Saginaw blows out Mt. Pleasant

Trojan defense locks down Oilers in first half

By Josh Glitz

5 March 2008

greatlakeshoops.com

Flint--Defense wins championships: a cliché that is thrown around in every sport in the postseason.

But it truly was defense that won a regional championship tonight.

Saginaw High came out refusing to let the Oilers of Mount Pleasant score in the first half, giving up only eight points in 16 minutes. The Trojans never let up and walked away with a 69-39 victory and a regional championship at the end of the night.

The first half was an absolute masterpiece of defense. The Trojans did not give the Oilers get any uncontested shots. In the first half the Oilers managed three field goals and two free throws--nothing more. The only thing that kept the game close was the poor shooting of the Trojans. At the end of the first half the score was 28-8.

In the second half, both teams warmed up. The Trojans shot better as a team, and sophomore Trey Zeigler took the Oilers on his back. Saginaw was simply too talented and the game was never really close. The Trojans coasted through the second half to claim their spot in the final eight, making them one step closer to defending their class A state title.

Game Notes

--The first half was the best defensive performance I have ever seen in a high school game. It was not that the Oilers were playing poorly, it was simply that Saginaw was too good. Mount Pleasant did not have any easy shots, everything was contested.

--Trey Zeigler had a great second half. In the first half, he looked to distribute too often. He was held to five points for the half. In the second half he came out in full on attack mode. He attacked the basket with abandon and converted some incredible shots. He is the only reason that Mount Pleasant was able to keep the game within 40 points. Without him Saginaw would have won by 50 or more, which they did earlier this year. Zeigler finished the game with 20 points and five rebounds.

--Once Saginaw warmed up from the outside, the game got ugly. They were running away with it with ease. They needed to regain their touch from the outside after losing it in the first half. They found it in the second half. Mike Green was the only Trojan shooting well in the first half. He didn’t cool off in the second. Green finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds.

--After exploding for 27 points against Carman, Daniel West came back down to Earth tonight. He did not look to shoot nearly as often as against Carman, but was just as effective leading his team. He showed again tonight that he does not need to score to lead this team to victory. West finished the game with six points, six assists, and five rebounds.

--Courtney Washington ate the boards alive tonight. He struggled mightily with his shot, but made up for it with his energy on the glass. He finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds.

--Draymond Green had another dominant performance tonight. He was able to take over the game when needed on offense, and pitched in with great defense. Green finished the game with 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

--Dominant is the only word I can use to describe Saginaw’s performance tonight. In a game where they did not play their best they were still far ahead of Mount Pleasant. However, the effort that they turned in tonight would not have been enough Monday against Carman. They will need to continue to play at the level they did in the second half if they are going to defend their state title.