Two too fast

Shane Moreland and the Chargers sprint past Birch Run

25 February 2008
By Jared Field

greatlakeshoops.com

Powers        23    17    19    19    -    78

Birch Run    8     15    16    21    -    60

Birch Run-- The boys' basketball district playoffs always provide for some intriguing matchups. Teams that ordinarily would never play one another lock horns and provide some context between players, teams and conferences.

A few things became clear after Flint Powers 78-60 win over Birch Run.

First, who you play really matters.

The Chargers had the luxury of playing arguably the toughest schedule of any team in class B this season, and it looks like it is paying off. Birch Run, shackled by its lengthy conference schedule, simply cannot schedule as many non-conference games against good teams.

Second, depth is vitally important in the first half and Birch Run simply doesn't have any.

It really showed in the first quarter, as the Chargers ran away and hid behind a 23-8 lead after eight minutes.

Powers double-teamed Birch Run's best player, senior Jordan Duby, and simply outran the Panthers on the offensive end.

Sophomore guard Demarco Sanders entered the game early after freshman Patrick Lucas-Perry left the game with a pair of early fouls. Sanders, a sharpshooting southpaw, knocked down two 3-pointers in the quarter including one as the buzzer sounded.

The turning point in the game came late in the first half after the Panthers cut Powers' lead to eight points. From that point, the Chargers exploded for nine straight points including consecutive and-ones to end the half by juniors Shane Moreland and Kevin Pickens.

The Chargers led by 17 at the half and cruised to the victory.

Game notes

--The best player on the floor tonight was Powers' #2, Shane Moreland, who led all scorers with 23 points. Shane has the purest 3-point shot south of Frankenmuth and north of Detroit Renaissance. Shane's energy on both ends of the floor really set the pace of the game in the early going for the Chargers.

--Shane's older brother, Tyler, was the model of efficiency against Birch Run. Tyler took care of the ball and didn't force the issue on the offensive end. Powers needs him to be the leader, and he was certainly that tonight. Tyler finished with 19 points.

--Powers' game plan was obviously contingent upon stopping Duby. The double-teams on the wing came early and often, and were quite effective in the first half. That being said, Duby was able to break the double-team on numerous occasions, but opted to pass off the drive instead of pulling up to shoot. When Duby was single-covered in the second half, he had little trouble beating his man for baskets. Duby finished his high school career with 18 points and five assists.

--Powers' head coach Tim Herman had to be pleased with the play of his diaper dandies tonight. Freshman Patrick Lucas-Perry didn't let early foul trouble take him out of the game mentally. When he got back on the floor it was as if he never left. He hit a couple of tough shots going to the basket and finished with 11 points. Sophomore Demarco Sanders scored 10 points in impressive fashion. Sanders is really improving and will be a big-time scorer before all is said and done. He has the one thing few young players have--confidence.

--This was not a winnable game for Birch Run. Powers played as well as I have seen them all year. If Birch Run plays its best game they still lose this one. Chris Fogg and Brandon Belill were the only Panthers that really showed a lot of fire against Powers. They rest of the team looked like they had already lost after the first quarter. Fogg did his part offensively as well, scoring 13 points. Dakotah Ellis added 11 points, eight of which came in the crowded post.