Trojans still riding high

Fourth quarter comeback lifts EL over K-Zoo Central

By Nick Brzezinski
3 March 2008

greatlakeshoops.com

Lansing--- When a team has a 14 point lead with eight minutes remaining and there is no shot clock that is a huge deficit to overcome.

However, the Cinderella East Lansing Trojans did it again and shocked Kalamazoo Central with a 61-59 victory by outscoring the Maroons 21-5 in the final quarter.

The first half saw both teams play pretty evenly and East Lansing jumped out to a 15-13 lead after the first quarter; Kalamazoo Central took a one point lead at the half 30-29.

After watching the first half, it looked like it would be an evenly-matched game the whole night. However, the third quarter belonged to the Maroons which saw them go on a 16-3 run in the first five minutes of the second half to take a 46-32 lead; K-Zoo kept a 14-point margin, leading 54-40 heading into the final quarter.

Enter seniors Charlie Woods and Tyreshe Knox who did not want this to be their last game in a Trojan uniform.

Trailing 57-48 with 3:21 remaining Woods hit a three-pointer with 2:33 remaining Knox hit a three and with 1:39 remaining Knox hit another three to tie the game up at 57.

Kalamazoo Central could not capitalize on free throws and after another missed free throw, Ryan Jayne got behind the Maroon defense and was credited with the basket after a goal tend by Kalamazoo Central to take the lead by two with just over a minute remaining.

After the Maroons tied the game with 55 seconds, East Lansing held the ball until Knox was fouled with 7.3 seconds remaining when players from both teams were going for the ball.

Knox calmly knocked down both free throws to take a 61-59 lead and a desperation three was off the mark and the Trojans made a remarkable comeback.

Woods led all scorers with 24 points on five 3-pointers and Knox had 22 points on three 3-pointers.

Doug Anderson led the Maroons with 17 points and had at least five dunks which kept the crowd buzzing. TJ Cameron, David Felton, and Corey Person all had 10 points.

Game Notes

--In the third quarter East Lansing couldn’t do anything right and it was the complete opposite where Kalamazoo Central couldn’t do anything right in the fourth. I have never seen such a big difference between how two teams played like tonight.

--East Lansing did not panic and when they looked to make the extra pass they got better looks and were clutch down the stretch.

--Some teams take the air out of the ball when they get a double-digit lead, not Kalamazoo Central that just stop making baskets in the fourth quarter and couldn’t buy a free throw.

--There were many college coaches from DI, DII, DIII, and Junior College in attendance tonight and they saw a good one.

--Doug Anderson might be the best dunker in the state of Michigan; kid threw down dunks off put-backs and just going straight up.

--In the first game Battle Creek Central beat Jackson 66-61…at the end of that game Don Johnson Fieldhouse was packed, and this is one of the largest gyms in the state of Michigan. It literally took me 20 minutes to find a parking spot and saw the last minute of the first game.

--East Lansing will take on Battle Creek Central led by Utah-bound Jason Washburn on Wednesday night back at Lansing Eastern’s Don Johnson Fieldhouse.