Classic Offers Two Games of Contrast

By Gavin Raath

06/23/2007

The GAC is wack against the Flint Metro

Ballenger Fieldhouse-- In the opening game of the Mott Bruin Classic, the Flint Metro mopped the floor with the GAC’s best, 112-80.

The GAC started out strong when New Lothrop’s 6’2” forward Jason Kneiper blocked Holly’s 6’5” forward Mitch Belanger on the opening possession and then kicked it down court to his high school teammate, 5’10” guard, Brent Ruddy for a three-ball. Harold Ellison, Bentley’s 6’0” point guard, would then block Belanger for the second time within the first minutes of play, but that would be the end to the GAC’s good fortunes as the Metro would go for eight unanswered points.

A nice pass from Ellison to Kneiper would end the GAC’s scoring drought and 5’9” Atherton guard Matt Kimball would follow with a lay-up to make it a one-point game.

Then GAC basketball was introduced to Lapeer West’s 6’2” forward Doug Haggadone. Haggadone who would end up leading the Metro in scoring with 26 points canned his first of six three-pointers.

The biggest problem facing the GAC, and I emphasize the word ‘big’, was the rebounding of Belanger. He didn’t provide much in the way of scoring with just eight points, but his 22 rebounds killed the GAC.

Finally, the GAC coaches substituted in Durand’s 6’4” center Buddy Holmes who managed to neutralize Belanger’s rebounding presence and scored two quick baskets to make it a two-point game.

After a nice steal and lay-up by Mount Morris’ 6’2” forward Kevin Ware, it became obvious that Swartz Creek’s Trevor L’Hommedieu had had enough as he spurred 15 unanswered Metro points, with a tough lay-up in traffic. Whether it was L’Hommedieu connecting from three, taking it to the rack or finding the open man, the 6’0” guard helped the Metro run away with the game eventually doubling the GAC’s score, 36-18 early in the first half.

L’Hommedieu’s offensive burst, which would earn him MVP honors, provided the Metro with a lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the game.

Belanger finally closed the game out with a one-handed dunk at the horn.

Notes:

-While I believe the best player in the game was L’Hommedieu, Haggadone deserved the MVP. His first miss came late in the second half and he was money from three-point land all game long. He also provided a few nice lay-ups, including a reverse off of a botched play.

-L’Hommedieu is a great player. He can do a little bit of everything as he finished with 23 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals.

-Adrian Harges, a 5’11” guard from Ortonville – Brandon, may have been the smallest player on the Metro team, but a point guard he is not. He’s quick, a good ball-handler and terrific finisher going to the hole, but he rarely looks to pass. He went for 21 points.

-No one from the GAC looked exceptional. Goodrich’s Jacob Smiegel, a stocky 6’0” forward, actually turned out the best performance with a team-leading 14 points. I expected more from his teammate, 6’2” shooting guard Matt Christensen, but he couldn't get hot until late in the game missing on several early three-point attempts. He was still good for 13 points and three steals.

-I also expected more from the New Lothrop guys, but Knieper was stuck playing inside most of the game and Ruddy never got into the flow after his opening three-pointer. Knieper put in a solid performance with nine points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

-While the GAC just plain and simply was not as talented as the Metro guys, I do think they were hurt by not splitting up Chad Powell and Buddy Holmes who are both legit 6’4” centers. It made for some lopsided line-ups that were either too small or too slow to compete.

Flintstones down the ‘burbs in a close one

In what was supposed to be the blowout of the evening, the Big Nine All Stars actually held a late lead before the City pulled away in a close one, 107-98.

The Big Nine was missing its star Laval Lucas-Perry who is already down in Arizona, but got some added firepower in Genesee Christian’s 6’4” wing Scott Soldan and Mott recruit Jacquez Williams of Chicago Carver. The biggest star for the Big Nine early, however, was the three ball as three of their first four baskets were from deep.

The City’s Northwestern duo of 6’3” guard Marcus Green and 6’5” wing Damon Franklin countered with a tough blue-collar three and baseline dunk respectively, and Beecher’s 6’3” guard Tyiwan Eason followed with a three-pointer making it a two-point game.

Beecher’s 5’10” point guard Kirby Johnson found Eason for another three later in the half sparking a City 10-0 run.

Williams and Flint Carman Ainsworth’s 5’10” guard Elijah Marshall countered with back-to-back threes making it a one-point game.

Continuing the theme of three-point shooting was Powers Catholic’s 6’5” forward Andrew Charlesworth with two more. Charlesworth may not have led his team to victory, but he probably had the best game of anyone tonight. The gritty forward led all scorers with 32 points, ten rebounds and four assists.

The MVP of the game, Franklin, closed out the first half with a sick and-one dunk on Flint Carman Ainsworth’s 6’0” guard Jerel Floyd, giving the City a five-point lead.

To open the second half, Southwestern’s 6’5” forward Leviante Davis led a 7-0 run giving the City a nice double digit lead.

But the three-ball was there yet again for the Big Nine as Charlesworth connected on two more early in the second half and Davison’s 6’4” wing David Swain followed with another putting the game within reach. Another three from Floyd would give the Big Nine their first lead of the half.

A pair of Franklin alley-oop dunks and a tip dunk from Green tied the game at 89.

Then Flushing’s 6’3” guard Ricky Rowse picked Franklin's pocket and kicked it down court for a streaking Swain for two. Rowse would follow his selfless play with a deep three giving the Big Nine the belief that they could close out the game.

That’s when Franklin stepped in yet again, this time with an NBA range three-pointer en route to a 14-0 run.

Not to be outdone by Belanger in the undercard, Davis closed out the game with a thunderous one-hander.

Notes:

-Damon Franklin may as well have been Michael Jordan tonight. Whenever the City got in trouble he bailed them out. This guy is a special talent and Texas Pan Am is getting a great one. He was good for 30 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

-If Franklin was Jordan, than Charlesworth was Larry Bird. Whether posting up or shooting from deep, he was doing damage all night to the City. Whoever lands Charlesworth is getting a guy that will outwork everyone else on the floor.

-The three ball was flowing for the Big Nine, but not particularly from Flushing’s sharpshooter Rowse. While he didn’t resemble the Ricky most are used to, he still played very well finishing with ten points, six assists and two steals.

-Erving McFadden had a big night and showed some good bounce in warm-ups. He struggled at times with Jacquez Williams on the floor, but was still good for twelve points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

-Speaking of Williams, this kid has the kind of quickness and speed that will make you think of former Flint C-A guard Aaron Lawler. He’ll be a fun one to watch for the next couple of years.

-I actually think the Big Nine could have won. They had a nice line-up on the floor when they secured a late lead, but when they sent the two mercenaries, Soldan and Williams, to the bench they quickly coughed it up.

-A couple of guys that were always more athletes than basketball players in Floyd and IAF’s 6’0” forward Chris Collins all of the sudden look like polished basketball players. And just for the record, despite Franklin’s ridiculous dunks, Floyd has to have the best vertical of anyone on the court. That guy was well above the rim at maybe 6’0”.