Get
there early.
The Battle for Lapeer
East, West get set for big-time rivalry game
By Jared Field
10 January 2008
greatlakeshoops.com
The What: Lapeer West (5-1 FML, 6-2 overall) versus Lapeer East (5-1 FML, 6-2 overall)
The When: Friday night at 7:30
The Where: East High School
The Why: The top two teams battle it out for first place in the Flint Metro League
Get
there early.
It's sound advice for any rivalry game, but the East-West battle for Lapeer isn't just any rivalry game--it's bigger than that.
One could attend most any game during the season, conference or otherwise, at either school and find plenty of room in the bleachers to stretch out.
Not this one.
Fans will be packed to the rafters on Friday night at East to witness the first matchup of the season between the home Eagles, preseason favorite to win the Metro League, and the returning conference champions from West.
There's also the subplot of the Conference's top performer, West's Chris Hutton (lower right), going head-to-head with the Metro's top athlete, East's Steve Wilmers (left).
The pair, who have played with and against one another since childhood, are two of the top players in the Metro League in a decade.
And while Hutton is the go-to-guy at all times for West, Wilmers tends to shy away from the role of superstar too often. For this reason, passive fans simply have no idea how good Wilmers actually is. And, in truth, the same could be said for Wilmers himself.
The
outcome of Friday night's game may hinge on how Wilmers responds to the
challenge. If he steps to the forefront, and plays like everyone knows he can,
the game should be East's to lose.
The Tale of the Tape
Frontline: Advantage East - With Steve Wilmers, Daniel Elliot, Austin Green, Austin Aubert and Payton McCallum all taller than 6'3'', the Eagles should have every opportunity to score easy baskets in the paint against a much smaller frontline for West. The Panthers' top post threat, senior Todd Delange, is a slinky 6'3'' small forward who plays in the post out of necessity.
Backcourt: Advantage West - Playing alongside the best guard in the Metro League, Chris Hutton, has done wonders for senior Zach Koerner this season. Koerner is as scrappy as they come and should take advantage of the lack of defensive attention he receives when Hutton is roaming the perimeter.
Coaching:
Advantage West - Andrew Roberts is one of the best and least-heralded coaches in
the Flint-area. He gets the absolute most out of his players, and that is the
mark of an excellent coach.
Bench: Advantage East - Size with shooters gives East the obvious advantage in depth.
Top player: West's Chris Hutton - The 6-1 senior is averaging nearly 19 points per game and looks like the surefire conference player of the year. Scored 14 points in the final quarter against Fenton last Friday night, capping off a 20-point second half comeback.
Top defender: East's Daniel Elliott (left) - He's long, strong and athletic. He's a nightmare for guards and forwards alike and arguably the top stopper in the conference.
Top shooter: (Tie) West's Hutton and East's Zac Smillie - You can't leave either open, so we'll call it a draw.
Must step up: (Tie) West's Todd Delange and East's Steve Wilmers.
Prediction: East wins at home by five on the strength of a double-double from Wilmers.