic Central

Davison

Flushing

Grand Blanc

Flint Kearsley

 

All Conference Team

Starters:

Demondre Chapman  6’5”  Sophomore  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Shane Moreland  6’2”  Junior  Flint Powers Catholic

Tyler Moreland  6’2”  Senior  Flint Powers Catholic

Adrian Hunter  6’0”  Senior  Grand Blanc -- Conference Player of the Year

Jon Lee  [left]  6’1”  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

 

Bench: 

Rodney Anderson  6’5”  Junior  Flushing

Trevor Cousineau  6’5”  Senior  Davison

Jeff Kline  6’3”  Junior  Flushing

Pat O’Brien  6’2”  Sophomore  Flint Powers Catholic Central

Cortland Patterson  6’4”  Junior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Tyler Sauer  6’1”  Senior  Davison

Reggie Stallings  6’2”  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

 

Davison

Davison I expect will battle for second or third. Trevor Cousineau [right], a 6’5” junior, could be dominant in-conference, he just has to become more assertive. Tyler Sauer, a 6’1” junior, will be counted upon to become one of the key scorers to replace David Swain. I also expect big things from JV point guard Torey LaFerney, but coach Mac is loyal to his seniors so I’ll bet Kyle Neitzke will get the nod at point guard. The only sophomore, Daniel Thwing, will probably earn the shooting guard spot next season. Their toughest job will be replacing Garrett Stephens – you just don’t find 6’5” guys with his skill set.

 

Flint Carman Ainsworth

Flint Carman Ainsworth didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but they're primed for next season. Demondre Chapman is turning into a fantastic talent and 6’4” sophomore Cortland Patterson along with 6’5” freshman Jaylen Larry should make for an incredible frontcourt next year. Jon Lee is one of the top point guards in the area, but he needs help from Reggie Stallings [left] and Kieon Arkwright. Arkwright has to get stronger and Stallings has to limit the jacking and slash more. This should be a scary team next season and Coach Mattar knows it; don’t be surprised to see this team make a Breslin run—if they can get by Saginaw and Southwestern Academy.

 

Flint Kearsley

It’s a rebuilding year for the Hornets after losing eight players to graduation. Seniors-to-be Mario Pool, a 5’6” guard, and Jeff Farah, a 5’10” guard, will return as the starting backcourt and expect to see a lot of sophomore-to-be Capus Robinson. I don’t see them challenging for the conference this next season.

 

Flint Powers Catholic Central

Powers returns a superb backcourt in the Morelands [Shane, right] and 6’2” freshman Patrick O’Brien will become a force as he gets older. I’m not sure if those guys will be enough for another Big Nine title, but hope springs eternal with a freshman Herzog and Lucas-Perry on the way for next season.

 

Flushing

Flushing will be a year away from where they will want to be, but have a nice trio in 6’3” sophomore Jeff Kline, 6’5” sophomore Rodney Anderson and 6’5” sophomore Travis Trieb. If they can find some good supporting players, which they will out of their freshman class, then this could be a team to look out for.

 

Grand Blanc

Grand Blanc loses most of its team, but return all-everything guard in Adrian Hunter [left]. He’s a flat-out stud. I could see he and 5’9” freshman Tony Jones making for a killer backcourt next season. The post will be a big question mark, but welcome to the Big Nine.